Barc (bhabha atomic research center)

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility based in Trombay, Mumbai,Maharashtra. BARC is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas.
The Government of India created the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) on 3 January 1954. It was established to consolidate all the research and development activity for nuclear reactors and technology under the Atomic Energy Commission. BARC's core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for power generation. It manages all facets of nuclear power generation, from theoretical design of reactors, computerised modelling and simulation, risk analysis, development and testing of new reactor fuel materials, etc
 

1. PRESENTED BY ZAID AHMAD MLISc( IInd Sem.) Dept. of Library & Information Science A.M.U ALIGARH BARC LIBRARY, MUMBAI

2. BHABHA ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTER(BARC) The  Bhabha Atomic Research Centre  ( BARC ) is India's premier nuclear research facility based in Trombay, Mumbai,Maharashtra. BARC is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas. The Government of India created the  Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay  (AEET) on 3 January 1954. It was established to consolidate all the research and development activity for nuclear reactors and technology under the Atomic Energy Commission. BARC's core mandate is to sustain peaceful applications of nuclear energy, primarily for power generation. It manages all facets of nuclear power generation, from theoretical design of reactors, computerised modelling and simulation, risk analysis, development and testing of new reactor fuel materials, etc  

3. History of the BARC Library Atomic Energy Commission formally established a small information unit in the year 1953 with the aim of providing facilities for translation of scientific and technical documents. During those days, Library & Information Services were scattered in various research laboratories in Mumbai including Trombay e.g. Biomedical Sciences laboratory, Chemical & Metallurgy laboratory and various other laboratories. Some centralised services like documentation, information dissemination and technical translation were performed from OYC. The formation of Library & Information Services Section took place in the year 1968 and was located in Central Complex, Trombay, BARC. All the services started from here centrally. Library & Information Services Section was reorganised as division in the year 1982. In view of the new challenges taken up by the Division, of satisfying information need of the Centre utilising state-of-the-art digital technology, the Division was renamed as  Scientific Information Resource Division on  July 1, 2004

4. Objectives of BARC Library The mandate of Scientific Information Resource Division (SIRD) is to select, acquire, disseminate and maintain print and electronic/digital scientific & technical resources that meet the information needs of scientists and engineers of the research centre as fully and speedily as possible

5. SERVICES of BARC Library The division provides nacent services like reprography, printing & binding, photography & Videography , foreign language translation and interpretation, document delivery and auditorium services. International Nuclear Information System (INIS) of IAEA and Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) related activities are also part of the responsibilities of this division. Some of the important services are as follows. ONLINE RESOURCES Online Information Gateway:  Lakshya, a Hindi word meaning Target, aims to provide Internet digital resources to BARC Scientists and Engineers for their Research & Development activities. This Online information gateway was setup and commissioned in December 2002 with online access to few hundred scientific and technical electronic journals. Currently more than 3100 E-journals and other E-Resources are available on Lakshya, a large number of them with full text. Lakshya can be accessed through BARC campus wide Internet network connected PC either through ISDN telephone line or through browsing centers in most of the buildings of BARC.  

6. Contd …. OnsiteResources : Saraswati portal:  With the increased demand of digital resources by scientific community, a large number of scientific & technical digital-resources have been procured by SIRD. The prototype ' Saraswati ' designed and developed fully indigenously by SIRD has incorporated all these digitalresources . Saraswati covers vast section of information needed for day to day references by scientists and engineers in BARC, including digital resources, Web OPAC, publications, new arrivals, CAS, paper clipping and etc. Saraswati provides a host of onsite services: It can be accessed through BARC campus wide Intranet, InfoNet network connecting all building of BARC.  Some of the digital resources available on Saraswati are:  Codes, Databases, Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Patents, References, Standards, Tutorials etc.

7. Contd …. Foreign Language Translation & Interpretation A substantial portion of scientific literature is published in languages other than English. In order to ensure that the translations of foreign language literature are speedily made available to BARC scientists and engineers, facility to translate scientific & technical literature (from foreign languages e.g. French, German and Russian and vice-versa) is available in-house. Semi automated method and software are used to translate these literature. Interpretation services are also available. Copies of translations carried out earlier can be provided on request. Two bi-annual publications, Foreign Language Abstracts and Foreign Language Transbulletin are brought out regularly. Digital copies of these publications are available on Saraswati.

8. Contd … Printing & Binding Printing & Binding Section of SIRD is involved in various major activities like Offset printing, Screen Printing and Binding with Embossing. DTP trained operator makes a camera-ready printout according to requisitioner’s request. Binding of various scientific papers of different division and other important documents are done by the binding section. Titles are embossed in the cover wherever it is necessary. Excellent photocopying facility with an array of digital photocopiers (B/W & Colour), and Resograph is available. A number of photocopiers are kept in the central library for users to fulfill their immediate requirements on self service basis. Facilities for viewing and digital conversion of microfiche are also available.

9. Other Library Services Other Library Services: A number of photocopiers are kept in the central library for users to fulfill their immediate requirements on self service basis. Users may also request to the library staff for their requests by filling a requisition form.   Viewing and digital conversion facility of microfiche are available.    Inter library loan facility.   Facility for Scanning of documents.

10. COLLECTION OF THE LIBRARY The Central Library has an excellent collection of Books, Journals, Bound volumes, Reports, Patents, Standards, Thesis etc. A massive drive is going on for the automation of all its activities using integrated Library Management software. A well established OPAC provides access to the collection. For digital resources on the Internet, an Online Information Gateway “LAKSHYA” have gained momentum and is now well recognised by BARC scientists & engineers. Currently more than 3100 E-journals and other E-Resources are available on Lakshya, a large number of them with full text. Some of the digital resources available on Saraswati are:  Codes, Databases, Encyclopedias, Handbooks, Patents, References, Standards, Tutorials etc. Saraswati covers vast section of information needed for day to day references by scientists and engineers in BARC, including digital resources, Web OPAC, publications, new arrivals, CAS, paper clipping and etc.

11. LIBRARY TIMINGS Central Library: BARC Central Library is one of the biggest in this part of the continent in Nuclear Science & Technology and related fields. The library provides all sorts of library services required by BARC employees. The Central Library is open for 12 hours a day on all working days of the year and on Sunday/ Saturday for 8 Hours except on public holidays observed by BARC.   Monday to Friday-08:00 Hrs - 20:00 Hrs Saturday & Sunday-10:00 Hrs - 18:00 Hrs Circulation Counter (Mon-Fri)- 09:00 Hrs - 17:45 Hrs Library remains closed on all public holidays

12. COLLABORATION OF THE LIBRARY Inter Library Loan(National) :There is an excellent understanding and collaboration with a large number of national scientific & technical academic organisations e.g. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT B), NISCAIR, IISc , RRI, all DAE units etc. for Inter Library Loan. Beside it library has International collaboration with a number of organizations. 1.Regional Co-operative Agreement 2.International Nuclear Information System Inter Library Loan (International) : The division has very useful Inter Library Loan collaboration understanding with INIS & RCA member countries, in particular, and other International Scientific academic institutions, in general on mutual exchange basis.

13. CONCLUSION Over the years the Scientific Information Resource Division (SIRD) formerly known as Library & Information Services Division has grown into a centre which is playing vital role in acquisition, preservation & dissemination of Knowledge in all fields of nuclear science & technology and related fields. SIRD has been geared up with latest cutting-edge information technology tools and updated resources. The initiatives taken in the year 2000 has now bloomed with a well-established Digital Library with massive collection of digital resources. These digital resources are available to the BARC community through the indigenously developed portal SARASWATI.A