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International Information Systems and Network
International Nuclear Information System (INIS) 1970
Agricultural Information System (AGRIS)
International Information Services in Physics, Electro- technology Computers and Control (INSPEC)
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS)
BIOSIS
Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
Patent information System (PIS)
INFOTERRA     1989
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) 1907
Development Information Network for South Asia (DEVINSA). 1986
Population Information online (POPLINE) 1973

                                                                                                                                                                      

  International Information Systems and Network  

INIS, AGRIS, INSPEC, MEDLARS, BIOSIS, ERIC, Patent Information System (PIS), Biotechnology Information System (BIS).  


  1. International Nuclear Information System (INIS) 1970                 established, Vienna                                                                           

 INIS is an international co-operative information  system on the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. INIS is operated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in collaboration with its 116 member states and 22 co-operating international organization. The IAEA, based in Vienna, Austria, is an autonomous organization within the United Nations System 

 A. Members Currently, 116 countries and 22 international organizations participate in INIS. 

 B. Function INIS processes most of the world's  scientific and technical literature that falls within its subject scope.  

i. Bibliographic Database : INIS maintains a bibliographic database which currently contains over 2.7 million abstracted and indexed records. 

 ii. Information Reference Service : INIS provides a comprehensive information reference Service for literature on the  peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. 

 iii. Full Text : The full text INIS NCL collection includes about 650,000 full text documents from 1970 to the present. 

 iv. Annotated Web Directory :  INIS maintenance a growing database of annotated links to web sites on the internet that are related to various fields of nuclear science and technology and the IAEA's work. 

 Additionally, INIS also maintains  a unique collection of full text non-conventional (grey) literature that would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. 


 2. Agricultural Information System (AGRIS)                                    

 AGRIS is the International Information System for Agricultural Science and Technolog AGRIS was created in 1974 by FAO of the United Nations to facilitate information exchange and provides bibliographic control of would literature dealing with all aspect of agricultural. 

 AGIRIS become an operational in January 1975 at Rome. AGRIS covers the wide range of subjects related to agriculture, including forestry, animal husbandry, aquatic sciences and fisheries, human nutrition and extension. 

 AGRIS is a global public domain database with more than 4 million structured bibliographical records in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Russian and Portuguese language on agricultural science and technology. The database  is maintained by FAO, and its content is provided by more than 159 national and 31 international and inter governmental centers participate institutions from 65 countries and submit about 14000 articles per month. AGRIS was developed to be an international cooperative system to serve both developed and developing countries. 

 Objects 

 i. Create a single, comprehensive, current inventory of world-wide agricultural literature which not only reflects research results, production, activities, rural development, but also identifies all related problems in the fields of competence and interest of FAD. 

 ii. To meet the information needs of the agricultural community by providing current awareness and specialized subject retrieval services from the inventory and to fullfill subsequent document delivery requests. 

 iii. To interact with new/or existing secondary specialized information services in order to increase their efficiency and eliminate gaps or duplication. 


 AGRIS Product 

 i. AGROVOC 

 Agrovoc thesaurus jointly produced by FAO and the commission of European Communities  (CEC) is a controlled, structured vocabulary of agricultural terminology constructed according to the UNISIST guidelines for the establishment and the development of monolingual and multilingual thesauri, AGROVOC is maintained by FAO in English French and Spanish languages, CEC, with its respective countries, has provided a German and an Italian version. Apart from these five language further language versions, for example portuguese  and Arabic are being developed. 

 iii. AGRINDEX 

 The input, as per provisions of AGRIS reference series is submitted on worksheet, OCR paper magnetic tape. The operational cost of AGRIS coordinating centre (ACC) is born by the FAO. It functions from Rome and Vienna. In Rome the Acc has responsibility for the overall management and development of the system. The AGRINDEX is arranging under categories 86 broad subject, and available in printed and magnetic tape forms. 

iii. AGRIS 

CD-ROM CD-ROM technology is thought to provide an excellent solution for rebieral for centers which do not have easy access to an online database. In 1989, AGRIS was expected to produce a CD-ROM disk with references of the last two or three years of the AGRIS database. 

 iv. Web AGRIS 

 The New Cleb - AGRIS version 2.0 was released to robust information management system having integrated numerous updates, error f ixes, and new features. The main achievements in this version include adaptation of the AGRIS AP metadata standard, up gradation of the incorporated AGROVOC thesaurus, incorporated in the search interface improvements in the data entry system, export/download features, and inclusion of updated documentation.


