An On-line Index of
PAKISTAN LIBRARY BULLETIN
AUTHORS & KEYWORDS
INTRODUCTION
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Computer is by far the greatest
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No doubt that, after the invention of wheel, computer is the second greatest
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launching of this On-line Index of Pastern Library Bulletin through
the Web Site we are ushered into a new era of myriad possibilities.
Library periodicals are the
basic vehicle of communication for writers and researchers in the fiedld.
They play an effective role in promotion and development of library profession.
The history of periodical library literature in Pakistan goes back to December
1949, when the periodical Modern Librarian was revived in
a new series from Lahore but it did not survive after two issues.
Pakistan Library Review, an other library journal came out in March
1958, was recontinued in 1968 but just after four issues it was also closed
down. An other periodical PLA Journal was started in July
1960. After several gaps it restarted in 1987, but after 1997 it was also
closed down. The Pakistani Librarian was first issued from the Department
of Library and information Sciecne, University of Punjab in 1995 and now
is publishing under the title Pakistan Journal of Library and Inforamtion
Science. Some other journals and newsletters were publihsed from
time to time but have since gone into oblivion.
Pakistan Library Bulletin,
the quarterly journal in the field of library and information science is
being published regularly since 1968. It was started with a noble objective
under the editorship of Dr. Ghaniul Akram Sabzwari. The scope of this journal
is international and has been serving the profession sincerely for the
last 35 years. It publishes articles not only of Pakistani authors but
welcomes distinguished foreign experts of Library and Information Science
also to contribute in it.
The history of compilation of
bibliography and index in Pakistan dates back to 1949. An eminent bibliographer
Mr. A. R. Ghani made the first individual attempt. He compiled a comprehensive
bibliography entitled "Pakistan: a select bibliography". The Pakistan
Bibliographical Working Group (PBWG) emerged in May 1950 on the recommendation
of the International Conference on the Improvement of Bibliographical Sources,
convened by the UNESCO in 1950 held at Paris. In fact the Group has the
distinction of being the first professional organization to be formed at
the national level, with the support of the UNESCO and on the enforcement
of the Government of Pakistan. The Group has a number of important bibliographies
and indexes to its credit. The most significant contribution of the Group
in the development and promotion of bibliographical activities in the country
is the compilation of "Retrospective National Bibliography of Pakistan"
covering the period from 1947 to 1961.
Indexing of periodical articles
is a very painstaking job. Commercially these types of publications are
not profitable. An attempt has been made by the individuals in compilation
of indexes and bibliographical sources. These authors have compiled
various bibliographies and indexes. Periodical Literature in Library
and Information Science: an Index of 50 years' work in Pakistan (1947-1997)
is the first on-line publication of library and information science from
Pakistan. The Web version of this publication is available at http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/mahmoodkhalid
The PLB is the only indexed
and peer reviewed journal from Pakistan. It is indexed in Library Literature
and Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. It is abstracted
in Library Literature and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) and
American History and Life. It is listed in Ulrich's International
Periodical Directory and its full publication data is included in Guide
to Publishing Opportunities for Libraries (1995) by Schroeder and Roberson,
published by the Haworth Press, New York. It has been regular and timely
for the past 34 years.
There are many subjects on which
articles and editorials have been contributed during the last 33 years.
In 33 volumes, comprising 82 issues, 576 articles including 82 editorials
were published by 225 different authors, 180 from Pakistan and 45 from
abroad. On the average about 7 articles per issue and 18 articles
per year were carried.
The PLB is basically a Pakistani
journal, the maximum number of contributors were naturally from within
the country. The contributors hail from Asia, Europe, Africa and
North America including Canada, in that order. Overwhelming majority of
authors evidently are from Asia (90%). This followed by North America including
Canada (5.50%), Africa (2.56%) and then Europe (1.18%). There are none
from Australia and New Zealand. All over the world men are dominating in
every field of life and activity. This domination is much more pronounced
in a developing society. The study indicated that in this journal men wrote
more articles than women. The female contributions were only (10%) whereas
male contributions were (90%).
The study showed that most of
the articles 435 (75.52%) were written in English. 141 (24.47%) articles
were published in Urdu and only 4 (0.69%) articles were in Bengali language.
The Bengali section was discontinued after creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
During the span of 34 years
(1968 - 2002) 82 issues carried different editorials. PLB editorials are
thematic or expression of a particular viewpoint and not brief introduction
to the contributed articles in an issue. These editorials are often a review
of some aspect of library service and practice. The study showed that Usmani
(Chief Editor from 1977 to December 2000) wrote a total of 32 editorials
out of 82. Dr. Ghaniul Akram Sabzwari, who was the founder and first Chief
Editor, (Chief Editor September 1968 to 1975 and January 2001
to-date) contributed 26. Late Prof. Akhtar Hanif, (Editor English Section
1979-1995) contributed 12 editorials. Moinuddin Khan (Editor English Section
from July 1995 -to-date) contributed 8 editorials. R. A. Samdani,
the Managing Editor from Volume 9, 1978 to to-date contributed 3
editorials and Prof. Dr. Syed Jalaluddin Haider former Chairman, Department
of Library and Information Science, University of Karachi wrote one editorial.
The analysis reveals that mamimum
number of articles have been written on academic libraries and librarianship,
and this is attributed to teachers of various Departments of Library and
Information Science in the country. This is followed by Information
Technology, Bibliographical Control, Public Libraries, Biographies of Librarians
of the country and Library Education.
This is a subject and author index. Entries are
arranged in one alphabetical order according to the Library of Congress
Filing Rules. Under author and subject the titles of the articles are arranged
alphabetically by the first word of the title. Subject Headings are established
in accordance with Library Literature with some changes to suit
the national requirements. Bibliographic entries are on the pattern of
Anglo American Cataloguing Rules-2, 1988 edition, as well as IFLA's
Recommendations for adoption of International Standard Bibliographic Description
(ISBD) and IFLA's publication entitled Name of Person; national usage
for entry in Cataloguing.
Complete title of the articles
with sub-title (if any) is entered. Language is indicated in parenthesis
e.g. (Urdu). Volume and issue number are mentioned as 33 (1-2). Date of
publication of the issue mentioned as "September - December 2002". Page
numbers are indicated in Arabic numerals as they appear in the issue. In
case of editorial, title of the editorial is mentioned and in the bracket
(Editorial) is written, e.g. Thinkers and Libraries (Editorial). Word 'About'
indicates that the article mentioned after this word is related and written
about the author whose entries are given above this word e.g.
SAEED, HAKIM MUHAMMAD
Library System in Pakistan. (Urdu).
Pakistan Library Bulletin, 7 (3-4): 50-57, Mar.-June 1975.
About
Sabzwari, Ghaniul Akram. Hakim Saeed:
Great Man in History. Pakistan Library Bulletin. 31 (1-2):1-8, March-June
2000.
Samdani, Rais Ahmed. Hakim Muhammad
Saeed: at a Glance. Pakistan Library Bulletin. 31 (1-2):7-30, March-June
2000.
Before concluding we wish to
pay our humble tributes to our Patron, Mr. M.Adil Usmani, Chief Editor,
Dr. G. A. Sabzwari, Dy. Chief Editor, Prof. Dr. Nasim Fatima and other
members of the Editorial Board for their patronage, guidance and help.
R. A. Samdani
Khalid Mahmood
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