A Policy Review of Public Libraries in India

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the status of policies, legislation and finance with respect to public libraries in India. Design/methodology/approach This is a descriptive study based on data collected from literature review and census data on public libraries, along with a field visit of government public libraries at Bangalore. It attempts a critique of existing policies related to public libraries in particular and the culture sector in general, which governs the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAMs) in India. Findings Of India’s 29 states and 7 union territories, 19 states have passed state library legislations, of which only 5 have the provision of a library cess or tax levy and it was found that states with lower literacy rates do not have library legislations. Bihar and Chhattisgarh in 2008 and Arunachal Pradesh in 2009 have recently passed these legislations without a library cess. Few states have progressed with the automation of public libraries, while 16 state libraries continue to function without any such legislation. The legislative process and legal issues involved in policy making, combined with the lack of political consensus and goodwill, have severely constrained the growth, coverage and development of public libraries for people in India. The existing national acts and state library legislations should be reviewed to adapt to changing times and to bring about integrated information services across GLAMs for the public. A RTI query sent to the Ministry of Culture revealed that there is no official data available on the per capita expenditure on public libraries in India. Practical implications In an online-networked environment, all GLAM institutions work towards collecting, preserving and providing access to educational and cultural heritage resources as social capital. However, there is a lack of national policy to govern GLAMs and the government bodies responsible for developing GLAMs are not integrative in their processes. A more holistic framework is required to assess funding needs and to ensure reforms in culture sector. Central government should make it mandatory to have access to public library for every citizen of India, legitimating public library services, even as India celebrates 100 years of public librarianship and enters its second century of providing library and information services to the nation. Originality/value GLAMs should be inclusionary public spaces for intellectual engagement and community development and need greater attention of policy makers. Though the public library movement reached its peak in the nationalist movements of the early 20th century, developing integrated and contemporary policies for the growth and development of public libraries as a public good in the 21st century will make India a knowledge society

An Integrative Review of Web 3.0 in Academic Libraries

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present an integrated literature review exploring the nature of responsive, semantic and interactive Web 3.0 technologies applicable for academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach – We conducted an integrated review of the literature combining a strategy of automated and keywords search. The main source for identifying the studies are Emerald Library Studies and Information & Knowledge Management eJournals, Web of Knowledge, and Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (EBSCO) databases. To this end, a sample of (n= 140) studies were analyzed to characterize the Web 3.0 trends and its applications based on theme, years and document types. Findings – A review of literature reveals that Web 3. needs evaluation as to what extent they are integrated, deployed and mainstreamed into library services and in information management practices. It is important to develop a conceptual framework that explores the linkages of Web 3.0 technologies and their applications in academic libraries. Originality/value –This review shows how Web 3.0 technologies enhance library services in its holistic conceptualization and how academic libraries are moving into a more robust, inclusive and adaptable phase in their service values and innovation

Draft bills and research reports on: reducing judicial corruption and child labor in Nepal

These two draft bills and accompanying research report comprise the work of two teams of Nepali officials from Nepal's Ministry of Law and Justice who prepared them in the context of the Boston University School of Law Program on Legislative Drafting for Democratic Social Change. They attended that Program as part of a larger Ministry of Law and Justice Program, funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to strengthen Nepal's legal framework and the Rule of Law. Using the bills and reports as case studies, the four officials aimed to learn legislative theory, methodology and techniques. The Ministry had assigned them, on their return to Nepal, to play a significant role in institutionalizing an on-going learning process to strengthen Nepali drafters' capacity to prepare the effectively implementable legislation necessary to ensure good governance and development

Web 2.0 use in academic libraries of top ranked Asian universities

Purpose This paper aims to explore recent trends of how Web 2.0 applications were used in 75 academic libraries in Asia through their library websites. Design/methodology/approach The Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2016 was considered for this study and out of 200 top universities ranked, 75 universities were selected for data collection. Using a multi-method approach, this study evaluated key design elements, library service platforms and website content of each academic library website, examining their site features, Web 2.0 types and applications. The criteria for selecting the websites were first the website was in English and second had Web 2.0 applications integrated into the main website. For the ranking of websites, a library web service index was developed, benchmarking from these groups – resource discovery tools, Web 2.0 applications, e-resources, mobile applications, library guides, digital reference services and digital inclusion – as indicators. Findings The authors found that over two-thirds of Asian university libraries have deployed one or more Web 2.0 applications, though their popularity and implementation vary greatly. Most widely used Web 2.0 applications are Facebook (61.3 per cent), RSS (53.3 per cent), Twitter (46.7 per cent) and YouTube (37.3 per cent). Instant messaging (5.3 per cent) and podcasting (4 per cent) were least applied. With an average of 44 per cent, the diffusion rate of Web information is moderately high among the majority of the Asian university libraries. Originality/value Many studies explored Web 2.0 applications from developed countries. However, this study attempts evaluating the use of Web 2.0 applications through content, sites and features of academic libraries in Asia, from developing countries perspective

Directional Correlation Study of Gamma Cascades in the Decay of Sb124

The delay scheme of sb124 studied and the gamma-gamma directional correlation measurements are carried out for few cascades.On the basis of the experimental data on directional correlations, the spin assignments are made for the 603, 1326, 1964, 2313, 2688 keV excited levels of Te124. Multipole assignments are made for 989, 1362 keV transitions

