Information Analysis, Repacking and Consolidation Services...
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Library Science
Special and research libraries
Information Analysis, Repacking and Consolidation
Services in Special Libraries
1. Introduction
Special libraries are central within the method of information transfer to its users with special
desires. These libraries are featured with an assortment of various information sources in different
formats. With this dynamical nature of information the services provided by special library modified
and thus by the appearance of technology the supply of information has also conjointly modified.
Special libraries are established to serve the users like doctors, scientists, administrators, corporate
etc., who had special needs. These library services are categorically offered at two levels one at the
fundamental and alternative at the intermediate level. Fundamentally, the special libraries
disseminate the specialised information by responding the quires of the specialised users either in
form of detailed information or in packets through research and technical journals concerning the
recent problems, updates and developments in a very discipline. At the higher level the complex
information / literature searches are performed, bibliographies, CAS and SDI services are offered to
the users. Typically in libraries a critical evaluation is not administered and therefore the resulted
information is commonly a non vital and non-evaluated. So as on to supply critical evaluated
information the extremely specialised services are used. Such services emphasis the evaluation of
contents evaluation of information, condense and repackaging in an appropriate usable format for
the said/ target user, timely.
In this section these highly specialised services known as „information analysis; repackaging and
consolidation services‟ are discussed. Additionally, the activities and products are further discussed
with the help of some of the information consolidation services and centre in India.
2. Need and Genesis of Information Analysis, Consolidation and Repackaging In Special
Libraries
A plethora of literature/ information on any subject these days signals a most alarming fashionable
information downside. There is a scarcity of applicable information which may be comprehended,
assimilated and used for its users and potential users for their specific need. On one hand there‟s a
given topic, encompasses a surplus of literature, on the other hand an amazing majority of potential
users who might be benefited from the information therein literature cannot use it. The use and
impact of information are the central issues for all information professionals, likewise as for the
entire information infrastructure. Whereas the concept of information consolidation was developed
primarily in concert of the suggests that for assuaging information issues in developing countries,
and for serving in technology transfer, the instructed processes, products, and advantages are
universally applicable, notwithstanding what the stage of development. The value of such
information does not belong its existence (or even within the systems that assure its handiness and
accessibility), however in its acceptance and use. In turn, probabilities for acceptance and use of
information are increased by its being more appropriate. Consolidated information aims at being
more appropriate to the users, their needs, and levels, the capacities and time allotments given to
information absorption and similar user-related factors.
3. Information consolidation
UNESCO Symposium on Information Analysis and Consolidation (held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12-
15 September, 1978) gave the following definition: “Information Consolidation Activities is used to
define the responsibilities exercised by individuals, departments or organizations for evaluating and
compressing relevant documents in order to provide definite user groups with reliable and concise
Information Analysis, Repacking and Consolidation Services in Special Libraries
Library Science
Special and research libraries
Information Analysis, Repacking and Consolidation
Services in Special Libraries
new body of knowledge. Individuals or groups of individuals performing information consolidation
activities would each constitute an Information Consolidation Unit.”
Saracevic and Wood (1981) gave the following elaborate definition: “Consolidated Information is
public knowledge specifically selected, analyzed, evaluated, and possibly restructured and
repackaged for the purpose of serving some of the immediate decisions, problems and information
needs of a defined clientele or social group, who otherwise may not be able to effectively and
efficiently access and use this knowledge as available in the great amounts of documents or in its
original form. The criteria for selection, evaluation, restructuring, and repackaging of this
knowledge are derived from the potential clientele.” In other words consolidation of information
refers to providing the right information for the right person in the right form and at the right time.
3.1. Process of information analysis, consolidation and repackaging
Prior to analysis and synthesis of the information following aspects required to be resolved:
„Determination of an associate structure and rationalisation pattern for the contents or
characteristics of information to be analyzed and synthesized, i.e. creation of a table of contents,
a classification or codification scheme, a typology, or key to characteristics on the idea of that
information is first analyzed and so synthesized.
Consideration of the objectives, resources, constraints at intervals that analysis and synthesis are
to be performed.
Determination of evaluative criteria to be used because the basis for analysis and synthesis‟.
Without specific guidelines from these three areas no vital and realistic analysis may well be
performed.
Figure 1: Process of Information Analysis, Consolidation and Repackaging
Figure 1 summarizes the processes, elements, and relations concerned in information consolidation.
Information consolidation is associated with a variety of information activities like abstracting and
indexing, so it is a method of complexness and demands in human technical and economic
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Special and research libraries
Information Analysis, Repacking and Consolidation
Services in Special Libraries
resources. The process of information analysis, consolidation and repackaging involves the
subsequent steps as it follows a selection and evaluation, and involves an approach that is crucial
would supported by cooperation between subject and information specialists.
