Images and Perceptions in Library and Information Science/L.S. Ramaiah. 1998, ix, 198 p., tables, $30.
Contents: Introduction. 1. Library legislation in India: retrospect and prospect. 2. The State of Public Library Services in India achievements and failures. 3. Public libraries and access to information in India. 4. Communities in search of libraries and information services in India. 5. Public libraries and resource sharing. 6. Public libraries and public finances in India: a critical perspective. 7. Library cess and library movement in Andhra Pradesh: retrospect and prospect. 8. Library networking vis-a-vis LIS curricula in Indian Universities. 9. Price Hike of Books and periodicals. 10. Norms for allocating funds to University Libraries: a review. 11. Distance learners: access to library and information sources and services. 12. Humanities and the need for documentation. 13. National humanities documentation centre. 14. Resource sharing and marketing of the information in English language and literature in India. 15. Indexing witch-hunt and the failure of language. 16. Information needs and resources in linguistics: a case study. 17. Compilation of bibliographies. 18. Symbiosis of archives and information. 19. Automation of University Libraries: some basic problems. 20. Electronic Media with special reference to optical media: impact on libraries. 21. Information superhighway: the need for training of the LIS personnel in IT in India. 22. Information and mass media. Index.
"This book is a collection of articles written by the author over a period of time. The images and perceptions of the author emerged out of his experience in the LIS profession for the last three decades. He is one of the senior professional, with a wide experience of participating in a number of national and regional seminars. He has dealt with the problems which are real and specific in the public and academic libraries.
"The articles deal with a variety of subjects in the field of LIS, such as Library Legislation, Access to Information, Resource Sharing, Bibliographic Control, Price Hike, Norms for Library Budget, Networking, Information Superhighway, Mass Media. The articles contain a quite good mix of theory and practice. They contain a great deal of statistical information.
"This book is useful to the practising librarians, teachers, students, research scholars and laymen. It is rich addition to the LIS literature." (jacket)
[L.S. Ramaiah is presently the University Librarian, Ramesh Mohan Library, Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad.]