Bibliometric Assessment of Library and Information Science Journals in India (1912‐2016)

1. Introduction

Library and information science journals in India are one of the most popular formal channels of scholarly communication and research and development in the discipline. Along with recording and preserving the research output, their role becomes more crucial by disseminating the information regarding discoveries and inventions. As usual, it is a vital source for professionals, scientists and researchers who always keen to exhibit their new thoughts, ideas in journal articles which are the primary mode of communication (Dutta & Sen, 2014).

Library and information science journals have a long history in India. The genesis of LIS journals traces back more than a century old. The first LIS journal, entitled Library Miscellany was published in 1912. However, the journal was short‐lived and stopped publication in 1919. After that, many library and information science journals have been published in India. A couple of journals have been established by S. R. Ranganathan, the father of library science in India (Patra, 2014). The present study is a sincere effort towards this end with the purpose is to bring into light the growth and development of library and information science journals in India which is the isolated and piecemeal efforts have not been able to serve so far.

2. Reviewed Studies

The geographical distribution of various Indian LIS journals examined by Chintha and Ranganadham (2014). Dhanavandan and Tamizhchelvan (2014) discussed the recent advancements in communication technology and the rise of globalisation which led to the hope of a balanced flow of scientific knowledge and they further assessed the growth and development of LIS journals in India by chronological, language wise and frequency of the publications. Dutta and Sen (2014) portrayed the hundredyears journey covering 186 Indian LIS periodicals, out of them 123 are still continuing. In the study they found that more than 80% periodicals were in English language and nearly 17% published as multilingual with one or more Indian regional languages.

The development of 50 periodicals published during 1912 to 1987 and the role of several library associations of India such as ILA, IASLIC, DRTC, ASIDI in publication discussed by Goyal (1987). Gupta and Nathau (1980) mentioned the different parameters against which the quality of periodical can be evaluated and publishing policy to be adopted by an agency to maintain the standard of Indian LIS journals (Jeevan, 2014). A comprehensive list of library and information science periodicals published in India during 1912‐1987 regarding the growth in numbers, publishers, periodicity, language compiled and analysed by Mitra (1988).

Sen (2014) in his study mentioned that India published around 130 library and information science journals and he also identified seven leading Indian journals such namely Annals of Library and Information Studies, SRELS Journal of Information Management, DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, Information Studies, COLLNET Journal of Scientometrics and Information Management, IASLIC Bulletin and Library Herald. Pandita (2014) describes growth pattern of Indian periodicals published in English, Hindi and Urdu languages. He found that highest numbers of 37.50 % periodicals are published in Hindi, followed by 14.51 % journals in English, and 4.97 % in Urdu. Further he mentioned that 43 % periodicals are published in other regional and vernacular languages.

The publication of library and information science journals globally with special reference to India and their key issues in confronting the publications reviewed by Shafi (2014); Singh, Ahmad and Sameer (2014). The historical perspective of periodicals, their growth pattern in India during the 1920‐2000 discussed by Singh and Panda (2003). Vyas (2006) advocates that LIS journals are giving new ideas to help professionals in achieving lifelong literacy and professional education. He further describes the growth practices of Indian LIS journals along with the problems and issues of peer reviewing and editing of journals.

3. Objectives of the Study

The study carried out to follow up the given objectives:

ㆍ To find out the decade wise growth of library and information science journals in India;
ㆍ To study the frequency‐wise distribution of Indian LIS journals;
ㆍ To know the geographical distribution of library and information science journals in India;
ㆍ To examine the publishers wise distribution of LIS journals in India;
ㆍ To find out the number of Indian LIS journals covered by various indexing and abstracting sources.

4. Method

The data about LIS journals published from India were collected through both primary and secondary sources available in Indian universities, institutions, websites and databases. The Intrenational Standard Serial Number (ISSN) database in India maintained at National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), was also thoroughly investigated to add required information. Further, the additional data were also collected from the internet, websites of library professional associations and commercial publishing houses. The collected data have been examined and analysed to make observations and results of the study.

