Selective Dissemination of Information

(SDI)Somipam R. ShimrayResearch Scholar (JRF)Dept. of LISPondicherry Central UniversityPondicherryIndia

Contents

• Conceptual• Characteristics of SDI• Components and Operational Features of SDI

– User’s Profile – Document Profile or Database – Computer hardware / Network – Software – User Interface

• Operational Chart of SDI Service• CAS vs. SDI• Conclusions• References

Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI)

• SDI is a concept that was introduced in information science by Hans. Peter Luhn (1958)

• SDI is a personal current awareness services providing researchers with the latest publications on a specified research topic.

• UNESCO defines SDI as the regular provision of scientific information to individuals or corporate users on predetermined subjects (interest profiles).

• Dr. S.R. Ranganathan defines SDI as documentation list on a specific topic anticipated to engage the attention of the member of the parent body.

• It may be free of charges or commercial. • It may be using local databases or external databases.

Characteristics of SDI

• Keep user abreast with latest developments is his/her area of interest.

• SDI answer to specific query.• Selection has to be made from different types of documents.• Form may be print or electronic. • It is single person based. • Feedback mechanism of input document selection criteria is present.• Speed and currency are important.

Components and Operational Features of SDI

• Providing SDI service involves several interlinked components: a) User’s Profile b) Document Profile or Database c) Computer hardware / Network d) Softwaree) User Interface

Components and Operational Features of SDI

a) User’s Profile• Construction of user profile.• Name, department/project/division/programme, employee ID, phone,

fax, contact email ID and other details. • While constructing the query, the librarian may decide what terms are to

be chosen.– Truncation*– Boolean AND, OR and NOT

Components and Operational Features of SDI

b) Document Profile or the Database• An external database is used for choosing descriptors from the

index of the database while constructing the User Profiles.• Documents should be scanned and uploaded.

c) Computer Hardware • Initially, SDI service was offered manually. • Later automated systems were used. • If SDI is offered using external databases, online connectivity is

needed. • This service can also be done using CD-ROM databases (with

CD-Net servers).

Components and Operational Features of SDI

d) Software• Software is required for running SDI. • Several ILMS have SDI component in built into them.

– Koha, NewGenLib, SOUL, Libsys etc.e) User Interface • SDI systems have User-Interface modules as a part of SDI software. • The end-user can enter his profile, modify it if need be and get

statistics on his usage.

Operational Chart of SDI ServiceNew documents

Recording, analyzing indexing, abstracting

Users

Interests analyzed

User’s profiles

Doc Database

file

Matching

SDI Notifications

Feedback

Analysis of responses

Profile modification

CAS vs. SDICurrent Awareness Service Selective Dissemination of Information

1 CAS is awareness service directed towards all the users who need it.

SDI is a personalized service and is directed towards the individuals or homogeneous group.

2 Subject coverage may be broad. Highly specific subject – searches based on user’s query.

3 Output includes mostly bibliographic data.

Often tends to includes abstracts as well.

4 CAS is provided by circulating the current list of periodicals among all the users.

SDI service is based on matching the user’s profile with the document profile.

5 No profile matching is involved. Users profile (query) is matched using sophisticated query algorithms.

6 CAS all the information is circulated to the user on the given topic.

SDI is a selective service based on the exact information need of the user.

7 Feedback is not important in CAS service.

Feedback is an important step is providing SDI service.

8 Continuous omnibus type of service. Service may change as far as individual user is concerned, as soon as his interests change.

Conclusions

• Introduced by Hans. Peter Luhn (1958)• Abreast users with latest developments is his/her area of interest.• Specific query.• It is single person based. • Feedback mechanism is vital in functioning SDI.

References

• Chandel, A. (1988). Current awareness service and selective dissemination of information from periodical literature. Lucknow Librarian, 20(3-4), 147-151.

• Uzohue, C. E., & Yaya, J. A. (2016). Provision of Current Awareness Services and Selective Dissemination of Information by Medical Librarians in Technological Era. American Journal of Information Science and Computer Engineering, 2(2), 8-14.

• O'Neil, E. K. (n.d.). Selective Dissemination of Information in the Dynamic Web Environment. Retrieved 01 30, 2017, from World wide web: http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~cyberia/papers/eko_thesis.pdf

• Sunrise. (n.d.). Selective dissemination of information. Retrieved 01 30, 2017, from World wide web: http://www.sunrisepage.com/library/sdi.htm