Library and Information Applications of Knowledge Based Systems

Discusses the meaning, evolution and components of knowledge based systems. It highlights the application of the systems for library and information work and reveals that the application of such systems will result in financial profits, competitiveness, flexibility and above all, will help the libraries to accept the challenging demands of modern information society. The paper, however, points out that such systems are sure to give birth to numerous problems and put the library profession at stake. But the essay suggests that the library professionals should embrace the systems, get themselves adequately trained and adopt these as problem solvers rather than to replace them. The paper concludes by examining the feasibility of application of these systems to the libraries of Jammu and Kashmir State.