The discovery of fire is considered the first stage of civilization; the source of perfection of civilization is knowledge, but for a long time the light of knowledge could not reach the common people. This situation changed after the invention of printing machines and techniques in the middle of the fifteenth century.
In the sixteenth century, a researcher or subject expert could be informed about all the publications and personalities on his subject. But it is not possible at present. Nowadays, besides books and periodicals, booklets, conferences, documents, seminars, reports, technical reports, research papers, patent specifications, records, cassettes, microfilms, microfiche, electronic resources, etc. are being added to the text materials and e-library.
In addition, the digital information explosion has now created shared and accessed large amounts of data on the Internet. Due to the flood of information, there are now issues such as information overload, difficulty identifying reliable sources, and concerns about data security and privacy.
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However, information scientists and librarians are not idle. Several strategies are being developed in an attempt to successfully manage the information explosion. Some of them are discussed below:
- National Bibliography:
A national bibliography is a reflection of the literary culture and art of a country. It contains the customary list of all the books, booklets and all the publications of the respective countries. The National Library collects and preserves all the textual materials published in the country through the prevailing copyright law of the country or any similar conservation law. National bibliography is considered as an important tool in controlling these data.
- Union Catalogue:
The list prepared based on the entire collection or partial collection of multiple libraries of the country is called Union Catalogue. Through this, the collected and stored information of all the participating libraries can be found together and the information can be controlled.
- Abstract Service:
An abstract is a brief discussion of the content of a publication or periodical article. It includes bibliographical information of the relevant publications or articles and provides necessary guidance on the topic. As a result, the user’s time and labor are saved. It is considered as one of the tools in data control.
- Indexing Service:
Indexing is an organized systematic summary or list that indicates the status of persons, objects, or subjects described in books and periodicals. At present, the index of periodicals is prepared separately. As a result, the user easily gets the information according to his needs. Therefore, the indexing service is considered one of the tools in data control.
- Information Retrieval:
Information retrieval is considered an important activity in modern information science. Information retrieval is provided by quickly retrieving information from the information store collected and stored according to user demand or application. It enables control from data. Currently, in this information-dependent society, the use of various types of computer software and online sites is widespread for the storage and distribution of library information in the era of information explosion.
- Data Management Policy:
Managing the explosion of digital information calls for a diversified strategy:
- The first step in reducing information overload is to prioritize pertinent content by putting in place strong filtering mechanisms and algorithms. Providing users and library staff with explicit policies and guidelines for the collection, use, and disposal of data in order to ensure ethical and legal compliance and facilitate effective data preservation.
- Second, helping users develop critical thinking abilities and digital literacy so they can identify reliable sources and assess the caliber of information they are consuming.
- The last step in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of information shared across digital platforms is to encourage responsible content creation and dissemination practices.
- Technological Solutions:
Using cutting-edge technologies to improve the discoverability and accessibility of library resources, automate data management procedures, and streamline workflows, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
- User input and assessment:
Gathering input from library patrons and carrying out frequent evaluations to comprehend their information requirements and preferences will help inform decision-making and resource allocation in order to better meet their changing needs.
Libraries can successfully manage data explosions by implementing these strategies. One of the challenges facing librarians is making information relevant, manageable, and accessible in a mass-publishing and increasingly digital environment.
