|
|
|
Islamic Librarianship |
|
ARTICLES, REVIEWS & SPECIAL LECTURES (A Select List)
by
ARTICLES REVIEW ESSAYS SPECIAL LECTURES BOOK REVIEWS
Quantitative studies
(Bibliometric Analysis)Studies in bibliography Studies in Educational perspectives Case studies in library development Connecting libraries
ARTICLES Quantitative studies (Bibliometric Analysis):
"Application of Bradford's Law to the Literature of Islamic Studies", in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers. Ed B M Gupta. New Delhi, 1991.
The spread of literature, of one field, in publications of different fields is called scattering, and Bradford spelled this spread as Law of Scatter. (Key words: Bibliometrics, Islamic Literature, Bradford's Law of Scattering)"Area Studies Librarianship: Trends in Quantitative Studies -- A Case Study", in Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.2. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 113-130.
This is a study of a combination of subject and geographical studies. This is in a broad sense as is commonly understood under the banner of area studies, it is either geographical area or disciplinary area, and here the twain meet. The case of Islamic literature, as a part of area studies, is not unique to this paper, and there are many institutions specializing in Islamic studies, as a geographical and a disciplinary area of study. (Key words: Bibliometrics, Islamic Literature)"Flow of Islamic Information Through Journal Articles: A Bibliometric Analysis", (coauthor: Dr. M Bavakutty), paper presented at Congress of Muslim Librarians and Information Scientists, Malaysia, 1986 (reprinted in Lucknow Librarian, )
Attempt is made to quantitatively analyse the Islamic literature published in English language journals and based on the secondary sources, Index Islamicus, covering a period of five years, from 1970 to 1974. Articles of five subjects, viz., Islamic studies, religion, philosophy, Arabic language and ARabic literature are included. The variables analyzed are, publication year, subject of articles, authors, type of journals that cover the literature. The analyzed data is of 1135 articles in 394 journals. The trends visible in the literature are: single authors predominate, writers are mostly non Muslims, and 6 (out of total 394 journals) are highly productive, or contribute most articles. The six journals can be conveniently described as core journals of the field, and a detailed study included all possible use and other factors, would give an exhaustive list of core journals of the field. (Key words: Bibliometrics, Islamic literature).Studies in bibliography:
"Bibliographical Control of Information Sources in Humanities", in Studies in Librarianship. v.3. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 395-408.
There has been hardly any attempt to see the trends of bibliographical control in India. This is a first attempt to holistically view the problem of bibliographical control and hence, it is limited to the area of humanities. The findings of this study are that there are many western attempts to document the Indian contributions, and hardy any from India. Appendix lists information centers included for a national humanities information center. Such a center is the burning need of the day. (key words: Humanities, Bibliographical Control)"Bibliographical Control of Islamic Literature in India: Trends & Prospects", in Documentation and Bibliographic Control. Ed. L S Ramaiah. 1996.
The trend is the area of Islamic literature is of interdisciplinary studies and hence one finds that literature of Islam is appearing in special areas as Islamic social sciences, Islamic geography, Islamic geo-politics, etc. The trends of bibliographical control and access to the literature is discussed at length. (Key words: Bibliographical Control, Islamic literature, India)"India's Relations with Muslim Countries: A Bibliography (1976-1981)", presented in All India Seminar on India's Relationship with Muslim Countries: Common Challenges and Responses, Department of Islamic Studies, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 1983.
It is a survey of the literature and is classified under following topics: International relations, Foreign (Political) relations, and Economic Relations. (Key words: Muslim Countries, India)"Islam in U.S.A.: A Literature Survey", in Annual Meeting of Indian Association of American Studies, Bombay, 1985.
The ever growing number of Muslim immigrants and converts has been on record and the paper presents a survey of the literature. (key words: Islam, Religion in America)"Literature about Islam in America: A Survey of Sources of Information", (coauthor: Dr. Siddiq Ali), American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (Herndon, Va.) 4, 1989, 127-133.
Information explosion of the literature about Islam has created many problems. Some of these problems are explicit, and some others are implicit. This paper highlights the probably bias, neglect, omission of literature relating to Islam and Muslims. A few instances are given to illustrate this blatant act of authors, publishers, editors, compilers, etc., who belong to a first rate democracy. The index and bibliographies discussed include a variety from different disciplines. The paper concludes with a remark. Ignorance by an individual author is excusable, but where agencies and institutions are responsible for works, their negligence is deplorable. (Key words: Islamic Literature, Religion in America)"Patterns of Subject Dispersion in Journals Covering Islamic Literature", Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.2. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 165-179.
(Key words: Bibliometrics, Islamic Literature, Bradford's Law of Scattering)"Perspective on Access and Control of Literature of Islam", in Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 223-227.