3. International Information Services in Physics, Electro-                 technology Computers and Control (INSPEC)                                 

 Acronym INSPEC stands for international information service in physis. Electro-technology computers and control. 

 It is an information system operated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) UK and American Institute of Physics USA (AJP).

 Inspec is providing english language abstracting and indexing service providing abstrucks and information from the world's published literature on all aspects of physics, electronics and computing. Sources of INSPEC inspec scans all papers published in approximately 4, 200 technical journals and over 1000 conference proceedings books and reports in its subjects areas to add some 263,000 reconds to the database each year. 

 Inspec service are provided is printed form of a computer search able data-banks and also providing differents from of services are produced to meet the wide ranging demand of the scientific and engineering professions. 


 4. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS)  

 MEDLARS stands for Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System. Due to the explosion of the medical literature in the world there was a need to start an international retrieval system to control the medical literature. For their reason this international information system has been developed by the united state National Library of Medicine (NLM) since January 1964.  

Objectives 

 This service was initiated with following objectives 

i. To improve quality of Index Medicus (IM), a monthly index of bibliographic references published by NLM by increasing the coverage and depth of indexing while at the same time reducing the time required for its preparation. 

 ii. The produce compilations similar to IM but devoted to specialized subject fields. 

 iii. To allow quick searching of the large computer store of reference in response to individual requests. 

 IM covers on an average over 2,50.000 articles annually from about 3,000 leading Biomedical journals. The process of analysing the world's literature is carried out by a ream of indexers. In order to serve the second objective  the library produces a large number of  bibliographies, catalogues and indexes, In specialized subjects such as dentistry, medical education, nursing, thematology and endocrinology are prepared by MEDLARS, NLM current catalogue is also prepared MEDLARS.

 In order to meet the third objective from 1961 to 1971, 70,000 searches were carried in the united state. The major  problem faced in search was concerned response time. It took 2 to 3 weeks to prepare the bibliography and release to the user. 

 NLM made a decision to undertake international requests for use of MEDLARS system involving the true cooperation with no transfer funds. The first arrangement with the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Sweden were based on NLM providing magnetic tapes, technical documentation and training programmes, and the participating countries providing evaluation and technical feedback. 

 The culmination of these year's deliberation was no agreement in OCED members on a regional consortium and  renewed individual requests to NLM for national centres. In 1968, the U.S. had crystalized its informal working arrangements into quid pro quo bilateral  arrangements with the U.K. and Sweden. These identified basic criteria were the model for future agreements. 

 MEDLINE is an online version of MEDLARS,MEDLARS become operational in 1964 when NLM, USA adopted computerisation for producing printed Index Medicus. Database form of Index Medicus is known as MEDLARS. It was made available online from 1971 onwards known as MEDLINE. 

 MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) is an annotated list of subject headings used for MEDLINE to assign keywords to documents in MEDLINE. It is also accesible online. 


   5. BIOSIS                                                                                           

 BIOSIS, established in 1926, is a not for-profit organization whose mission is to foster the growth, communication and use of biological knowledge for the common good. 

 Now BIOSIS is provided by Thomson scientific, which, is leading global provider of integrated information-based solutions to business and professional customers. 

 By accumulating the world's largest collection of abstracts and bibliographic references to worldwide biological and medical literature and organizing this information for easy access, BIOSIS provides vital source of information for life scientists. 

 In the early 1920s a group of biologists recognized the need for a centralized source of life science information that would provide accurate, indexed reference and abstracts to the published literature. That small group of biologists created the organization known as BIOSIS now services are provided by Thomson Scientific.  