3.1.1 Step 1: Selection of Information Source
Selection is a crucial step in the process of information analysis, consolidation and
repackaging determines the content of information consolidation services and products. Selection
includes evaluation and is a basic, essential and indivisible a part of information consolidation.
Selection requires a selection policy, selection aids and tools, and specification of a selection
process.
A selection policy involves the statement regarding users and needs; subject, topic, or mission to be
dealt with and kind of information sources and materials to be covered.
Selection aids and tools guides in selection and facilitate verification. These aids are the tools that
facilitate to spot materials applicable for considering in selection are summarised in Table 1.
Specifications of a selection process involve decisions on procedures for judging: intrinsic values
of information in sources; and demand and user appropriateness. The procedures for judging
intrinsic values: concerned is judgment of the quality, validity, and reliability of materials selected.
The strategy of making judgment is directly on the premise of expressed or unstated evaluation
criteria and should embody examination of „reviews and state-of-the-art of a topic, refereeing and
peer review and citation indexes‟. Various other results can be obtained, like co-citation patterns or
bibliographical couplings are tabulated in Table 1. There are procedures which can be concerned in
selection are: comparison (data on the same aspect from completely different sources is compared
for similarities and variations and selection made accordingly) and testing (data is tested during a
sort of ways that or samples are recollected to ascertain its reliability). Procedures for judging
demand and user appropriateness: these involve deciding the utility of materials that pass the
selection on their own intrinsic value. Other procedures concerned are: connexion feedback, use
analysis, demand analysis, user tests and consultation.
Table 1. Process of selection
Sel
ection
Elements Essentials/ characteristics/ examples
Selection
policy
Users and user needs The characteristic of users
and uses which form the
foundation for selection
Subject Discipline oriented
Coverage of the subjects that present the traditional areas of learning:
chemistry, metallurgy, electrical engineering, ferrocement, mining, viral
hepatitis, linguistics, etc.
Material
mission or problem
oriented
Interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary coverage involving a number of
subjects and topics relevant to a specific problem, a commodity, or
activity, e.g. Rubber, rice, renewable energy, irrigation, business,
transportation, sanitation, alcoholism, government, legislation,
appropriate technologies,
Details about the
information sources to be
collected i.e. The actual
sources from which
information consolidation
will be made.
Characteristics of sources are enumerated, e.g. Language, country of
origin, publishing or issuing organizations, authors, format, media,
structure, sophistication level
Selection
aids
Basic bibliographies. National union catalogs, union lists of serials, lists of in-print and out-of-
print books, pamphlet bibliographies, etc. To serve as aids in selection
and in verification (spelling of author's name, checking what's in print,
where to order, what was published last month or year, what a publisher
issues, costs
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Selected lists. Annotated and nonannotated lists of materials pertaining to given types
of libraries or information centers (lists of materials recommended for
small colleges, public libraries, businesses); evaluated lists in given
subjects (civil engineering, international law, schistosomiasis) or given
missions or programs (malaria eradication, nutrition, family planning,
solar energy); lists of publications by government or international
agencies (UNESCO, FAO, INIS, NASA) - also subdivided by subjects;
lists of materials including pamphlets for popular use (field manuals,
construction, literacy campaigns); etc.
Reviews.
These pertain to evaluated or critical overviews of particular titles, e.g.
Particular books, pamphlets, monographs, journals, articles, films. The
title reviews can appear in specialized review publications oriented
toward the general public or toward libraries;
Formal Reading of few reviews, comparison, committee selection meetings for
commissioned reviews, etc.
Informal Gathering impressions and opinions of others
Reference books and
directories.
Handbooks, directories (of periodicals, manufacturers, organizations),
who's who, biographies
Content tables. Journals in given subjects viz. Current contents, management contents,
etc.), title and contents pages of books; content descriptions of films or
other non print materials;
Indexing and
abstracting sources
and services.
- -
SDI services - -
New title
information
new books, pamphlets, films, journals are usually announced in a
number of ways: press releases, publisher catalogs and announcements,
book exhibits, mass media articles, advertisements, lists of new
publications by organizations
Invisible colleges
Informal communications, information about materials obtained
through word-of-mouth, professional contacts and inquiries,
correspondence, attendance at meetings, etc.
Selection
process
Selectors Information specialists, librarians, experts in given subjects, committees
involving either one or both, committees also involving users.
Procedures for
judging intrinsic
values
Judgment of the
Quality, validity, reliability
of materials select
Reviews and state-of-the-
arts of a topic:
Those reviews done by recognized experts in the field, include
synthesis, evaluative judgments and citations of usually highly selected
literature on a given topic
Refereeing and peer
review
The method involves consensus among peers (experts) in the given
area, suitable for selection of scientific materials.
