LIS research in India dismal, says INFLIBNET's study

Info courtesy: G Mahesh @ musingsofmahesh.wordpress.com

Extract fom Mahesh's Blog:

A recently published study of the INFLIBNET Centre on Indian national research productivity in library and information science states that out of the top 29 institutions that have published four or more papers during 2000 to 2010, only 8 are library schools apart from DRTC and NISCAIR [although I found 10 in Table 2 of the study!]. This is particularly interesting because the rest of the institutions which contribute the majority of the LIS research output, include IITs, BARC, IIMs, CSIR labs (NISTADS, CLRI, CGCRI and NPL), MSSRF, NCSI, INFLIBNET Centre and a few more such institutions that are obviously not library schools.

...I did a random check and found that some of the articles published in Indian journals during the same period have received more citations than some of the authors’ articles that have made it to the top 25 list of the INFLIBNET study. So, publishing in Indian journals does not necessarily mean that it has “fewer representations at the international level” despite not being indexed by the citation databases.
Conclusion @ Feature Article: Indian National Research Productivity
in Library and Information Science, INFLIBNET:
The study reveals factual information on library and information science research in India. The availability of e-resources through UGC -Info net Digital Library Consortium have made deeper impact on research productivity of the country in library science domain. During the period 2000 to 2003, the research productivity was almost static with "no growth". The trial access of e-resources under the Consortium started during the year 2003. The influence and impact of the availability of e-resources through consortium is visible immediate atter 2004. The research productivity is risen sharply atter 2004. In the year 2010, the research productivity has just doubled from the year 2004. The impact is very impressive, but compared to developed countries, the library science research in India is stil at infancy stage. The library science schools of the country need to introspect themselves and devote their time and energy towards conducting qualitative research on contemporary topics in library and information science.

PS. Thanks again to Mahesh for a link to Indian Citation Index, a tool that promises to be true in its local coverage (rather than global, e.g., Scopus and Web of Science) i.e., by and for India's literary output.