What is INFLIBNET? Mission, Goal, Major Activities and Programme of INFLIBNET.

Introduction:

Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) is an Autonomous Inter-University Centre(IUC) of University Grants Commission(UGC), New Delhi (Ministry of Education, Govt. of India). 

It is a major National Programme initiated by the UGC in March 1991 as a project under the IUCAA, it became an independent Inter-University Centre in June 1996. INFLIBNET is involved in modernizing university libraries in India using the state-of-art technologies for the optimum utilization of information. INFLIBNET is set out to be a major player in promoting scholarly communication among academicians and researchers in India. Prof J P Singh Joorel Director of INFLIBNET.

Objective & Functions:

          The primary objectives of INFLIBNET as envisaged in Memorandum of Association are:

• To establish INFLIBNET: Information and Library Network a computer communication network for linking libraries and information centers in universities, deemed to be universities, colleges, UGC information centers, institutions of national importance and R & D institutions, etc. 
• Avoiding duplication of efforts.
• To evolve a national network interconnecting various libraries and information centers in the country and to improve capability in information handling and service.
• To provide reliable access to document collection of libraries by creating on-line union catalogue of serials, theses/ dissertations, books, monographs and non-book materials (manuscripts, audio-visuals, computer data, multimedia, etc.) in various libraries in India.
• To develop new methods and techniques for archival of valuable information available as manuscripts and information documents in difference Indian languages, in the form of digital images using high density storage media.
• To create databases of projects, institutions, specialists, etc. for providing on-line information service.
• To trained and develop human resources in the field of computerized library operations and networking to establish, manage and sustain INFLIBNET.
• To facilitate academic communication amongst scientist, engineers, social scientists, academics, faculties, researchers and students through electronic mail, file transfer, computer/audio/video conferencing etc.
• To undertake system design and studies in the field of communications, computer networking, information handling and data management.
• To establish appropriate control and monitoring system for the communication network and organize maintenance.
• To collaborate with institutions, libraries, information centers and other organizations in India and abroad in the field relevant to the objectives of the Centre.
• To promote R&D and develop necessary facilities and create technical positions for realizing the objectives of the Centre.
• To generate revenue by providing consultancies and information services.
• To do all other such things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the above objectives.

MISSION :

• Leveraging on the latest technology, create a virtual network of people and resources in academic institutions with an aim to provide effective and efficient access to knowledge through preserverance, innovation and collaboration.
• Provide seamless, reliable and ubiquitous access to scholarly, peer-reviewed electronic resources to the academic community in all educational institutions with a focus on services and tools, processes and practices that support its effective use and increase value of this information.
• Build and strengthen ICT infrastructure in educational institutions with value-added services.
• Develop tools, techniques and procedures for secure and convenient access management enabling users to access information in electronic format from any where, anytime.
• Develop resource selection guides and online tutorials for effective delivery and usage of e-resources.
• Facilitate creation of open access digital repositories in every educational institutions for hosting educational and research contents created by these institutions.

 GOALS:

• Achieve complete automation of libraries in educational institutions
• Create union catalogues of documents available in libraries in online and real-time environment.
• Provide seamless and ubiquitous access to scholarly, peer-reviewed electronic resources to the universities.
• Promote digitization of legacy documents and creation of content in e-format (including electronic theses and dissertations, electronic version of research articles, working papers, technical reports, concept papers, technical reports, annual reports, statistical data, etc.) in universities.
• Promote setting-up of open access digital repositories in universities for hosting content created in the process mentioned above.

Develop expertise :

•  Digital content creation.
•  Process of digitization.
•  Managing digital depositories.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:
The technology being a driving force in the contemporary education system, the Centre has taken-up a number of initiatives for the benefit of the academic community in India. These initiatives include:

• Ind Cat, a unified online catalogue of books, theses and journals available in major university libraries in India;
• SOUL 2.0, state-of-the-art integrated library management software.
• E-Shodh Sindhu for extending access to selected scholarly electronic journals and databases to eligible universities, centrally-funded technical institutions and colleges in different disciplines;
• Shodhganga for enabling online submission of doctoral theses and dissertations by research scholars in an open access digital repository.
• ShodhShuddhi for providing a web based plagiarism detection software to all CFTIs and universities in India.
• INFED (INFLIBNET Access Management Federation), access management federation in India based on Shibboleth for authenticating authorized users from colleges, universities and other institutes in India.
• InfiStats (Usage Statistics Portal for e-Resource), a platform for harvesting usage statistics from publisher’s website.
• Shodhgangotri for facilitating research scholars to submit approved synopsis of research proposals submitted to their universities.
• e-PG Pathshala, a project assigned to the UGC by NME-ICT, wherein e-content are being developed in 77 subjects at postgraduate level.
• Vidya-Mitra, an Integrated e-content portal: a web-based portal consisting of all e-content with funding from NME-ICT, MHRD;
• Institutional Repository, installation, customization and hosting services for academic libraries to establish institutional repository using open source software such as D Space.
• InfoPort: INFLIBNET’s Subject Gateway for Indian Electronic Resources.

PROGRAMME OF INFLIBNET:

• INDCAT
• SOUL
• E-SHOUDHSINDHU
• SOUL 2.0 ( not a open source software)
• SHODHGANGA
• E-PG PATHSHALA
• VIDWAN:EXPERT DATABASE
• VIDYA MITRA
• UGC-MOOCS
• INFISTATS
• INFED
• SHODHGANGOTRI
• SWAYAM PRABHA
• ICSSR DATA SERVICE
• IRINS
• NIRF
• STUDY IN INDIA
• E-NBA
• NATIONAL TESTING AGENCY
• UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN
• EK BHARAT SHRESTHA BHARAT
• FASSAI'S FSKAN
• ATAL INNOVATION RANKING
• INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY

Content source: INFLIBNET Home Website