Today the need for organized information continues to grow with the continued proliferation of journals and the introduction of new electronic information sources. In order to meet the even changing needs of researchers, BIOSIS continues to carry on the objectives of its predecessors with the mission. To facilitate understanding of the living world by helping researchers, educators, students and others to access information relevant to the life sciences. 

 Biological Abstracts: An expansive index to the world's life sciences journal literature. It covers articles over 3,700 serials, over 350,000 new citations are added each year to B.A. It consists of 11.3 million records available from 1926.


   6. Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)                   

ERIC is a national information system of USA. Designed to provide ready access to an extensive body of education-related literature. Established in 1966, ERIC is supported by the US department of education's office of Educational Research and Improvement and is administered by the National library of Education (NLE). 

 Now ERIC is called as internet based digital library of Education research and information. 

 ERIC is the largest education database in the world containing more than million records of journal articles, research reports, curriculum and teaching  guides, conference papers and books. 

 The ERIC system, through its 16 subject specific clearinghouses, associated  adjunct clearinghouses, and support components, provides a variety of service and products that can help you stay up to date on a broad range of education related issues. Products and services include research syntheses, electronic journals, online directories, reference, and referral servicers, and document delivery.  

ERIC database can be accessed and searched online via the Internet, on CD-ROM, or through the printed abstract Journals Resources in Education and current Index to Journals in Education. The database is updated monthly (quarterly on CD-ROM) to, ensure that the information is timely and accurate. 

 ERIC also can be accessed by the ERIC components and other education related organizations through ACCESS ERIC. 



   7. Patent information System (PIS)                                                  

Patent Information System (PIS) were established in 1980 at Nagpur by Ministry of commerce and Industry, with the following objectives. 

 To obtain and maintain a comprehensive collection of patent specification  and patent related literature on a world-wide basis. 

 To provide technological Information contained in patents through search services and patent copy supply service. PIS The PIS has many international databases and full texts of patents the list of which is given in its website. 

The PIS also provides search services including state-of-art- search, bibliographic search and family patent search 



   INFOTERRA     1989                                                                                                        


 INFOTERRA is an information network of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established for facilitating global environmental  information exchange.  

The programe is functionally successful because of an efficient system that operates through designated focal point designated by various governments that are members of the United Nations. At present, INFOTERRA has 178 members in various Member States of UN. The INFOTERRA national focal Point in each member state is mostly a national information centre dealing with environmental  science and usually its located in the ministry or a government agency responsible  for activities concerned with environmental protection. The primary function of each centre is to provide a national environmental information service. 

 INFOTERRA was conceived in the years 1972 at the stockholm conference on the Human Environment which stressed on the exiting gap and recommended the need and establishment of an effective mechanism for exchange of environmental information and experience among the United Nations Member Countries, Subsequent to this recommendation, UNEP established the INFOTERRA network (then known as IRS- international Referral System) and the UN Member Governments were requested to designate a Suitable national focal point in the respective  member country to participate and coordinate INFOTERRA activities at the country level. Later in the year 1992, the Rio-Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) reiterated the need and importance of information for decision making and requested the member countries for strengthening of the INFOTERRA network in order to improve information availability in the field of environmental sciences.


   Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) 1907                                                                          

 Chemical Abstracts is the most complete guide to the chemical literature of the world, referencing more than 15 million documents since it was first published in 1907 by the American Chemical Society USA. 

 This completeness means you can search CA, with confidence, knowing that you won't miss essential chemical information. The answer to almost any question pertaining to chemistry can be found through CA. CA contains english language abstracts and indexes to the wast literature of chemistry and chemical engineering. By defining chemistry broadly CA also covers aspects of many other related  scientific disciplines such as biology, clinical medicine, physics, geology, engineering and more. 

 Each weekly issue of CA contain two parts i. abstracts and ii. issue indexes 

 The abstracts are classified according to chemical subject based on a hidden scheme of classification and are arranged in 80 Subject groups or sections. The listing of the particular section dealt with each issue is found on the first page. 



