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This paper aims to highlight the research output of library and information science of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations during the ten year period, i.e. 2005-2014, as reflected through the Web of Science database.

This study used Social Science Index (SSCI) of Web of Science (WoS) citation database to collect data for the ten year period. All records indexed in SSCI were refined by subject area of “Information Science and Library Science” and selected countries. The downloaded results were analyzed by using specific parameters.

WoS indexes different kinds of documents, such as articles, conference proceedings, biographical items, book reviews, corrections, editorial material, letters, reprints and reviews. Out of the BRICS output, almost 90 per cent of papers were articles. Other types of documents included conference papers, review papers and book reviews. China contributed nearly half of the documents followed by Brazil, South Africa, India and Russia. On an average, a document had cited 34 references. More than one-third of records did not receive any citations. It has been observed that the titles that had 11-16 words attracted the most number of citations. The top ten publishers in whose journals the researchers published included Emerald, Elsevier and Springer. The primary subject areas were information science and library science, information systems, interdisciplinary applications and management. About 85 per cent of the documents were published in English. Around 93 per cent of the non-English research publications were in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil.

There are not many studies on BRICS countries and that too about Library and Information Science (LIS) research output. This study may reveal insights into how LIS researchers interact with local and global issues in a specific spectrum of the world community.

The purpose of this paper is to discover the perspectives of M‐Technologies in Distance Education Libraries. It proposes a model for providing e‐resources and other information services through mobile technology to its learners in Indira Gandhi National Open University, India.

In this qualitative study data were gathered through questionnaire and interviews from Distance Learners of IGNOU to access the actual requirement of Distance Learners for various m‐library services in the present scenario. The study is guided conceptually by the perceived need for m‐libraries and a growing usage of mobiles in India.

The data suggest that M‐Libraries offer a unique opportunity for distance learners in different kinds of learning environment settings. The proposed m‐library services architecture suggests developing an M‐library web site at IGNOU Library to effectively facilitate m‐library services, hence strengthening the M‐Learning in Distance Education System.

Considerably less literature exists about the m‐libraries and its services in Distance Education. This study will be of interest to distance education library and information professionals who wish to obtain a better understanding of M‐Libraries scenario and practices.