(Key words: Bibliographical Control, Islamic literature)"Scatter of Islamic Literature: A Case Study of 1950s and 1970s", Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.2. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 99-112
(Key words: Bibliometrics, Islamic Literature, Scatter Phenomena, Bradford's Law of Scattering)"Subject Structure of Islamic Studies: State of the art", Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.2. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 131-140.
(Key words: Bibliometrics, Islamic Literature, Study of Subjects, Subject Structure, Knowledge classification)Studies in Educational perspectives:
"Curricula for Oriental Research Material Organization", in Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.3. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 334-349.
Oriental Studies, as the name goes for the study and research of the Eastern hemisphere, has its own library related interests, and the training of professionals for this material organization is a special activity. (Key words: Education for Librarianship, Oriental Libraries)"Development of a Curricula for Oriental Research Material Organizations", (coauthor: Dr. H. A. Khan)
Discusses the nature of studies in orientology, methods of identification of information sources, basic approach to the organization of information, development of classification system for organizing oriental literature, design of a cataloguing code, search methods and strategies for information retrieval, depth analysis of oriental literature and develop the concepts of resource sharing/exchange programs. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Education for
Librarianship)"Education for Oriental Librarians in India: A Proposal", (coauthor: Dr. Mohammed Burhanuddin), paper presented at National Seminar on Hundred Years of Library Education and its Future, Nagpur, 1987.
Presents a study based on the observation of Oriental libraries which is sadly a most neglected component of Indian librarianship. The paper presents a case of initiating a training program (minimum of certificate to begin with) consisting of special papers designed from a point of view of its requirements. The paper recommends the course material which should be included in curriculum and provides a select list of oriental libraries in India. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Education for Librarianship)"Islamic Librarianship: Research Perspectives", in ILA Continuing Education Seminar, 1984.
Highlights a virgin area for research and study. It enlists the problem areas and discusses the process in a novel way. The areas for analysis are classification scheme for manuscripts and printed books; solution for the problems of Muslim names in cataloguing; patterns of coverage of Islamic literature in book indexes and periodicals; evaluation of existing systems for indexing and processing of materials; quantification of the literature by variables, such as, physical form, subject, language of publication, country of origin; comparative study of libraries holding materials in this area; analysis of problems of bibliographical control of the literature in the field; etc. (Key words: Islamic librarianship, Oriental libraries, Education for Librarianship)"Islamic View of Education & Training for Library Manpower: Trends & Prospects", in Congress of Muslim Librarians and Information Scientists, Iran, 1995
Education and training according to a particular view makes a lot of difference in the orientation and reinforces a lot of spiritual values in the would be professionals. (Key words: Islamic librarianship, Oriental libraries, Education for Librarianship)
Case studies in library development:
"Development of Reference Section in State Central Library, Andhra Pradesh: A Proposal", 31st All India Seminar, Baroda, 1985 (coauthor: Dr. Mohammed Burhanuddin)
Based on data collected for research, this paper has created history, in first time analyzing a hundred year old library. Reference service in India is becoming a rare service, though the pioneer of Indian librarianship, (Late) Dr. S R Ranganathan, heralded a cause for this all through his life. (Key words: State Central Library, Hyderabad, Reference Section)"Library Service to the people from Mosques", (coauthor: Mohammed Zainul Abideen) in Public Library Development. ed. R Raman Nair.
Mosques have had historically a variety of functions and foremost being it as an information centre, is still prevalent in Muslim culture. The library traces the history of this special type of library in a bibliographic survey, and discusses the working of one such, Mecca Masjid library at Hyderabad, India. Suggestions to improve the standards and efficiency and a user response form the core of the paper. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Mosque Libraries)"Mosque Library: A Case Study", (coauthor: M A K Fatimy), ILA Bulletin, 20, 1984, 38-42.
Analytical study of Mecca Masjid Library, Hyderabad. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Mosque Libraries)"Salar Jung Museum Library: Its Growth and Development as a Liberal University",Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 113-125.
Traces the history and collection development patterns and trends which is located in a unique resource centre. A valuable manuscript source, this is also a wonder of the world in terms of being one man's collection. (Key words: Salar Jung Collection, Antiques, Manuscripts, Oriental Libraries)"State Central Library, Andhra Pradesh: A Centennial Review (1891-1990)", (coauthor: Dr. Mohammed Burhanuddin), in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers, v. 9 part I. New Delhi, 1991.
Writing the history of its growth and development, thus is a unique study which traces the growth from Government of Asif Jahi's to present state government of Andhra Pradesh, passing through respective policy decisions to own all under a singly roof or to split the collection, into books and manuscripts. Further the changing collection patterns from Arabic and Persian dominated to multilingual and multi purpose, this library today is the State Central Library, that is the state level repository and representative of the national copyright and national library, though there are in practice many limitations to achieve this high status. (Key words: State Central Library, Hyderabad, Public Library)."Jamia Nizamiya Library, Hyderabad", Radiance, 27 March 1988, 8.