5. Library and Information Science Journals in India: An Overview

The first library journal in English namely Library Miscellany began in 1912 in Baroda, although it ceased publication in 1919. The Punjab Library Association started an English language journal entitled Modern Librarian in 1930 in Lahore, but it ceased publication in 1946. Earlier in 1930 Library Movement: A Collection of Essays by Diverse Hands appeared (containing articles by various authors) in the publication series of the Madras Library Association, which was set up through the efforts of S. R. Ranganathan. The Indian Library Association (ILA) set up in 1933 started a journal as its official organ, Library Bulletin in April 1942, but unfortunately, it was discontinued after the fifth volume in September 1946. The journal Indian Librarian appeared in Lahore in 1946 replacing the earlier Modern Librarian. S. R. Ranganathan as the president of ILA started a new journal, Annals Bulletin Granthyala of Indian Library Association (ABGILA) in 1949 which is also ceased publication in 1953. The journal Annals of Library Science (now called Annals of Library and Information Studies) started by Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (now NISCAIR) in 1954 by S. R. Ranganathan. IASLIC Bulletin started in 1956, and the Library Herald started in 1958 by Prof. P. N. Kaula. Herald of Library Science was established by Prof. P. N. Kaula in Varanasi in 1962 which was followed by Libra in 1963‐1964 from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur; and Timeless Fellowship in 1964 from Karnataka University, Dharwad. In 1964, Sarda Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (SRELS) started a quarterly journal Library Science with a Slant to Documentation now named as Library Science with a Slant to Documentation and Information Studies (Singh & Singh, 1990).

6. Analysis and Discussion

The collected data analysed into different heads and presented in the forms of tables, diagrams, charts and maps wherever required, with their interpretations.

6.1 Decade Wise Growth of Library and Information Science Journals in India

The decadal growth of LIS journals published over the period of 104 years, is presented in Table 1.

Table 1.

Decade Wise Growth of Library and Information Science Journals in India

The decade‐wise growth of 196 LIS journals exhibits in Table 1, which covers the time approximately past 11 decades from 1912‐2016 (104 years). The highest number of 85 (43.37%) journals were observed from 2010 onwards, while the least number of 1 (0.51%) journal was observed in 1920‐1929. The analysis establishes that there has been a steady upward trend from the 1930s. However, downward trends in decades were observed from the 1970s.

6.2 Frequency Wise Distribution of Library and Information Science Journals inIndia

The frequency wise analysis of Indian LIS journals presented in Table 2.

Table 2.

Frequency Wise Distribution of LIS Journals in India

The frequency‐wise analysis of the journals is given in Table 2. The results depicted that out of the total 196 journals, a considering amount 76 (38.78%) of journals are half‐yearly, and 66 (31%) are quarterly published. The proportion of journals with monthly periodicity is 20 (10.20%) and journals with annual frequency are 6.63%.

6.3 Geographical Distribution of Library and Information Science Journals in India

The geographical distribution of LIS journals according to different states and union territories and cities in India indicated in Table 3 and Table 4.

Table 3.

State Wise Distribution of LIS Journals in India

Table 4.

City Wise Distribution of LIS Journals in India

The contribution of different Indian states and union territories with regards to the production of library and information science explored that highest number of 45 (22.96%) journals published from Delhi followed by Tamil Nadu with 23 (11.73%) journals, Maharashtra and West Bengal with 22 (11.22%) journals each and Uttar Pradesh produced 18 (9.18%) journals. The states namely Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and so placed in successive order according to their productivity (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2).

Fig. 1.

Geographical Distribution of LIS Journals in India

Fig. 2.

State Wise Distribution of Library and Information Science Journals in India

6.4 City Wise Distribution of Library and Information Science Journals in India

Table 4 describes the contribution of 65 Indian cities in the production of LIS journals.

The contribution of different Indian cities with regards to the publication of library and information science journals pointed out in Table 3 which finds that New Delhi emerges as the most productive city with 45 journals (22.96%), followed by Kolkata with 18 (9.18%) journals, Chennai with 14 (7.14%) journals, Mumbai with 9 (4.59%) journals and Ghaziabad, Hyderabad and Jaipur published 6 (3.06%) journals each. The Lucknow contributed with 4 (2.04%) journals, followed by those 11 cities which contributed 3 (1.53%) journals each, 9 cities produced 2 (1.02%) journals each, and the rest of the Indian cities published one journal each in the field of library and information science (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3.

