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This paper describes the development of the Delhi Library Network (DELNET) and its various services. DELNET is a growing resource sharing service in the Delhi region, offering a range of products and services to facilitate the exchange of information among libraries.

Reports briefly on the Technical Sessions and other presentations of the 43rd All‐India Conference of the Indian Library Association, and mentions the recommendations made by delegates at the conclusion of the conference.

Digital libraries are here to stay, and the conversion of traditional to digital is inevitable. Appropriate care should be taken to develop systems and managerial skills as well. Globalisation of the digital concept will not be possible until we overcome the technological gap between developed and developing countries. Measures are needed to overcome the menace of computer viruses and also unauthorised use. Sufficient thought has not been given to attaining self‐sustained growth. It is therefore essential to explore new avenues for funding, particularly since initial investment in digital libraries is high, as is maintenance.

The current situation of Indian public libraries has been viewed by some as follows: the public library system in India is condemned to remain peripheral to the actual information needs of the masses; that it is in a depressed state, and serves as little more than a warehouse of recreational reading materials, a majority of which are in regional languages. This paper suggests possible remedies on how to transform the situation, and details new technological developments which are already showing the potential to change public libraries in rural India for the better.

A descriptive account of the contemporary situation in India with regard to public libraries, digital technologies and development possibilities, using official statistics and the LIS literature.

The challenges that face public libraries in India are listed and a vision for their future based on the concept of “ICT for development” is sketched out.

It is difficult to get an overall view of this topic: authorized statistics on public libraries in India as a whole are not collected, because these libraries are the responsibility of a variety of agencies who, for various reasons, never disclose such information on a national scale.

The author details new technological developments, the practical outcome of which would in particular facilitate the establishment of digital library services in rural India.

This paper provides a useful overview of a library scenario on which aggregated statistical data is hard to find; and, from this summary of the present situation, goes on to suggest possible ways to transform the “digital divide” into “digital opportunities”.

To report on the Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centers Golden Jubilee All India Conference Report.

A personal overview of the conference.

The XXVth All India Conference of IASLIC was the last event of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations by the Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centers (IASLIC) Kolkata. The main theme of the Conference was the LIS Profession in India: VISION for 2010. Six Special Interest Group Meetings as well as a Panel Discussion on Digital Preservation Strategy were organized and moderated. Over 300 delegates from the entire country participated. A conference volume and souvenir were also released by the Chief Guests.

Provides information of value to library and information science professionals.

The Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur has begun developing an information facility called KELNET (Kharagpur Electronic Library on the Internet) as a means of coping with the spiralling cost of information resources and the increased demands being placed on library services. Describes the development of KELNET to date and looks at prospects for its continuation.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the work of DELNET, the successful resource sharing and information provider in India.

The development of DELNET is described, the services it offers and plans for the future.

The paper finds that DELNET fulfils a vital role in facilitating resource sharing in India and is expanding its role rapidly.

The paper is an up‐to‐date study of resource sharing in India from the perspective of a successful agency.

The purpose of this paper is to review the state of libraries in India and summarise the strategic cooperative initiatives undertaken to improve user access to electronic information services.

The methodology used included personal interview, e‐mail interaction and literature searches. Several strategies for retrieving information were used across both the professional and research literature [Library Literature, Library and Information Science Abstracts, and Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)] and the Internet (Google). A variety of search terms were employed to gain a broad overview of the subject and then more targeted terms to examine key aspects of the area of study with greater specificity. The paper also examines a range of general environmental factors impacting on libraries and which must be taken into account to accelerate the pace of beneficial change. It also lists the significant achievements in this field to date.

There are still significant potentials for further implementation of cooperative strategies to enhance networked, electronic information service delivery in India. This paper discusses some of the underlying issues which are presumably delaying the establishment of consortia and which need to be resolved.

This area of study is extremely fast moving and regular updating and continuation of this research is required to maintain a grasp of the situation.

The negative factors outlined in this paper which militate against the full successful impact of cooperative strategies are clearly set out, in order to help library managers and administrators create practical solutions capable of eliminating these obstacles to progress.

This research gives an insight into how consortial strategies can help overcome the resource constraints which characterise library provision in many developing countries, providing a model for other library systems, which face similar problems, to follow.