Case study of one Islamic Studies libraries in India, and this is a case of Jamia Nizamia, a centre for learning Islamics, (Key words: Oriental libraries, Madrasa libraries, Jamia Nizamiya Madrasa, Hyderabad, India)"Libraries in Hyderabad", Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 99-102
(Key words: Oriental libraries, Islamic studies, India)
Networking libraries:
"Dargah Libraries in India: A Comparative Study", (coauthor: A A Khan, and Dr. Mohammed Burhanuddin) International Library Review (London), 18, 1986, 337-345.
Libraries attached to, or near, a dargah (tomb) have been discussed with case studies of dargah libraries at Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Gulbarga, and Hyderabad. Information storage and retrieval patterns have are analyzed to study the state of affairs. This study brings to the attention of the library professionals a new area of comparative librarianship. (Key words: Dargah Libraries, Oriental libraries )"International Muslim Information Network: A case of India as a Muslim Minority Country",Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 85-89.
(Key words: Oriental libraries, Islamic studies, India, Resources)"Madrasa Libraries in India: Proposal for National Information Center", (coauthor: A A Khan, and Dr. Mohammed Burhanuddin) International Library Review (London), 1989.
Libraries attached to Islamic centers of learning are surveyed in this paper. These centers under study are at Ajmer (Rajasthan), Bangalore and Gulbarga (Karnataka), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Lucknow, Saharanpur and Deoband (Uttar Pradesh). These are evaluated on the bases of the definition of a modern library. Since there are hundreds of libraries, a national centre is proposed at Lucknow (at Nadwatul Ulama), or Delhi (at Jamia Hamdard's Indian Institute of Islamic Studies), or at Hyderabad (at Asaifya Islamic Documentation Centre). (Key words: Oriental libraries, Madrasa Libraries)"Madrasa Libraries in India: A Case Study of Nadwat al Ulama, Lucknow", in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers, New Delhi, 1991.
(Key words: Oriental libraries, Madrasa Libraries, Lucknow, Nadwat al Ulama)"National Information System for Islamic Studies in India: A Proposal", Muslim Education Quarterly (London), 5, 1986, 63-66.
The plight of libraries dealing with literature on Islam/Muslims is deplorable. There are quite a large types of the libraries, like, Mosque libraries, madrasa libraries, dargah libraries, manuscript libraries, public reading rooms, Islamic teaching institutions at all levels, research centers dealing with culture, language, history, etc. The paper proposes plan for an information system at national level, for a systematic approach and effort to streamline cooperative ventures and develop resource sharing programs. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Education for Librarianship)"Islamic Studies Libraries in India", Crescent Times, 6:71, 1987, 9-10.
Libraries that deal with teaching and depositing material relating to Islam, in languages of a variety are covered. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Islamic studies, India)"Islamic Libraries in India", Crescent Times, 7:73, 1988, 10, 12.
Eastern studies or Oriental studies has been a key term used by the West, to connote Islamic Studies earlier, then it was used also for Indian Studies (now synonymous for Indology). (Key words: Oriental libraries, Islamic libraries, India)"Madrasa Libraries in India: A Case Study of Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad", Crescent Times, May, 1989.
(Key words: Oriental libraries, Madrasa Libraries, Jamia Nizamiya, Hyderabad)"Plight of Islamic Libraries in India", Radiance, 1987, 11.
(Key words: Oriental libraries, Islamic libraries, India)
"Bibliographical Control of Islamic Literature - A Review", in Studies in Librarianship. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 73-84. REVIEW ESSAYS
Review of a literature and its access and control mechanisms that have evolved in the field of Islamic studies is the perview of this survey. (Key words: Bibliographical Control, Islamic studies)"Bibliographical Control of Islamic Literature in India: Perspectives", Islamic Culture, 58 (1984), 161-169.
Literature relating to Islam/Muslims lacks systematic bibliographic organization, bibliographic links, and bibliographical control. This is true both in publishing and dissemination. The paper presents a picture of existing institutions, situations and gaps in this area of study to give an insight about the prevailing trends. It highlights the factors, such as, historical, contemporary and the problems that are associated with the bibliographical control in Indian soil. The list of problems that affect such an activity are to many, but to list a few, these are, diversity of languages in which the literature of the field of Islam/Muslims appears, lack of manpower and equipment in the libraries that store this knowledge, etc. The paper strongly recommends measures worth consideration by the authorities, professionals, etc., like, suitable training of manpower, pooling resources of men, material and money, and so on. (Key words: Bibliographical Control, Islamic literature, India)."Mosque Libraries: A Bibliographical Essay", Libraries & Culture (Austin, Tx), 27:1, 1992.