City Wise Distribution of LIS Journals in India

6.5 Publisher Wise Distribution of Indian LIS Journals

The break up of different publishers of library and information science journals in India is highlighted in Table 5.

Table 5.

Publishers Wise Distribution of LIS Journals in India

Table 5 describes the analysis of publishers of Indian LIS journals. It is found that maximum journals 83 (42.35%) published by commercial publishers, followed by professional associations with 43 (21.94%) journals and Trust/foundations/societies published 34 (17.34%) LIS journals in India. The academic institutions published 28 (14.29%) and negligence amount such as only 1.02% LIS journals published by government organization.

6.6 Coverage of Library and Information Science Journals in Indexing and Abstracting Sources

Indexing and abstracting sources act as one of the important parameters to assess the influence of journals in their respective fields. In order to know the Indian LIS journals indexed in various indexing and abstracting sources, the analysis is presented in Table 6.

Table 6.

Coverage of Indian LIS Journals in Indexing and Abstracting Sources

The Table 6 shows that out of 196 journals, Indian Citation Index cover the18 (9.18%) LIS journals, followed by Indian Library Science Abstract and Cross Reference which indexed 16 (8.16%) journals each, Ulrich’s Periodical Directory listed 15 (7.65%) journals and Google Scholar covered the 14 (7.14%) LIS journals of India. The Cite Factor covered 12 (6.12%) journals, followed by Open J‐Gate 10 (5.10%) journals, Germanics Journal Seek andGuide to Indian Periodical Literature indexes 9 (4.59%) journals each and Library, and Information Science Abstract (LISA) covered 8 (4.08%) Indian LIS journals. Library and Information Science Technology Abstract covered 5 (2.55%) LIS journals and Library Literature and Information Science Index contained only 3 (1.53%) LIS journals from India in their scope.

7. Major Findings

• The study reveals a tremendous growth in the number of library and information science journals from 1912 to 2016, a sum of 196 Journals have been produced in the past 11 decades.
• The highest number of journals 85 (43.37%) were observed during the years 2010 to 2016, while least number of journals 1 (0.51%) was observed during 1920‐1929.
• India is a vast country with 29 States and 7 Union Territories at present. The study finds that Delhi published the highest number of journals 45 (22.96%), followed by Tamil Nadu contributing 23 (11.73%) journals and Maharashtra and West Bengal producing 22 (11.22%) journals each.
• After New Delhi 45 (22.96%), Kolkata and Chennai have been identified as the second and third most productive cities with the contributions of 18 (9.18 %) and 14 (7.14%) LIS journals respectively.
• The study finds that out of the total 196 journals, a large amount of 76 (38.78%) journals are published with half‐year periodicity and 66 (31%) journals are quarterly published.
• The analysis of publishers unveil that maximum amount of 83 (42.35%) journals published by commercial publishers, followed by professional associations with 43 (21.94%) journals and 34 (17.34%) LIS journals are published by Trust/foundations/societies.
• Findings of the study indicate that Indian Citation Index covers the most 18 (9.18%) LIS journals, followed by Indian Library Science Abstract and Cross Reference which indexed 16 (8.16%) journals each, and Ulrich’s Periodical Directory listed 15 (7.65%) Indian LIS journals.

8. Conclusion

The library and information science journals have been of vital importance for the diffusion of knowledge and new ideas. In India, the journals of library and information science started acquiring the characteristics of journals in the modern sense in the 20th century. The overview of the study gives an impressive picture of the various dimensions of library and information science journals in India. By the above research, it can be concluded that a number of journals have risen from 1 in 1912 to 196 in 2016, which shows scientific and research advancement has made rapid strides in the country. The Delhi and Kolkata produced the highest number of LIS journals. Most of the LIS journals contributed by commercial publishers. The majority of journals published half yearly. The coverage by various indexing databases establishes the worth of LIS journals. The above results of the study will be very helpful for the LIS researchers, students, faculty, librarians and policymakers.

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