INFLIBNET: Modernizing University Libraries in India

Imagine being a research scholar in a small university in the 1980s, struggling to find a single journal article that might exist only in a library two thousand kilometres away. That isolation was a real barrier to research and learning across the country. The Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) was created precisely to break down these walls. Over three decades, it has transformed scattered, manually operated university libraries into a connected digital ecosystem where a student in one corner of the country can access the same scholarly resources as someone in a premier institution. This post explores how INFLIBNET came into being, what it does, and why it remains one of the most important pillars of academic infrastructure in higher education today.

Origins and objectives of INFLIBNET 🔗

INFLIBNET traces its roots to a committee convened by the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in April 1988. At the time, libraries were grappling with rising costs of journals and books, shrinking budgets, limited storage space, and a growing demand for efficient resource sharing. The committee’s recommendations led to a proposal for a national library network.

The programme was formally initiated as a major UGC programme in 1991. It started as a project under the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and later became an independent, autonomous Inter-University Centre (IUC) of the UGC in 1996. Its headquarters were established at the Gujarat University Campus in Ahmedabad, and it now operates from Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The core mission is straightforward: to modernize university libraries and connect them through a nationwide high-speed data network using contemporary technology, so that information resources are used to their fullest potential. The idea is built on a simple truth that drives all library cooperation: no single library can collect everything published in the world, and no single library can meet all the needs of its users on its own.

What INFLIBNET set out to achieve 🔗

The objectives laid out in its Memorandum of Association are broad but focused. Key goals include promoting and establishing communication facilities to improve the transfer of and access to information; creating a computer communication network linking libraries and information centres in universities, deemed universities, colleges, institutions of national importance, and research and development (R&D) institutions; and avoiding duplication of effort across these institutions.

Other important aims include developing and adopting uniform standards and guidelines, creating online union catalogues of books, serials, theses, and other materials, and encouraging cooperation among libraries, documentation centres, and information centres. Together, these objectives reflect a cooperative philosophy rather than competition between institutions.

Key services offered by INFLIBNET 🔗

INFLIBNET is not a single product but a bundle of interconnected services. Its activities can be grouped into a few broad categories that together support the entire academic library ecosystem.

Software development and library automation 🔗

One of the centre’s most visible contributions is the development of software for libraries. Before automation, tasks like cataloguing, issuing books, and tracking subscriptions were done by hand, which was slow and error-prone. INFLIBNET addressed this gap by building dedicated library management software, which we will look at in detail in the next section.

Networking and connectivity 🔗

The centre’s name puts “network” at its very heart. INFLIBNET works to connect university campuses through high-speed data networks so that libraries are no longer isolated islands. This connectivity forms the backbone for everything else, from accessing electronic journals to sharing catalogue records, since digital resource sharing is only possible when institutions are linked.

Bibliographic and union database services 🔗

A major service is the creation of union databases, which are consolidated catalogues showing what books, journals, and theses are held across participating libraries and where they are located. These databases provide bibliographic descriptions, location, and holdings information across all subject areas. When a researcher knows which library holds a particular resource, inter-library borrowing and resource sharing become genuinely practical rather than theoretical.

Notable programmes and initiatives 🔗

INFLIBNET’s reputation rests largely on a handful of flagship programmes that have changed how academic libraries function.

SOUL: Software for University Libraries 🔗

SOUL (Software for University Libraries) is an integrated library management software developed by INFLIBNET to meet the needs of college, university, and other academic libraries. It operates in a user-friendly client-server environment and complies with international standards for bibliographic formats and circulation protocols.

The software has evolved steadily over the years. SOUL 1.0 was first released during the CALIBER convention in 2000, followed by SOUL 2.0 in January 2009, and SOUL 3.0 was unveiled on 24 February 2021 by the Chairman of the UGC. SOUL automates the core “housekeeping” operations of a library, including acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serials control, and online public access cataloguing (OPAC).

What makes SOUL particularly significant is its reach. It is used by over 4,000 libraries across the country, making it one of the most widely adopted library software packages here. The latest version supports internationally recognised standards such as MARC 21 and AACR-2, along with Unicode-based multilingual support for both Indian and foreign languages, which is especially valuable in a multilingual country.

UGC-INFONET and the move to digital resources 🔗

While SOUL automated individual libraries, the UGC-INFONET programme connected them and gave them access to electronic resources. The programme had two arms. The first was the UGC-INFONET Connectivity Programme, which provided internet connectivity and campus-wide networking to universities. The second was the UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, formally launched in December 2003 by then President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, soon after connectivity was extended to universities.