Citation indexes
Involves an analysis of the amount of citations received by an item, an
author, an institution, a journal,
Procedures for
judging demand and
user appropriateness:
Relevance feedback Examination of materials previously judged relevant by users and
subsequent selection of similar items
Use analysis Examination of materials previously cited, circulated, read, requested,
etc.
Demand analysis Finding out about items in demand
User tests Talking to users; testing samples of materials, candidates
For selection
Consultation Seeking experiences from systems and situations similar to own.
Selection is judgmental and clearly involves evaluation. Development of criteria for selection of
information sources to be consolidated is a complex process involving input from users, subject
specialists, and information specialists. Again, user studies and cooperation between subject and
information specialists are essential. Closely connected with criteria for selection of information
sources is criteria for evaluation of information consolidation products and services, therefore
they‟re conferred here along in Table 1.
The selectors concerned in step one are information specialists, librarians with necessary subject
knowledge; experts in given subjects; committees involving either one or each and; committees
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involving users. „Information specialists and librarians had the knowledge regarding the subject
often are the best selectors as a result of they combine a knowledge or sensitivity that directly have
an effect on the time in access of information and also the user with specific need‟.
Acquisition is the physical procurement of documents or alternative items recording information.
It needs procedures for procurement of necessary information sources, in cases of no outright
procurement: procedures for access to sources involving getting information sources on loan,
photocopying pertinent information, obtaining permission to use these information in another
information systems/ libraries.
Evaluation involved the criteria for assessing the standard or intrinsic advantage of information,
criteria for assessing the quality of information products and services on the idea of users demand/
expectations, and procedures for achieving consent in assessments. In this step validity, reliability,
accuracy, credibility, significance, etc. assess the intrinsic advantage of the information.
Following selection and evaluation, information is in due course analyzed then synthesized to be
used in information product and services for dissemination to users with special needs.
3.1.2. Step 2: Information Analysis
Information explosion result a huge quantity of sources however their amount is compromised and
most of them are redundant. To overcome/ to cope up such issues and retrieving/ or dissemination of
information in specialised environment of libraries the systems were designed one of them is
information analysis, its synthesis and eventually the evaluation so as to extract the main points of
information to be restructured and resulted in updated „state- of –information‟ on the given topic or
special needs.
Selection and evaluation are followed by, information analysis and synthesis to be used in products
and services for dissemination to the target special users. „Analysis is a process of determining and
isolating the most salient information conveyed by a given information sources and separating this
information into its constituent elements on the basis of predetermined evaluative and other criteria‟.
The units or systems that are instituted to perform such activities are known as information analysis
centres. These are evolved in response to information problems that don‟t seem to be traditionally
handled by libraries. Sometimes libraries are instituted and homeward to deal primarily with
bibliographic and subject controlled of the large amount of literature i.e. the documents and
publications. The information sources are selected and examined for its validity and must be
evaluated to extract the main points to restructure and synthesise and/or repackaged the information.
Analysis involves the assembly of the indexes, abstract summaries and similar non evaluated
information products concerned. Information analysis centres, are instituted to deal with the
extraction, sifting, filtering and also the quality of information in the literature. These two types of
information systems (libraries and information retrieval systems on the one hand, and information
analysis centres on the other) are addressing the different issues. The information analysis units are
installed for evaluative analysis. Thus, evaluation criteria are crucial in information analysis for its
consolidation.
The process of analysis is based on preliminary and fundamental process as well as the study of
specialised area and the users on the basis of which information would be analysed. This
information is organised on the basis of subject by creation table of contents, classification, and
codification. The objectives, resources and constraints of the system through which information
ought to be transferred should be considered following the determination of evaluative criteria.
The steps involved in information analysis are:
Familiarisation with contents of the documents involves the specification of topics in relation that
information are going to be analyzed and extracted from documents,
Preliminary sorting of contents (first evaluation)
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Selection / extraction/ unneeded information or content involve the specification of a scheme for
organizing and systematizing information, specification of procedures for extraction of the relevant
information or data and assessment
Verification of content (second evaluation) verification of the extracted information or data into
given categories or headings.
Sorting of the information based on typology.
Synthesis follows analysis. Synthesis is a process of condensation and embodiment of analyzed
information from one or more sources and presentation of information in a new arrangement or
structure with an interpretive or evaluative point of view. It requires the comparative arrangement
of extracted information, compression or merger into a structure or form most suited for intended
users and uses and evaluation of the final result. Synthesis involve following steps
Comparative arrangement and merging (within each class and subclass)
Comparative evaluation (in each class and subclass) (third evaluation)
Resolution of conflict
Compression of information ( on the basis of objectives, resources and constraints of the system)
Evaluation of final product ( forth evaluation)
Evaluation is concerned with determination of the intrinsic merit, validity and reliability, or in brief,
the quality of information and of information sources which is able to eventually be consolidated. As
such it is crucial in both selection and later in analysis and synthesis. The evaluation stages
involved:
Evaluation of information sources
Verification of individual extracts
Comparative evaluation of various extract in every class and taxonomic class
Evaluation of the synthesised product.