The literature on Islamic libraries in general, and Mosques libraries in particular, is growing fast and hence a review of the literature. (Key words: Oriental libraries, Mosque Libraries)"Muslims in India: A Bibliographical Essay on Sources of Information, with a Bibliography (1970-1989)", in Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 247-263. (Key words: Muslims -- India)
"Research in Islamic Social Sciences", Islam and the Modern Age, 1989.
A growing field, Islamic social sciences, re-classifies all that deals with society and culture of Muslims and the paper deals with this world view of Islamic research. (Key words: Islamic literature, Islamic social sciences, Religion and social sciences)"Research in Islamic Studies", in Studies in Librarianship. By Mohamed Taher. v.1. New Delhi, Anmol, 1997. pp. 11-26
Deals with the area of religion and culture of Muslims and identifies a guide line for research method and process in the specific field. (Key words: Islamic literature, Islamic social sciences, Religion and social sciences)"Sufism in South India: A Bibliographical Essay", Indian Book Chronicle, April 1992.
Sufi literature has been emerging and increasing continuously in languages, which includes, Persian and Urdu. This bibliographic essay highlights the contributions in English language. Compares two publications on the Sufi contributions from Deccan. (Key Words: Sufism, Deccan, Indian contributions to Sufi Thought)"Urdu Reference Literature: A Bibliographical Survey", in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers. Ed by B M Gupta. New Delhi, 1997.
(Key Words: Urdu - sources)
BOOK REVIEWS:
Emerick, Yahiya. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam. Forward by Qasim Najar. Indianapolis, IN., Alpha Books, 2002. Review in press (Muslim World Book Review, U.K.)
Dalvi, M A.
Sharia. Pune, 1994
Review in Indian Book Chronicle, 1994.Dalvi, M A.
Fourteen Hundred Years of Islam: A Deskbook. Pune, 1992.
Review in Muslim World Book Review (U.K)Jain, Naresh Kumar.
Muslims in India: A Biographical Dictionary. New Delhi, Manohar, 1982. 2v. A Review, in Muslim World Book Review (London)
This book is a very good reference source for the study of Muslim leadership in India, and this book spans almost one hundred years. (Key words: Muslims -- India -- Biography)Mernissi, Fatima.
Behind the Veil. New York, 1987.
Review in Muslim World Book Review (London).Mujahid, Abdul Malik.
Conversion to Islam: Untouchables' Strategy for Protest in India. Chambersburg, Anima Publications, 1989. Review.
It is the story of the conversion of the Dalit families, in Tamil Nadu in 1981. (Key Words: Islam, Religion, Conversions).Satyaprakash.
Muslims in India: A Bibliography of Their Socio-Economic and Political Literature, (Gurgaon, Indian Documentation Services, 1985). Reviewed in Asian Profile (Hong Kong),
A comparison is attempted in this review, with the Select Bibliography of Indian Muslims, (ICSSR's Southern Regional Centre, Hyderabad, 1983). The comparison reveals the efforts of two different sources to index the literature of the same subject. This review article adds on few other missing sources that are important but are missing in these two sources. (Key Words: Muslims -- India).Siddiqui, Shamim A.
Methodology of Dawah Ilallah in American Perspective. (New York, Forum for Islamic Work, 1989). Reviewed in Muslim World Book Review (London), 11, 3, 1991.
The attempt to find new followers among the Americans has gained a momentum and a method to be followed to perform this invitation to the fold of Islam is suggested in this book. (Key Words: Islam, Religion, Conversions)Syed Mohammed.
What is Islamization of Knowledge? (Tirunelveli, Mohammed Taahaa Publishing Co., 1988) reviewed in Islam and the Modern Age, 1989.
With the post modern winds of revivalism, revitalization and such others, Islamization of knowledge as a concept and idea has now surfaced in clear and succinct terms. It is nothing bombastic, but simply demanding a change of sound and sight track. The author has presented a realistic model to restructure our ways of education by teaching only that which is essential and necessary, i.e., a process of re-spiritualization and de-materialization. (Key Words: Islamization, Knowledge, Epistemology)
"Impact of Islam on Development of Libraries", Ali's Orator Circle, Hyderabad, 1987. SPECIAL LECTURES
"Libraries of Hyderabad", Radio Talk in Urdu, All India Radio, Hyderabad, 1987.
Other Presentations AND Lectures (A select list)
o
OLA Conference, Toronto, 2002: Chairman:
Historicity on the Web Session
o University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2001: Collection development in international studies - case of Middle East and South Asia
o Rutgers University, SCILS, New Brunswick, NJ. 1990: “Third World Library Development - A case of India ”
Updated on May 26, 2003