An Integrative Review of Web 3.0 in Academic Libraries

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present an integrated literature review exploring the nature of responsive, semantic and interactive Web 3.0 technologies applicable for academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach – We conducted an integrated review of the literature combining a strategy of automated and keywords search. The main source for identifying the studies are Emerald Library Studies and Information & Knowledge Management eJournals, Web of Knowledge, and Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (EBSCO) databases. To this end, a sample of (n= 140) studies were analyzed to characterize the Web 3.0 trends and its applications based on theme, years and document types. Findings – A review of literature reveals that Web 3. needs evaluation as to what extent they are integrated, deployed and mainstreamed into library services and in information management practices. It is important to develop a conceptual framework that explores the linkages of Web 3.0 technologies and their applications in academic libraries. Originality/value –This review shows how Web 3.0 technologies enhance library services in its holistic conceptualization and how academic libraries are moving into a more robust, inclusive and adaptable phase in their service values and innovation

Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Activities of Buchanania lanzan Spreng Methanol Leaf Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Types I and II Diabetic Rats

Purpose: To evaluate the antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Buchanania lanzan.Methods: Wistar rats were divided into nine groups of six animals each, and 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin or streptozotocin + nicotinamide was administered intraperitonially to induce types I and II diabetes. Those with blood glucose levels > 190 ± 8 mg/dl were administered the methanol leaf extract of Buchanania lanzan (MEBL, 100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) or positive control for 21 days. Blood glucose, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers were evaluated.Results: Following induction, blood glucose level rose to 327.7 ± 47.4 mg/dl, compared to the normal value of 910 ± 3.2 mg/dl. Administration of MEBL (100 or 200 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased blood glucose level, serum lipid profile, and significantly (p < 0.05) increased antioxidant activity as evidenced by increase in super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalas, glutathione (GSH), and decrease in the activity of lipid peroxidation (LPO).Conclusion: MEBL exhibits antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities in diabetic rat and needs to be further investigated for the treatment of both types I and II diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic, Antioxidant, Buchanania lanzan

Differential rates of seed abortion among trees of Dalbergia sissoo: role of post-dispersal sibling competition

It has been suggested that production of a high frequency of few-seeded pods in most trees of Dalbergia sissoo is due to the enhanced dispersal efficiency and reduced sibling competition among the seeds of such pods. However, a few trees exhibit a relatively low seed abortion and hence, a relatively lower frequency of one- and two-seeded pods. Such reduced seed abortion in one such tree (T-9) is shown to be due the lack of establishment of a strong dominance by the early fertilized over the late fertilized ovules. Unlike in the pods of the normal trees, the early fertilized ovules in this tree do not inhibit the metabolic activity of the late fertilized ovules. We show that such reduced abortion in such trees is favoured due to reduced gains to the survivor in the few-seeded pods. While the dispersal advantage of the single-seeded over many-seeded pods in this tree remains the same as in others, the post-dispersal negative interactions among the seeds of a pod are significantly lesser in it than that in the pods of normal trees. We discuss these results in the context of sibling rivalry among, and inclusive fitness of, the seeds developing within the pods of D. sissoo

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Novel 3-[1-(3-nitrophenyl)-ethyl]-1-(indole-1-yl) Substituted Aryl/alkyl-phosphinoyl/thiophosphinoyl/ selenophosphinoyl-1H-indole Derivatives

Syntheses of novel 3-[1-(3-nitrophenyl)-ethyl]-1-(indole-1-yl) substituted aryl/alkyl phosphinoyl/thiophosphinoyl/selenophosphinoyl-1H-indole derivatives were accomplished in two steps. The synthetic route involves the cyclisation of equimolar quantities of 3-[1H-3-indolyl(3-nitrophenyl)methyl]-1H-indole with dichlorophenyl phosphine/ethyldichlorophosphite in the presence of triethylamine in dry acetonitrile at room temperature. These compounds were further converted to the corresponding oxides, sulphides and selenides by reacting them with hydrogen peroxide, sulphur and selenium, respectively. The structures of the novel products were established by elemental analyses, IR, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR and mass spectroscopy. They were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activity against Staphylococcus aureus/Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pellicularia solmanicolor/Macrophomina phaseolina, respectively.Keywords: Bisindolylalkanes, alkyl/aryl phosphorodichloridates, antimicrobial activit

A Policy Review of Public Libraries in India

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the status of policies, legislation and finance with respect to public libraries in India. Design/methodology/approach This is a descriptive study based on data collected from literature review and census data on public libraries, along with a field visit of government public libraries at Bangalore. It attempts a critique of existing policies related to public libraries in particular and the culture sector in general, which governs the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAMs) in India. Findings Of India’s 29 states and 7 union territories, 19 states have passed state library legislations, of which only 5 have the provision of a library cess or tax levy and it was found that states with lower literacy rates do not have library legislations. Bihar and Chhattisgarh in 2008 and Arunachal Pradesh in 2009 have recently passed these legislations without a library cess. Few states have progressed with the automation of public libraries, while 16 state libraries continue to function without any such legislation. The legislative process and legal issues involved in policy making, combined with the lack of political consensus and goodwill, have severely constrained the growth, coverage and development of public libraries for people in India. The existing national acts and state library legislations should be reviewed to adapt to changing times and to bring about integrated information services across GLAMs for the public. A RTI query sent to the Ministry of Culture revealed that there is no official data available on the per capita expenditure on public libraries in India. Practical implications In an online-networked environment, all GLAM institutions work towards collecting, preserving and providing access to educational and cultural heritage resources as social capital. However, there is a lack of national policy to govern GLAMs and the government bodies responsible for developing GLAMs are not integrative in their processes. A more holistic framework is required to assess funding needs and to ensure reforms in culture sector. Central government should make it mandatory to have access to public library for every citizen of India, legitimating public library services, even as India celebrates 100 years of public librarianship and enters its second century of providing library and information services to the nation. Originality/value GLAMs should be inclusionary public spaces for intellectual engagement and community development and need greater attention of policy makers. Though the public library movement reached its peak in the nationalist movements of the early 20th century, developing integrated and contemporary policies for the growth and development of public libraries as a public good in the 21st century will make India a knowledge society