1. Networking SAARC Libraries for Cooperation and Development Dr. H. K. Kaul Director, DELNET, New Delhi Email: hkkaul@gmail.com

2. Introduction Knowledge as the Agent of Transformation Development and Change

3. Sources of Knowledge Printed sources Newspapers Books Journals Gray literature etc Digital resources CD’s Internet Databases Metadata etc

4. Sources of Knowledge(contd.) MSS Objects Human Experts Identification of Knowledge Resources Knowledge Databases Knowledge about Products, Technologies

5. Important to Know: a.What is already available in libraries and information centres in SAARC countries? b.How access to this information can be made problem-free among all users in SAARC? and c.What additional information resources could be collected from global centres and made available to people in SAARC?

6. SAARC Libraries Regular inflow of new knowledge into libraries Mechanisms for storing, processing and distribution Networking of Libraries: A Necessity Barrier-free access to digital resources

7. Why Should We Network Knowledge? Access to maximum of the available resources Complex interactions between tacit and explicit sources of knowledge Limitations of ICT ICT cannot map all these complex operations Charles Savage describes this phenomenon as “the process of combining and recombining one another’s knowledge, experiences, talents, skills, capabilities, and aspirations in ever-changing profitable patterns” We have to be able to cater to new information and knowledge requirements of people in SAARC

8. Bridging the Digital Divide Information revolution resulting in: a.Increasing growth of digitally born publications; b.Increasing number of printed books getting digitised; c.Increasing number of printed journals becoming available in digital form; d.Increasing number of journals which exist only in the digital form; e.The growth of institutional repositories and other documents in the digital form; and f.Sophistication of technologies that hold the promise that it would be possible to provide fast selected resources to users on their desktops with the use of ICT applications.

9. Web-based information sources Genuineness of the Content Competition from the Web-based information providers The price tag Publishers of e-resources Library services

11. Role of DELNET A Major Library Network The objectives What Does DELNET Do? In bridging the digital divide, DELNET plays a major role. It: 1 Networks Information and Knowledge Resources; 2 Promotes the Use of Appropriate Infrastructure; 3Promotes the Use of International Standards; 4Improves Communication Among Resources and Users; 5Improves Access to Resources; 1Gives Online Access; 2Offers Delivery of Documents; 6Offers Consultancy Services; 7 Provides Information Support for Research and Development; 8Contributes to National and Regional Development; 9Promotes International Cooperation; 10Contributes to the Security and Preservation of Digital Resources; 11Contributes to the Growth of Training Manpower; and 12Promotes a Network Culture Among

12. DELNET considers that specialised content should become available to the general public in the following areas in various South Asian languages: i.Health and welfare including information on sanitation, water, environment, etc. ii.Agriculture including information on seeds, herbs, crops, seasons, etc. iii.Education including language and literature, teaching, aids, general science, geographic information, general history, current affairs, etc. iv.General information on a range of subjects including:information on marketing of agricultural produce, government policies within the State, transportation, employment development programmes, finance and credit, legal issues, etc. and v.Small-Scale Industries: Information on establishing small-scale industries and units for making every individual and family financially self-sufficient.

13. Appropriate Infrastructure International Standards Communication Among Resources and Users Access to Resources Online Access to Resources

14. Delivery of Documents Consultancy Service Information Support for Research and Development National and Regional Development International Cooperation

15. This task is not so easy, because: All information is not available in the digital form. Digitisation of all non-digitised printed documents. Research in crossing the language barriers. Paying for information.

16. Security of Digital Resources Training of Manpower Developing a Network Culture Among Libraries Financial Implications Recommendations