Historical development of newspapers in India: challenges and issues

Abstract

The Indian newspaper libraries are of a special type in so far as they are reference libraries. It is not easy to give a precise definition of reference work. The main function of a newspaper library is "to act as a depository of information required by the editorial and management departments of newspaper". The important aspect is to so organize this collection, that any information can be retrieved as quickly as possible. Information is man's life blood and his need for information is a vital as the need for blood transfusion is to the sinking patient. In Indian newspaper's editorial writing will be extremely difficult if pertinent information so urgently required by the commentator, is not collected, shifted, processing and retrieving of information are designated as Information Retrieval.