3.1.3. Step 3: Restructuring of extracted information into a content that can be used most
effectively and with efficiency by users; this might involve synthesis, condensation, rewriting,
simplifying, review, state-of-the-art presentation, etc. Restructuring of content aspects needs the
determination of a mode and language within which the contents of information consolidation
products ought to be conferred to users in a way that is most compatible with users' scenario and
desires which can enhance the comprehension and assimilation of information presented. Additional
specifically, restructuring requires determination of:
extent to which available content is to be incorporated (subject breadth and depth)
degree of invariability of information as found within the original text and the also the degree to
which new information (points of view, comparisons, etc.) is to be added
degree of detail in information (specific to general)
degree of changes in sequence of presentation relative to the original
technical sophistication (minimal, moderate, high, very high)
temporal aspects (timeliness, time spans covered, frequency of issue)
editorial qualities (grammar, clarity, balance, logic of presentation)
3.1.4. Step 4: Information repackaging
„Packaging of information may be a substantial recording, arrangement and presentation of
information on a specific medium and form. Packaging media is supposed for the recorded, displayed,
or given information and packaging formats are meant for arrangement, shape, and lay-out of
information during a given product on a specific medium.‟ Information repackaging is a method to
pack the consolidated information within the type that is appropriate and usable for library users.
Information Repackaging services assemble the pertinent information from a range of sources. The
aim of repackaging is to reinforce the acceptance, usage of information sources, and assimilation and
recall of their contacts.
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According to Saracevic and Wood (1981) “Packaging of information is physical recording,
arrangement and presentation of information on a given medium and in a given form. Repackaging
of information is arrangement of physical media and/or form in which information has been
presented, which is tailored to the requirement of a specific clientele. The aim of repackaging is to
enhance the acceptance and use of information products and the assimilation and recall of their
contents.” Packaging and repackaging ought to be supported the necessity for enhancing the
potential use, comprehension, assimilation, and recall and need to work out the medium and format
within which an information consolidation product are going to be conferred thereto users. It is
noteworthy Restructuring deals with contents or substance of information while packaging deals
with the shape of its presentation. Information packaging is done with the assistance of various sort
of media i.e., print media, audiovisual media, electronic media and social contact. In packaging
formats the necessity of effective information ought to be followed in terms of:
readability (comprehension wherever reading is involved)
view ability (comprehension wherever viewing is involved)
audibility (comprehension wherever listening is involved)
identifiability (cognition and perception of key information elements)
mnemonics (visual or audio association, significantly for recall)
Bunch (1984) describes information repackaging (IR) as a figure of information service that
emphasizes on the following steps: selecting the appropriate materials, re-processing the information
in a very kind that can be without delay understood by the user, packaging information, and so
arrangement of these materials in a way that is applicable to the user. The processes considered to
form this service work adheres to the constant objective of serving library users by identify sources
of information in response to a particular question, interest, assignment or issues (Cassell and
Hiremath, 2006).
Step 5. Dissemination is a method of distribution and delivery of information products and services
through certain channels to its users. It needs the determination of the channels by which
information products would to be delivered into the hands of users. The doable channels for
information consolidation are: social delivery, group personal delivery, in-house dissemination,
mail, native depository, newspapers, broadcasting, radio and TV, telephone, Computer networks.
Diffusion or dissemination of information ways in which can encourage and promote its use: this
might additionally involve education of users within the use of information and
promoting/marketing of information. Some of the more important channels for dissemination of
information consolidation products include:
Interpersonal delivery: through which the information consolidated products are provided
personally to users either at their request or in anticipation of need
Group personal delivery: provide information consolidated products to a whole group of users
e.g., in a meeting, demonstration
Strategic placement: positioned the information consolidated products in locations frequented by
users to select on their own
In-house delivery: institution of distinct dissemination functions in an organization e.g.,
circulation, reference
Local depositories: involve the cooperative arrangements with local information systems and
libraries
Mass media: products are delivered and/or announced
3.1.2. Step 6: Marketing of information is the method of viewing the entire information service or
product from the purpose of view of ultimate results i.e. from the use and user points of view. It is
an accumulative set of activities that aimed toward fulfilling the information needs.
Activities in marketing
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The central concept in marketing is in being client (user, customer) oriented rather than product
oriented. The current approach to marketing is to:
Identify the intended group of clients i.e. the library users.
Find out the needs and wants of user demands by applying user studies
Provide user with the right products or services supported by the effective communication about
the products, their benefits and usage, and makes them available at the right time and location.
Marketing of information products involves following activities:
Marketing research – it involves analysis of user groups, identification of their characteristics,
needs, wants, similarities, constraints, and economics. Segmentation of users into groups with
similar characteristics, values, needs, and information benefits would help in categorisation of the
information.
