Developing Library Network (DELNET)

1. Developing Library Network (DELNET)

DELNET, which stands for Developing Library Network, is a prominent library network in India. It connects over 8,100 institutions across 33 states in India and a few other countries, including universities, colleges, research and development organisations, medical hospitals, and more. Established with a mission to modernise and network libraries, DELNET was officially registered as a Society on June 30, 1992. Its headquarters are located at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. The core motto of DELNET is "Networking Libraries, Sharing and Spreading Knowledge." For over 30 years, DELNET has been dedicated to this mission. In recognition of its exceptional contributions, DELNET was honoured with the prestigious IIPA Award for Excellence in Public Services on October 30, 2020, in the presence of the esteemed former Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.
DELNET's primary objective is to promote resource sharing among member libraries by collecting, storing, and disseminating information while offering networked library services to users. It also engages in information science and technology research, provides technical guidance to member libraries, coordinates efforts for appropriate collection development, and promotes interlibrary loan and document delivery services.
DELNET has developed various portals, including the Discovery Portal, Knowledge Gainer Portal, and Vision Portal (Video Lectures). These portals offer advanced features for knowledge discovery, providing users with a single-window, feature-rich environment to explore the networked library and knowledge resources offered through DELNET. This resource is invaluable for faculty, researchers, scholars, students, and all members of its affiliated institutions. Initially, DELNET had 31 associate institutional members, all based in Delhi. Over time, its membership steadily increased, leading to the need for a change in its name. On September 13, 2000, the organisation rebranded itself as the Developing Libraries Network, expanding its scope beyond a metropolitan network and removing borders, making its services accessible to users worldwide.
Today, DELNET continues to grow rapidly. In 1997-2000, it had 153 member libraries, which increased to 276 by November 1, 2001. Membership now spans India and extends to other SAARC countries such as Oman, the Philippines, and the United States. DELNET serves a wide range of library types, including those in general, science and technology, social sciences, and humanities. This diverse membership includes academic, research/special, public, government, diplomatic missions, UN agencies, and other miscellaneous libraries.

2. Objectives of DELNET

• Promotion of Resource Sharing: DELNET aims to foster resource sharing among libraries by establishing a network of libraries. It achieves this by collecting, storing, and disseminating information and providing computerised services to users.
• Advancement of Information Science and Technology: DELNET is committed to conducting scientific research in information science and technology. It endeavours to develop innovative systems in this domain, apply the research results, and publish them.
• Technical Guidance: The organisation offers technical guidance to member libraries in collecting, storing, sharing, and disseminating information.
• Collection Development and Duplication Reduction: DELNET coordinates efforts to facilitate appropriate collection development and reduce unnecessary duplication of resources wherever feasible.
• Establishment of Referral and Research Centres: DELNET strives to establish and facilitate the establishment of referral and/or research centres. It also maintains a central online union catalogue encompassing books, serials, and non-book materials from all participating libraries.
• Document Delivery: DELNET promotes and facilitates the delivery of documents, both manually and mechanically.
• Specialised Bibliographic Databases: The organisation develops specialised databases encompassing books, serials, and non-book materials.
• Database of Projects, Specialists, and Institutions: DELNET creates and maintains databases related to projects, specialists, and institutions.
• Electronic and Mechanical Equipment: DELNET possesses and maintains electronic and mechanical equipment to ensure swift communication of information and electronic mail delivery.
• Collaboration with Other Networks and Libraries: DELNET actively collaborates with regional, national, and international networks and libraries to exchange information and documents.
• Organising Workshops and Meets: DELNET organises national workshops and meetings, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration within the library community.