The consortium model allowed universities to access expensive scholarly journals and databases at heavily subsidised rates through a single-window subscription, instead of each institution negotiating separately. This solved the budget problem that had plagued libraries for decades, since pooled subscriptions delivered far more content at a fraction of the individual cost. INFLIBNET served as the executing and monitoring body for both programmes.

From UGC-INFONET to e-ShodhSindhu 🔗

The digital resource landscape has since been consolidated. The N-LIST project, which extended access to colleges, was eventually merged into a single larger consortium called e-ShodhSindhu. This unified consortium brought together earlier initiatives including the UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, N-LIST, and the INDEST-AICTE Consortium.

Today, e-ShodhSindhu, executed by INFLIBNET, provides access to a vast collection of full-text journals, e-books, and databases to universities, colleges, and centrally funded technical institutions. For a student or researcher, this means logging in through their institution’s network and reaching thousands of peer-reviewed journals that would otherwise be out of reach.

Shodhganga: a reservoir of theses 🔗

Another landmark initiative is Shodhganga, a digital repository for electronic theses and dissertations submitted by research scholars. The repository was created after the UGC issued regulations in 2009 making it mandatory for universities to submit soft copies of PhD theses and MPhil dissertations for hosting in INFLIBNET. Built using DSpace open-source software, it follows internationally recognised interoperability standards.

The impact has been enormous. Shodhganga crossed 5,35,000 theses by May 2024, all freely available to read and download in open access to scholars worldwide. This serves two purposes at once: it showcases research being done across universities, and it helps avoid duplication of research, since scholars can check existing work before starting their own. A companion project, ShodhGangotri, captures research synopses and works in progress, which are later mapped to the full-text theses in Shodhganga.

Human resource development and training 🔗

Technology alone cannot modernise a library. The people running it need the skills to use new tools effectively, and this is something INFLIBNET takes seriously. The centre regularly conducts training programmes, workshops, and seminars on library automation, networking, e-resource awareness, and the management of theses and institutional repositories.

A key training initiative is the INFLIBNET Regional Training Programme for Library Automation (IRTPLA), conducted across the country in collaboration with universities and colleges. The centre also runs dedicated training on SOUL installation and operations, along with user awareness programmes that help students and faculty make the most of available e-resources.

Equipping library staff with IT skills matters because manpower is a critical factor in how effectively a library serves its users. A well-trained librarian can guide students to the right databases, manage digital catalogues, and troubleshoot access issues, turning expensive software and subscriptions into real, usable services.

CALIBER and PLANNER conventions 🔗

INFLIBNET also organises two important academic conventions as part of its human resource development efforts. CALIBER (Convention on Automation of Libraries in Education and Research) is held in various states, while PLANNER (Promotion of Library Automation and Networking in North Eastern Region) focuses on the North-eastern region. These conventions bring together librarians, researchers, and information professionals to share knowledge, present papers, and discuss new developments in the field. The papers presented are preserved in the centre’s institutional repository, IR@INFLIBNET.

Why INFLIBNET matters for higher education 🔗

Pulling these threads together, INFLIBNET’s contribution goes far beyond software and subscriptions. It has helped bridge the gap between well-funded premier institutions and smaller universities and colleges, giving students across the country comparable access to scholarly content. A researcher at a modest state university can now read the same journals and consult the same theses as someone at a top-tier institution.

By promoting standardisation, resource sharing, and open access, INFLIBNET supports the larger goal of building a connected, equitable knowledge ecosystem. As higher education continues to move online and the volume of digital information keeps growing, the role of a coordinating body that links libraries, hosts research output, and trains professionals only becomes more important.

What do you think? If you were designing the next phase of a national library network, which would matter more: investing further in cutting-edge technology and access, or focusing on training the people who run these libraries? And how might open repositories like Shodhganga change the way you approach your own research?

References

1. https://study.niteshkverma.com/mlis/101.3.5.php
2. https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/lisp5/chapter/library-networks-in-india-case-study-inflibnet/
3. http://lib.jnu.ac.in/INFLIBNET
4. https://www.inflibnet.ac.in/about/objectives.php
5. https://inflibnet.ac.in/downloads/brochure/soul.pdf
6. https://www.ijrls.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ijrls-1704.pdf
7. https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/lisp5/chapter/library-consortium-ugc-infonet-digital-library/
8. https://www.inflibnet.ac.in/
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shodhganga
10. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/
11. https://www.studocu.com/in/document/university-of-kerala/informatics/academic-services/55321035