Product Development- Development of the information consolidation products. The product or
service in congruence with the findings of market research; targeting and testing of products led to
the consideration of alternative products: adaptation if necessary and finally targeting the given
user segments
Communication – Providing information to users about the benefits, usage, uses of the information
product. It provides user education and promotion of user services.
Economics - Determination of cost factors by pricing decisions, analysis of economic factors, e.g.,
cost benefits.
Dissemination - Delivery of product or service in an effective way, and at the right time and place.
It also involves the promotion of the information services.
Evaluation- To consider the competences of the product/service, dissemination procedure/ channel
etc an unremitting evaluation procedure should be followed. The evaluation should be based on
feedback from the users thus by calculating the satisfaction with services/ products etc
Feedback from users, analysis of the efforts, and changes.
Marketing concepts are vital for the process of information consolidation. Using these modern
marketing concepts, an alert information manager designs the structure of his/her system to give the
marketing components their deserved distinction. The marketing function should be fully integrated
with other processes of the system.
Examples of information consolidation products
The various information products in different media involved are: Reviews (critical reviews, state-
of-the-art reports); Reports (assessment, market, and technical reports) ;alerting bulletins or
newsletters; Data ( data compilations and tables; statistical abstracts, correlations, and composites;
critical data);Databases(expert databases; subject knowledge bases);Technical writings(guides,
manuals, instruction sheets, explanations on a complex subject provided in a style and language
engaged toward a given audience level. popular articles about a scientific or technical topic);
Handbooks(compilations of essential data and information on a subject); Critical
Studies(comparison of various practices or policies with pro and-con listings; impact and future
studies)and Requests(evaluative on-demand studies and compilations; briefings).some of the other
information consolidation products are tabulated in on the basis of different media and diffusion by
stage in self explanatory table and respectively. Table 2, provides a list of possible information
consolidation products in different media.
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Table 2: Information Consolidation Products In Different Media
Media Aspect Product
Print- paper, hard
copy
Single issue (temporal
aspect)
Critical review or state-of-the-art, Brochure, Monograph, Technical
report, Field manual (for operations, maintenance, processes), Guide,
Handbook, Textbook; tutorial Question-Answer sheet, Data
compilation; critical data
Statistical abstract, Briefing; evaluative summary. Directory;
evaluative answers, Referral; evaluative answers Printout; any of the
above
Serial ( temporal aspect) Newsletter; alerting bulletin, Journal, report
Recurring summaries, bulletins
Print - filmed
copy
Microform Microfiche; any of the above
Aperture card; any of the above
Microtext; any of the above
Print -soft copy Cathode ray tube Online retrieval-references, paragraphs Structural compositions
Tabular data Video newsletter
Audio Recording Tape, cassette, Phonodisc
Telephone recorded massage
(dissemination-delivery)
Briefing, summary, newsletter, information hotline
Radio(dissemination-
delivery)
Summary, tutorial, radio shows
Visual Graphics Photograph, drawing, chart, poster, display, slide, figure,
Transparency
Audiovisual Film Motion picture, slide and recordings, Holograph
Video videodics, videotape
TV(dissemination-delivery) Summary, advice, tutorial, newsletter, briefing, TV show
Demonstration Fixed site Modelling- processes, procedures, application, test/ laboratory, trial
installation, pilot plant, exhibit
Non-fixed site Mobile demonstration unit, scale model
Interpersonal Group(dissemination-
delivery)
Lecture/ talk, seminar/ conferences/ tutorial
Individual(dissemination-
delivery)
Personal consulting/ advice, correspondence, telephone conversation,
staff visit
Source: Saracevic, Tefko (1986)
Table 3 provides a list of possible information consolidation products as appropriate for: (i) different
stages in information diffusion or transfer and (ii) different types of users-organizations and
individuals
Table 3. Example of information consolidation. diffusion by stage
Type of
Organisation
Awareness Interest/ Knowledge Attitude/formation Trial/decision Adoption/ confirmation
Small
Industry
Advertising.
Product/process
announcement.
Promotional brochure.
Newsletter. Data.
Reports. Group
Seminar. Visits.
Briefings. Exhibit.
Synthesis of
requirements
Seminar on effects.
Comparative statistics.
Report on alternatives
and experiences.
videotapes, Films.
Demonstration.
Technical manuals.
Graphics displays.
Databooks.
Handbooks
Operational manuals.
Market reports.
Handbooks
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Medium
Industry
Brochure describing
product/ process of interest
to technical personnel.
Market
description for
managers
State-or-the art review
Describing technology.
Resource and
Economic analysis or
summary.
Comparative
experiences.
Critiques. Market
analysis
Demonstration.
Technical assistance
manuals. Films, tapes,
pictures. Data books
Operational manuals.