   Development Information Network for South Asia (DEVINSA). 1986                          

 DEVINSA is a multidisciplinary computerised database of bibliographic information on socioeconomic development in South Asia. The information relates to six countries in South Asia Bangladesh, India, Maldives Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

 DEVINSA was launched by the commitee on studies for cooperation in development in South Alisa (CSCD) in 1986 to develop an information base for their research needs. The six South Asian Countries Participate in DEVINSA, through the information centres of the member institutes of CSCD. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of canada provides financial support. 

 DEVINSA Development Abstracts  A monthly abstracking journal based on national inputs received from DEVINSA focal points, and includes a selection of over 200 abstracts and reviews of interest to social science institutions researchers and analysis. It is available in print as well as on floppy.



   Population Information online (POPLINE) 1973                                                           

 It is the world's largest bibliographic database on population, family planning and related health issuers. POPLINE provides citations with abstracts representing published and unpublished  literature in the field POPLINE provides comprehensive coverage on population family planning and related health issues. 

 POPLINE is supported by the United States agency for international  Development and the United Nations Population  Agency for International  Fund. It is distributed for free to over 700 sites in developing countries by the population Information program of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. 

 POPLINE Digital Services (PDS) provides authoritative, accurate, and up-to data reproductive health information in electronic formats for developing-countery health professionals and policy-makers. PDS offers its expertise in database design, maintenance, and training in delivery of electronic information service to reproductive health professionals and do nor organization. 

 POPLINE is also available on  Internet, free of charge. Internet POPLINE is updated every two weeks and providers complete, up-to-date Internet location for POPLIME records.












                                                                     Notes                                                                









                                                                     Question                                                           

1. The UK Information Highways for Information and Collaborative Research is 
A. BLAISE                             B. UKERNA 
C. Super JANET                     D. BIDS
Ans: 

2. AGRIS became operational in 1975 and sponsored by 
A. WHO                      B. FAO 
C. ILO                         D. IAEA
Ans: 

3. The Population Information Network (POPIN) was established with the support of 
A. FAO                      B. CARIS 
C. UNISIST               D. IDRC
Ans:

4. The Interagency Development Research Information System (IDRTS) data base is available through
A. IDRC                  B. ICSU 
C. OECD                 D. UNISIST
Ans: 

5. Name the Indian institutions offering Library and Information Science education for special Libraries. 
A. DRTC, Bangalore                      B. INSDOC, New Delhi 
C. Both (A) and (B)                        D. None of the above
Ans: 

6. What is the short name of Bioscience Information Service? 
A. ISOBS                B. BIOSIS 
C. Bioinfos             D. BIS
Ans: 

7. Current awareness service BIOSIS is a 
A. Local service               B. Regional service 
C. National service          D. International service
Ans:

8. The input Centre for INIS in India is 
A. DRDO                     B. DSIR 
C. TFIR                        D. BARC
Ans: 

9. INIS stands for what? 
A. Indian Indexing System                                              B. International Nuclear Information System 
C. International Network for Information Science          D. Information Network in Nuclear Science
Ans: 

10. Which is an International information storage and retrieval system for nuclear science and technology? 
A. AGRIS           B. INIS 
C. NIC                D. Internet
Ans: 

11. Which is the input centre of INIS in India ? 
A. INSDOC     B. BARC 
C. AGRIS         D. NISSAT
Ans: 

12. India is taking part in AGRIS programme through which institution? 
A. ICAR             B. ARIC 
C. ICMR             D. NISSAT
Ans: 

13. INIS is the example of 
A. Distribute input and centralised output       B. Centralised input and distributed output 
C. Centralised input and output                       D. Distributed input and output
Ans: 

14. What is mean by AGRIS? 
A. Indian information system of agricultural sciences 
B. International information system of agricultural 
C. Indian information system of agriculture and technology 
D. International information system of agriculture & technology
Ans:

