Abstracting services are important links in the chain of communication between the originator of information and the ultimate user. Enormous growth in published literature, diversity of publications, language barrier and scatter of published information etc., are some of the factors that have contributed the launching of abstracting and indexing services. Abstracting services are most important and useful tools. These bring together all or significant current publications, that lie scattered in a number of source documents. Indexing and abstracting services are also excellent records in contemporary published literature, the growth and development of which has been in direct response to get access to as much relevant information as possible on a subject. This book is a dependable reference work which imparts information on a number of fundamentals of abstracting practices. Topics like-introduction, abstracting practices, periodicals listing and accession, online computer service, bibliographic display, bibliographic control, functions of abstracting, acquisition system, interlibrary lending, and future abstracting practices etc. will prove of utmost use to all the concerned.

Accreditation is a procedure developed specifically to meet the needs of colleges and universities. It is a system of quality assurance, based on the premise that the diverse institutions of higher education can best be evaluated through a process combining self-evaluation and peer review.

Accreditation uses a two-step process of evaluation, combining institutional self-study based on published standards or criteria and visit from a team of experts. Here in this book the basic concepts of accreditation and related fundamental issues are competently elaborated. Highly rich information contained in topics like - general introduction, administration, accreditation expectations, academic library environment, practice of accreditation, selected issues, nature of site visit, and current standards of libraries etc. will immensely benefit the students, teachers and library professionals.

An automated system can allow a smaller staff to process materials faster at a lower cost, a real boon to libraries in this age of cost cutting and staff reductions. Whether an academic library is planning to purchase its first automated system or is planning to have a more advanced system, a study should be done to determine what operations will be automated and what the system should be able to do? Automated systems are either commercially developed turnkey integrated systems, or locally developed or single function stand-alone computers.

The present book is designed to equip the academics and library professionals with basic knowledge about library automation. The entire information is scientifically organised in seven chapters, namely-automated cataloguing, CD-ROM network, wide information service, serials automation, library automation, automation scenario, and database integrity.

For computer application to library and information activities many attempts have been made during last two decades. It is only recently that libraries and information centres have become more earnest to computerize their operations and services. With the advent of low cost microcomputers, the libraries and information centres are now encouraged to switch over to computerization. There is also an enthusiasm among the professionals to get trained in library automation.

Automated Libraries, as the present book named, encompasses very scientific interpretation of some fundamental issues of the theme. Well researched information contained in nine chapters namely-cataloguing systems before MARC; automation in libraries; acquisition system; problems and prospect; technical support systems; information retrieval services; inter-library lending; dialog, searching and bibliographic display; and library automation scenario will prove of utmost use to all the concerned.