Updates. Trends.
Synthesis of advances.
Handbooks
Large
Industry
Alerting bulletins.
Newsletter.
Technical news synthesis.
Market trends
Individual seminar on
New developments.
State-of – the –art. Economic
analysis. Synthesis of
research results. Critical data.
Reply to inquiry
Competitive analysis.
Impact analysis.
Historical review of
similar efforts.
Evaluations
Demonstration.
Testing reports.
Technical manuals.
Training manuals.
Tables of
recommended data
Operational manuals for
different levels of
personnel. SDI synthesis of
advances. Continuous
critical and recommended
data.
State
Government
Announcements. Form
Letters. Presentation at
meetings. Newsletter.
Alerting bulletin
Slide/tape descriptions.
Briefing. Reviews. Statistical
composites. Synthesis of
research findings. Data tables
Historical data.
Comparison with other
countries.
Demonstration.
Impact analysis.
Evaluations. Integrative
future studies
Synthesis of practices
and trials. Manuals.
Referral.
Documentation.
Recurring supply of
synthesized information.
Evaluation reports.
Mass Urban
Population
Newspaper articles.
Announcements on radio,
TV. Popular talks on a
given practice or product.
Question answer sheets
Radio and TV, shows.
Popularization articles.
Simplified pamphlets,
brochures. Comic Strips.
Photo novels.
Demonstrations. Exhibits.
Popularized journals. Fields
Manuals
Comparing with other
practices.
Demonstrations
Synthesis of fitting with
daily life.
Possible impacts,
positive and negative.
Show-how
information simplified
manuals Do-it yourself
booklet
Synthesized information
fortifying and refining the
practice.
Mass Village
Population
Radio announcements.
Visits with opinion leaders.
Posters and
Graphic displays.
School talks.
Training sessions for
Extension workers.
Extension service
demonstrations.
Simplified pamphlets.
Field manuals in various
media (e.g. Picture books,
comic strips). Graphic
displays Films. Talks
Talks by opinion leaders.
Comparison with other
villages.
Synthesis of fitting with
village life.
Impacts. Summary.
Show-how
information field
manuals. Experimental
information. Markets
for cash crops. Do-it
yourself booklet
Reinforcement
information.
Comparisons.
Refinements. Increased
know-how information.
Market
Enlargement information.
Academic/
Research
Institutions
Journal notices. Short
Announcement in
professional newsletters.
Acquisition notices.
State-of-the art and
Critical reviews.
Synthesized research results.
Referral.
Journal articles. Text
excerpts. Critical data.
Data Survey
Synthesis of critical
reports and evaluations.
Comparative results.
Resource requirements
information
Research data.
Training/ education
Materials Know-why
Information
Experiences at other
institutions.
Continuing Synthesized
SDI reports. Selective
Current contents.
Refinements in advance.
Critical data.
Source: Saracevic, Tefko (1986)
Gulati and Raina (2000) laid some pointers that an information professional should take under
consideration when consolidating sources of information, in varied formats, from the global
information environment. When developing an information product, the consolidator should: (a)
perceive the organization of materials in libraries and use natively produced location guides; (b)
perceive a way to use classification systems and principle for their existence; (c) use location
information within the bibliographic record to retrieve domestically-owned resources; (d) use local
resources to find information sources in the global information environment; (e) understand that
libraries have developed methods for locating and sharing resources not owned locally and use the
acceptable resource sharing system, like interlibrary loan or document delivery, to retrieve
information; (f) understand that the web is a helpful resource for locating, retrieving and transferring
information electronically.
The Bureau of Library and Information Services (INFORM), ILO is a knowledge base of key
information on work problems, sustainable livelihoods, and therefore the work associated to the
aspects of economic /social development, technological amendment or human rights. It is the centre
repository of ILO publications produced in Geneva and in the ILO‟s offices around the world. It has
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made a Subject resource guide, a kind of webliography. Users of this specialized information
product at the International Labour Organization have verified its worth to their work and functions
within the workplace (Abrigo 2009). The development of this subject resource guide is predicated
on Agada‟s (1995) systematic IR methodology which involves the subsequent components: (1)
information analysis; (2) synthesis; (3) editing; (4) translating and transforming its symbolic and
media formats. An already processed relevant information the chosen topic found on in-house and
subscription based databases and different secondary web sources are culled out, “reprocessed” or
examined for accuracy and currency, packaged or tailored to suit consequently into the structure
system, and so ultimate product comes get into a format that suits best the users of information.
3.2. Benefits of information consolidation
The value of consolidated information is evident to information professionals. Unfortunately, the
values and benefits are far from clear to several users or potential users. Even the users with a high
level of education and responsibility fail to check the advantages of consolidated information for
them and for the aims of their organizations. (Saracevic, Tefko, 1986) explained the benefits that
may be derived from use of consolidated information. The explanatory Table 4 outline the various
potential benefits of the these products
Table 4: Potential benefits that may be derived from use of consolidated information.
