Information Management In Indian Medical Libraries

The study presents a comprehensive picture of the medical libraries in India with their stengths and weaknesses and thus has a bearing on applicability for all developing countries. It traces the historical development of the various systems of medicine from ancient times to the present day and their impact on, and relationship in, the growth of health science libraries. The work highlights the achievements and the status of medicine in the post-Vedic period and shows how the writings of Charaka, Susruta and Vaghbatta, who form the trinity of post-Vedic pysicians, made Ayurveda a highly developed system of medicine. The book provides detailed information about the aims and objectives of health science libraries and documentation centres, their existing manpower and qualifications, information resources and management, financial position and infrastructural facilities and the services available to the users. It also discuss the development of various information technologies and their application in medical libraries. As regarded health information clientele, the book attempts to examine in detail the services and resources available to them in medical libraries. The scrutiny reveals that the existing resources and services provided to the bio-medical community are inadequate to meet their increasing demands. As a way of remedial measure, it has been proposed that based on resource-sharing concept, an Indian National System in Health Science Libraries may be set up. Keeping in view the existing network of medical libraries, a schematic diagram suggesting work flow in health literature, library and information services has been drawn up.