15. Which International organisation cooperates INIS programme? 
A. IFLA                B. FID 
C. IAEA                D. UNESCO
Ans: 

16. AGRIS information system in agriculture is established on the bases of equivalence of which international organisation? 
A. IFLA                    B. FID
C. INIS                     D. LC
Ans: 

17. Which one is the publication of AGRIS? 
A. Agriculture Index               B. Agrindex 
C. Index Agriculture               D. Agricultural Journal
Ans: 

18. In which year AGRIS was established? 
A. 1945             B. 1960 
C. 1970             D. 1975
Ans: 

19. Arrange the following in order of their year of establishment 
i. INIS                            ii. AGRIS 
iii. MEDLARS              iv. UNESCO 
Codes : 
A. (iii), (iv), (i), (ii) 
B. (ii), (iv), (i), (iii) 
C. (iv), (iii), (ii), (i) 
D. (i), (ii), (iv), (iii)
Ans: 

20. AGRIS information system in agriculture is established on the basis of equivalence of which international organisation? 
A. IFLA            B. FID 
C. INIS             D. LC
Ans: 

21. Match the following 
List-1 (Database)                      List-2 (Supplier) 
I. ERIC                             a. American Chemical Society, USA 
II. C A Search                  b. Bowker & Saur London 
III. Books in Print            c. R R Bowker USA 
IV. LISA                           d. National Institute of Education, USA 
Codes : 
A. I - d, II - a, III - c, IV - b 
B. I - d, II - b, III - a, IV - c 
C. I - b, II - c, III - a, IV - d 
D. I - a, II - d, III - b, IV - b
Ans: 

22.  Match the following 
        List - 1                List - 2 
I. INIS                        a. Ohio 
II. AGRIS                   b. Delhi 
III. OCLC                   c. Vienna 
IV. NICNET               d. Rome
Codes : 
A. I-c, II-a, III-b, IV-d 
B. I-b, II-d, III-c, IV-a 
C. I-d, II-c, III-a, IV-b 
D. I-c, II- d, III-a, IV- b 
Ans: 

23. Match the following 
       List -I                          List-II 
a. INIS               i. Institute of Electrical Engineering, UK 
b. AGRIS          ii. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna 
c. MEDLINE    iii. Agricultural Organization of UN, Rome 
d. INSPEC        iv. National Library of Medicine, USA 
Code: 
      (a) (b) (c) (d) 
A. (iii), (ii), (i), (iv) 
B. (ii), (iii), (iv), (i) 
C. (iv), (ii), (iii), (i) 
D. (ii), (i), (iii), (iv)
Ans: 

24. Match the following 
              List - I                   List - II 
a. INIS                             i. 1950 
b. AGRIS                        ii. 1970 
c. INPADOC                  iii. 1972 
d. OCLC                         iv. 1974 
                                        v. 1967 
Codes : 
    (a) (b) (c) (d) 
A. (iv) (iii) (ii) (v) 
B. (ii) (iv) (iii) (v) 
C. (i) (iv) (ii) (iii) 
D. (ii) (iii) (v) (iv)
Ans: 

25. Match the following 
           List-I                 List-II 
a. SHE               i. Nuclear energy 
b. MESH           ii. Education 
c. ERIC             iii. Medicine 
d. INIS              iv. Engineering 
Codes : 
(a) (b) (c) (d) 
A. (i) (iii) (ii) (iv) 
B. (iv) (iii) (ii) (i) 
C. (ii) (iii) (i) (iv) 
D. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Ans: 

26.  Match the following 
               List-I                                    List-II 
    (Publication)                           (Institution/ system) 
a. AGRINDEX                             i. INSPEC 
b. ATOMINDEX                         ii. National Library of Medicine 
c. Physics Abstracts                    iii. AGRIS 
d. INDEX                                    iv. INIS MEDICUS 
Codes : 
(a) (b) (c) (d) 
A. (iv) (i) (iii) (ii) 
B. (i) (iii) (iv) (ii) 
C. (iii) (iv) (i) (ii) 
D. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Ans: 

27.