GENERAL ACTIVITY OR AREA POTENTIAL BENEFITS
Decisions Better informed about alternatives and consequences. Improved decisions making
process. Reduction of uncertainty
Knowledge,
competence .
Increase in level, depth, breadth by individuals or groups. Higher sophistication in
drawing relations between seemingly unconnected facts
Adaptation More appropriate and adjusted responses by individuals, groups or organizations to
demands of and changes in the environment and a complex world.
Productivity Higher levels and outputs in work and other activities. More contacts. Increased
capacity and effectiveness.
Resources More efficient or economic use of resources. Increased capacity and/or effectiveness.
Better economy
Success Contribution toward attaining aims of individuals, groups, organizations. Better or
wider spread and acceptance of results. Detection of necessary adjustments.
SPECIFIC AREAS INFORMATION CONSOLIDATION AIMED TOWARDS BENEFITS SUCH AS:
Enterprises.
Business.
Commerce.
Broadening markets. Providing appropriate responses to market conditions and
demands. Meeting competition. Complying with standards and regulations.
Motivating personnel.
Making business decisions.
Industry.
Manufacture.
Incorporating technical innovation Adding new products. Making products
appropriate. Increasing productivity. Reducing break downs.
Science Keeping up with research front. Judging own position and advances. Making
appropriate decisions on policy and allocations. Searching for related works and/or
ideas for further work or methodology.
Education Keeping up with advances in given fields and in education research, methods, and
approaches. Providing for educational planning and assessments or comparisons.
Individuals
Providing for self fulfilment and advancement in their given area of work or interest.
Providing for wider opportunities in employment, self help, and adjustments to
changing environments and conditions. Increasing sophistication toward higher
quality of life.
Source: Saracevic, Tefko (1986)
Consolidated information could contribute to information sophistication of a population that
successively contributes to quality of life. The significance of consolidated information is argued in
relevancy its role in creating higher cognitive process and downside determination as making
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decisions and determination issues, even those encountered in everyday work, requires information.
For example, take into consideration the worth of consolidated information that helps to boost
sanitation, which successively decreases disease, pain and suffering. With the increase in complexity of information decisions or issues, the necessity for information intensifies, the quantity
of obtainable information proliferates, it becomes harder to get and use relevant information; and
therefore the complexity, interdisciplinarity, and technical sophistication of obtainable information
will increases, less is utilised by decision makers and problem solvers as conferred in its original
form.
Figure 2. Value of Information in Decision Making and Problem Solving
The value of consolidated information changes with the type and amount of information. To
illustrate: a pile of documents on a given topic on a decision maker's desk or in a very worker's
hand, has little value to the decisions they have to create on that topic or issues they have to unravel/
solve, even supposing the documents could have all the information that is required. Summaries
could have a bit more value. Mergers of excerpts from an assortment of documents could have still
more value. Evaluation of information will significantly increase its value. The paramount value of
information is in a very set of alternative choices summarized from all the sources mentioned and
proposals for decisions or resolution of the problems. These relations are expressed in Figure 2 and
3. In other words, at the same time as the quantity of information more and more consolidated, its
value increases; as the information is progressively expressed in the plain language on the basis of
the social/cultural framework of the user, its value will increases for that user and with the
information packaged in a very suggests that which is able to build its use easier, and its value
increases.
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Figure 3. Relation between Public Knowledge, Consolidated Information and Users
Another way to look at the worth of information consolidation is in connexion loss of information or
the information that never reaches a user or cluster of users even though such information is
instantly on the market inside the noesis and through plentiful primary and secondary literature
sources. As are often seen from Figure not all primary or secondary sources might reach the users or
be acceptable for the users and their issues and associated selections they have to make. The role of
information consolidation is to be as applicable to the users as attainable.
3.3. Information Consolidation Units/ Centres in India
Information analysis and consolidation activities are being distributed by several national level
information centres moreover R&D establishments notably within the field of science and
technology and that they are conveyance out various IAC products for the advantage of completely
different user groups.
NISCAIR
National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR) came into
existence on 30 September 2002 with the merger of National Institute of Science Communication
(NISCOM) and Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC). Both NISCOM and
INSDOC, the two premier institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),
were devoted to dissemination and documentation of S&T information. One of the core activities of
NISCAIR is to gather, organize and disseminate S&T information generated in India as well as in
the world that has connection to Indian S&T community. Beneath this programme, the institute is
building comprehensive collection of S&T publications in print and electronic form and spreading
through traditional as well as modern means that benefiting the various segments of the society. The
resources involved brings out following Information resources involve the electronic and in house
database
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Electronic Resources: Automated libraries are slowly shifting to Electronic Libraries which will
eventually cause the establishment of Digital Libraries.