3. Facilities from DELNET

DELNET Databases

• Union Catalogue of Books - CCF: DELNET's online union catalogue hosts 1026827 bibliographic records. It is continuously updated and allows users to request inter-library loans through the online system.
• Union Catalogue of Books - MARK Format: In MARC book format, DELNET's union catalogue includes 27,231 records.
• Union List of Current Periodicals: DELNET maintains a union list of current periodicals in science and technology, social sciences, and humanities. This online database lists 16,497 periodicals and is regularly updated with new titles added annually.
• Union Catalogue of Periodicals: DELNET's union catalogue of periodicals encompasses 15,487 records, including complete holdings information from member libraries.
• Database of Periodical Articles: This database allows searches by title, author, compiler, periodical name, and subject. It presently contains 218218 records.
• CD-ROM Databases: This compilation includes bibliographic data from CD-ROMs available in member libraries, comprising 1214 records.
• Union List of Video Recordings: A database of videocassettes available in DELNET member libraries, with about 2278 listings.
• Union List of Sound Recordings: This union list comprises audiocassette records available in member libraries, with 708 listings.
• Database of Urdu Manuscripts: Listing 210 manuscripts available in Delhi libraries.
• Database of Theses and Dissertations: A comprehensive database of theses and dissertations submitted to Indian universities covering various subjects, with 16,587 records.
• Indian Specialists Database - Who is Who: This database features 2,000 records and can be searched by name, area of specialisation, subject interests, languages known, and more.
• Union List of Newspapers: This database records newspaper titles, names of editors, places of publication, email addresses, and web addresses of internet editions.
• Serials - Management Libraries: An online database containing nearly 800 serials received in various management libraries.
• DEVINSA Database: The Development Information Network for South Asia (DEVINSA) focuses on socio-economic issues, with nearly 20000 records of periodical articles, books, and unpublished materials in this domain.
• Profile of Member Libraries: DELNET provides a directory containing information about its member libraries.

DELNET offers internet access to a variety of databases and listservs to provide users with a wide range of resources and information:

• GISTNIC: DELNET grants access to the GISTNIC database of the National Informatics Centre.
• LOC (Library of Congress): Users can access the Library of Congress catalogue online through DELNET.
• NLM (National Library of Medicine): DELNET offers online access to various databases from the National Library of Medicine, including resources like Medline, AIDSline, and Popline.
• U.S. Patents: DELNET provides online access to full-text U.S. Patents.
• Index to The Hindu: DELNET offers an index to The Hindu online newspaper. Users can access over one lakh indexed news items covering the period of 1996-98 from the Chennai edition.
• NET HAPPENINGS: Access to information about current happenings on the internet.
• IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions): Users can connect with resources and updates from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
• LIBJOBS: Access to job listings in library and information science.
• BOOK REVIEWS FROM THE INTERNET: DELNET provides access to book reviews available on the internet.
• Current Contents: Access current content and information on various subjects and fields.

National Bibliographic Database: DELNET created a national bibliographic database in 1998, with support from the Department of Culture, Government of India. This effort began as a pilot project and involved the generation of 50,000 records of books. The initial record creation occurred at Punjab University, Patiala, and Chennai's International Institute of Tamil Studies. The compilation work continues at several institutions, including Andhra University, the Asiatic Society of Bombay, and the Asiatic Society in Kolkata. This ongoing project aims to build a comprehensive database of bibliographic information, further enriching the resources available to users and researchers.

• DELNET - AICTE MOU: DELNET recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to modernise and network all the technical institutions approved by AICTE across the country through DELNET.
• Training Programs: DELNET conducts various training initiatives, including tutorials, workshops, lectures, and training programs. These activities are organised periodically and are complemented by the National Convention on Library and Information Networking (NACLIN).
• Software Development: DELNET has developed several library software programs, including DEL-DOS, which operates on the DOS platform, DELMARC & DEL PLUS..

Other Services:

• Retro-conversion: DELNET periodically undertakes retro-conversion projects.
• Referral Centre: DELNET maintains a referral centre to offer reference services to participating libraries.
• Database Creation: DELNET assists participating libraries in creating bibliographic databases and provides technical support for IT applications in libraries.
• ILL Online: DELNET offers an optional service for online registration of interlibrary loan (ILL) book requests. Users must pay an annual fee of Rs. 4,000, plus DELNET photocopying charges.
• E-mail: DELNET provides RENNIC e-mail and internet facilities as optional services.
• Internet TCP/IP Connectivity: Members in Delhi receive full Internet TCP/IP connectivity through NIC

Publications: The DELNET publishes The DELNET Newsletter to disseminate information about library networking and increase awareness about the latest developments. It also serves as a communication channel to update members on DELNET's progress in various areas.