In the present world, due to the development of printing, printing presses, publishing, etc., thousands of books and periodicals are being published every day. Like the population explosion, the problem of publication explosion is something that everyone has to face in today’s world. The process of determining the number of current printed materials, the extent of this ever-increasing explosion of printing and publishing, and the process of cataloguing the overall increasing explosion of books, periodicals and other publications in a fair and scientific manner is called bibliographic control.
The definition of bibliographic control can be said to be, “Bibliographic control is the development and maintenance of a system of adequate recording of all forms of material published and unpublished, painted and audio- visual or otherwise, which add to the sum of human knowledge and information.”
The definition is further elaborated as follows: Bibliographical control is defined to mean the mastery over written and published records, which is provided by and for Bibliography. Bibliographical control is synonymous with effective access through the Bibliography. Thus, a reference to the biographical control of medicine means effective access through Bibliographic to sources of medical information.
Reasons for Bibliography Control :
1. Just as books are helpful in the pursuit of knowledge, non-book materials are equally helpful.Often, the reader looks for specific information that has not been published by the author of a book but has appeared in other forms.
2. Sometimes, the reader and researcher need information that has not been published but is recorded somewhere.Therefore, the reader needs not only books but also other readable and audio-visual materials, as well as specially collected information collections.
This information exists in various external forms such as books, booklets, and articles in periodicals.
3. It is impossible to measure the vast amount of published and unpublished information collected in different forms around the world every day.No single institution can collect all the information on any one subject.Similarly, it is not possible for any single institution or country to gather all published and unpublished information available in various external forms globally.
4. Another particularly important reason for bibliography control is the lack of a single method to know about all the books and other materials published on a specific or related subject.
4. It is essential to know where, by which publishers, in which newspapers or institutions, and in which reports or other sources information about a subject exists and how it can be obtained. Without knowing these basic facts, it becomes impossible to determine whether any book or article on a subject exists.
5. If the existence of a book or article is unknown, there is no possibility of collecting it.A reader will never search for a book if they are unaware of its existence.
Various ways to control bibliography:
It is seen in bibliography that the volume of publications in the field of science and technology is doubling every 15 to 20 years. Therefore, it is very difficult to get the right book at the right time in modern times. This problem of information explosion in every field of knowledge has made everyone worried. In fact, it is absolutely essential to control this speed of information explosion properly. Since accurate and necessary information has to be selected from the total scattered information pile, information control is absolutely necessary. Bibliographic control is to make the material containing the overall information of a specific subject available in one place systematically. All the supporting materials that are required to control bibliography properly and conveniently are briefly discussed below:
1. National Bibliography:
The National Bibliography is a reflection of the literature, culture and heritage of a country. All the published materials of the country are collected and preserved in the National Library through the prevailing copyright law of the country or any similar conservation law. The National Bibliography publishes a well-organized and comprehensive list of the country’s books, periodicals and other published resources. It is through this control of books that one can easily access all the information of the country. Through this, one can easily get an idea of all the publications of the country.
2. Commercial Bibliography:
The written lists usually prepared by book publishers and sellers are known as commercial bibliographies. These are usually prepared for the convenience of publishers and book sellers. However, it is very helpful in controlling bibliography as books and periodicals are listed.
3. Library Catalog:
A library catalog is a well-organized list of all the materials in a particular book. Through such a systematic list, one can easily and quickly find out about all the information and materials in the related book. Therefore, the systematic list prepared by the library is an effective helper in bibliographic control.
4. Union Catalogue:
A union catalogue is a consolidated and well-organized catalogue of the total or partial materials of the member libraries of a region or country. As a result of union catalogue, it is very helpful to control the information of different libraries in a single way.
5. Subject Bibliography:
This bibliography lists all the publications related to a specific subject in a systematic manner. It helps in control as it provides comprehensive and specific information about a subject.
6. Book Review Digest:
Book reviews play a very helpful or effective role in the introduction, evaluation and selection of books. Therefore, Book Review Digest is known as a proper book review. Book Review Digest is published by collecting discussions or reviews published in weekly, fortnightly, monthly, bimonthly, annual etc. serial magazines in different countries of the world, so the bibliography can be controlled through it.
7. Accession Register:
In every library, the Accession list of books, booklets and periodicals etc. is registered according to the prescribed rules. These are very fruitful for our country. This Accession register is called the addition ledger or Accession register. Through this, bibliography can be controlled.
8. Bibliography of Bibliographies:
At different times, separate bibliographies of different subjects are published. The bibliography that is prepared to control these bibliographies prepared in various ways is the bibliography of bibliographies. This method is considered as the process of controlling publication as a whole.
9. Indexing Service:
It is a systematic, systematic summary or list indicating the location of the content described in books and periodicals. It is a chronological list through which users can easily find the information they need. In fact, it is a valuable tool for controlling the published content.
10. Abstract Service:
Its function is to present the essence of a published topic in a concise form by showing its location. This service saves the time of readers and researchers and brings the content under control.
Use of Technology in Bibliographic Control:
1. Automation of Cataloging: Computerized cataloging systems enhance the speed and accuracy of creating, storing, and retrieving bibliographic records.
2. Online Databases: Digital databases such as OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) and WorldCat enable users to search bibliographic records across multiple libraries worldwide.
3. Standardization Tools: Technology supports international standards like MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) and various metadata formats to ensure uniform bibliographic descriptions.
4. Digital Repositories: Institutional and national repositories organize and preserve digital bibliographic information for easy access and sharing.
5. Networking and Resource Sharing: Library networks and consortiums utilize technology to share bibliographic data and minimize duplication of efforts.
6. Automated Indexing and Abstracting: AI and machine learning tools assist in automatically indexing and summarizing bibliographic materials.
7. Integration with RFID and Barcode Systems: These technologies facilitate accurate tracking, identification, and management of bibliographic resources.
8. Use of Metadata Standards: Standards like XML and Dublin Core improve interoperability among different bibliographic systems.
9. Digital Preservation: Technologies such as cloud storage and digital archiving ensure the long-term preservation of bibliographic data.
10. Open Access and Online Platforms: Bibliographic information is now readily accessible through open-access databases, e-libraries, and digital catalogs.
Finally, bibliographic control is critical for organizing and providing effective access to the rapidly expanding universe of published and unpublished information. By combining traditional bibliographic tools with modern technology, it ensures the systematic management, retrieval, and preservation of global knowledge resources for current and future generations.