On-line Databases: It provides access to 1500 international databases. Searches are performed for
research scientists and the corporate. The databases provide the latest information on commercial,
R&D and market information.
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts (MAPA) a bimonthly abstracting journal cover global
current literature on all aspects of medicinal, aromatic and allied plants. The papers from about 600
primary journals, research reports, conference proceedings, patents from 65 countries and in 25
languages are scanned, selected and abstracted. The abstracts in MAPA are provided under the
following broad subject groups: Agronomy, Analytical & Processing Techniques, Antimicrobial
Activity, Botany (General & Systematic), Breeding & Genetics, Chemotaxonomy, Clinical Studies,
Diseases & Pests, Ethnomedicine , Insecticidal & Piscicidal Activity, Marketing & Trade,
Miscellaneous, New Publications, Patents , Physiology & Biochemistry, Pharmacognosy,
Pharmacology & Toxicology,Phytochemistry. The potential users are Researchers
Entrepreneurs, Pharamaceuticals, Traders, Medical Practitioners, Information scientist,
R&D, Policy Planners, S&T Consultants, Cultivators, and Patents Attorneys.
ICAR
The Council supports study and research in agricultural sciences including agriculture, horticulture,
animal sciences, agricultural engineering, fisheries and home sciences. ICAR has established various
research centres and 38 state agricultural universities (SAUs) to meet the agricultural research and
education needs of the country. Vocational training to the farmers, training to extension personnel to
update their knowledge and skill, and single window delivery system of technology, products,
services and information is provided through Agricultural Technology Information Centres. ICAR
has a large network of ICAR-SAUs extension system which involves 415 Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs), 10 Trainers Training Institutes (TTCs), 70 Institute-Village- Linkage-Programme (IVLP)
Cetntres and 44 Agricultural Technology Information Centres. ICAR brings out a variety of
Information resources involving Research/Peer Reviewed Journals (Indian Journal of Animal
Sciences (monthly), Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences (monthly), and Indian Horticulture
(quarterly). Other Journals includes Indian Farming (monthly in English), Phal Phool (quarterly in
Hindi) and Kheti (monthly in Hindi). A quarterly digests in Hindi Krishi Chayanica. It also publish
Newsletters like ICAR-News (monthly), ICAR- Reporter (quarterly) , Handbook of Agriculture,
Handbook of Animal Husbandry, Handbook of Horticulture, Handbook of Plant Tissue Culture and
Handbook of Rock Gardening on the Hills. The council has also produced 44 films in different areas
like Crop Sciences, Fisheries, Animal Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Horticulture and
Agricultural Engineering.
Regional Centre for Technology Transfer, United Nation Economic and Social
Commission for the Asia and Pacific
Technical digests of information on activities of developing countries in ESCAP region (for use in
promotion, research and development, development of technological capabilities, and new
technological developments) in the form of research round-ups, technical notes, etc. covering areas
identified as important by countries of the region; answers to specific questions provided from
information collected and repackaged by the Technical Information Enquiry Service; special
publications (of materials presented at workshops, seminars , or consultation meetings). Periodicals,
journals, reports, books, and other information materials; selects, adapts, repackages, and
disseminates information to several types of end users (policy makers, planners, administrators,
entrepreneurs, regulating agencies, R&D institutions, and industrial development agencies) in
ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) region. The Asia Pacific Tech
Monitor and VATIS is bi monthly periodicals, disseminate a range of technological information
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including technology transfer and innovation management that linked to issues such as
environmentally sustainable growth, climate change, energy security, gender equality and inclusive
development. These publications provide SMEs and national policy analyst with the latest
information on technology trends in the region and provide direction for substantive work.
www.techmonitor.net to access the contents and download the VATIS Updates free of cost.
3.4. Conclusion
Information consolidation is not a universal remedy to information desires and issues; however it is
one in all the necessary approaches to be considered along with a bunch of alternative information
products and services. Consolidated information products and services will play a vital role in
satisfying a variety of vital information desires. In turn, correct education and training of
information professionals within the art and science of information consolidation may be a key to
success of any and all information consolidation efforts. Information consolidation is an effective
approach to fulfilment of specific informational needs for appraising and synthesized information
services for the however underserved.
Information consolidation is applicable to extremely specialised users i.e. engineers, scientists,
managers, policy makers and another category to users of lesser sophistication ie general public. The
information consolidation provides an immense opportunity for using non-print dissemination
channels and packaging media, notably in relevancy to information for a broad audience in the urban
as well as rural areas. Information consolidation is advanced and demands an explicit commitment
of resources. However, information consolidation has verified its importance and benefits in
information transfer. Therefore, information consolidation ought to be a high consideration within
the institution or refinement of information efforts serving developing countries.
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Websites
http://www.icar.org.in
http://www.niscair.res.in
www.apctt.org
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