National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC)

1. National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC)

The National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), located in New Delhi, was established in 1969 under the aegis of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). It is an institution in India dedicated to collecting, preserving, and disseminating social science research material. It significantly promotes social science research, providing valuable resources to scholars, researchers, policymakers, and students.
Its inception aimed to serve several vital objectives within the realm of social sciences:

• Research Support: NASSDOC's foremost mission is to provide comprehensive library and information support services to researchers specialising in social sciences.
• Multifaceted Assistance: It extends support to diverse stakeholders, including those affiliated with academic institutions, autonomous research organisations, policy-making bodies, government research units, and business and industry.
• Information Dissemination: NASSDOC is committed to disseminating information about the latest developments in social science research, keeping the community informed and engaged.
• Guidance and Collaboration: The centre offers guidance and collaboration to libraries associated with ICSSR Regional Centres and ICSSR-maintained Research Institutions.
• Funding for Projects: NASSDOC is crucial in providing financial assistance for documentation and bibliographic projects, fostering valuable research initiatives.
• Educational Initiatives: In addition to its core functions, NASSDOC conducts short-term training courses tailored to the needs of social scientists, research scholars, librarians, and IT professionals, nurturing a diverse range of skill sets.
• Scholarly Grants: NASSDOC also administers study grants to doctoral students, enabling them to collect essential research materials from libraries nationwide. This support contributes significantly to the academic pursuits of future scholars.

Through its multifaceted initiatives, NASSDOC is a cornerstone for social science research, fostering knowledge creation, dissemination, and educational advancement.

2. NASSDOC Services

NASSDOC offers a wide array of services, leveraging its extensive collection of unpublished doctoral dissertations, research project reports, and a diverse selection of Indian and foreign social science journals, which includes back volumes. These services cater to the needs of researchers in the social sciences, and they have:

• Library and Reference Services: NASSDOC provides comprehensive library and reference services to assist researchers in their academic pursuits. This encompasses access to a vast collection of valuable research materials.
• Literature Search Service: Utilizing both printed and digital databases, including online databases, NASSDOC offers a literature search service. Researchers can tap into this service to explore and retrieve relevant information from its extensive resources.
• Bibliography Compilation: NASSDOC can compile bibliographies upon request, tailoring them to specific research needs. This service aids researchers in navigating the wealth of available information.
• Document Delivery Service: NASSDOC facilitates document delivery by acquiring books and journals via inter-library loan or by providing photocopies of the required documents. This ensures that researchers have access to essential materials for their work.
• Acquisition of Reference Sources: NASSDOC actively acquires published bibliographies, directories, and reference sources in the field of social sciences. These resources are distributed to institutions and libraries, enhancing access to critical reference materials for researchers and scholars.

Through these services, NASSDOC plays a pivotal role in supporting and advancing research in the social sciences, providing researchers with the necessary tools and resources to pursue their academic endeavours effectively.

3. NASSDOC Databases and Publications

• Database of Research Project Reports: This comprehensive database includes bibliographic details such as author, title, subject, and more, covering over 3,000 research project reports funded by ICSSR and other organisations. This valuable resource is available both in print and digital formats.
• Database of Ph.D. Dissertations: This database contains bibliographic details, including the researcher's name, dissertation topic, year of PhD degree award, and more, encompassing around 5,000 dissertations acquired by NASSDOC. It is available in both print and digital formats.
• Directory of Social Science Libraries and Information Centers in India: This directory provides information about 447 social science and related discipline libraries and information centres associated with various government agencies, research institutes, universities, and more. It includes staff strength, collection type, budget, subject coverage, computerisation, and services offered, fostering cooperation and resource sharing among Indian libraries and information centres.
• Directory of Social Science Research and Training Institutions in India: This comprehensive directory lists approximately 450 institutions engaged in research and training across India. It offers insights into areas of study, achievements, facilities, current projects, publications, staff profiles, library collections, relations with national and international organisations, and complete contact information. Subject and location indexes further enhance accessibility.
• Directory of Asian Social Science Research and Training Institutes/Organizations in India: This directory provides information about 42 teaching and research institutes specialising in Asian Studies in India. It includes institution type, staff, objectives, activities, publications, training courses, library collections, and services. Subject and location indexes are also included.
• Union Catalogue of Social Science Periodicals and Serials in India: Since 1970, NASSDOC has compiled this extensive catalogue, now available in 32 volumes. It details 31,125 journals in 550 libraries across 17 states and two union territories. It also includes a separate book for the National Library in Kolkata. Union Catalogues for Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad libraries are updated until 2000, providing information on journals held in various libraries.
• Union Catalogue of CD-ROM Databases in Social Science Libraries in India: This catalogue offers information on 132 CD-ROM databases in 40 major social science libraries and information centres in India. It includes data on database titles, frequency, annotations, producers/vendors, library symbols, and holdings of the respective CD-ROM databases.
• Bibliography on India in 2000 A.D.: This bibliography compiles 647 select books and articles, encompassing journals, published and unpublished research reports, seminar papers, and more, focusing on India and related topics in the English language. It covers materials up to the first half 1987 and includes articles about Asia and the world relevant to India.

These databases and publications are valuable resources for researchers, scholars, and institutions working in the field of social sciences, offering a wealth of information to support their endeavours.