The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information,   including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use

[Section-4 (1)(b)(xv)]

 

 

 

 

Website, pamphlets, brochures, posters and notice boards are directly accessible by any citizen.  For NGOs and other agencies in the area of disabilities, NIMH Newsletter and Mentard Bulletin are published and circulated.

 

WORKING HOURS:

 

The library works from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. on all working days except Saturdays. On Saturdays library works upto 5:30 P.M.  

 

NIMH has designed and developed its website (www.nimhindia.org) during the year 2004 which includes detailed information on the organizational structure, diagnosis and training packages for the cases with mental retardation, activities/services available to the persons with mental retardation, details of long term/short term training programmes, schemes/concessions provided to the MR persons, outreach/rehabilitation programmes taken up by the Institute, details of financial assistance available to the persons with mental retardation under NHFDC scheme and information on different Acts pertaining to disabilities

 

In addition, posters and charts projecting the consultation services, follow-up services, details of concessions/schemes, long term/short term training programmes and outreach programmes are displayed at all the strategic places in the Institute for the information of the general public and parents.

 

The institute has also developed different types of folders/brochures/hand outs on services and programmes being offered to the persons with mental retardation and their families and are kept at the reception counter for the consumption of the needy individuals.

 

NIMH library established during August, 1985 to cater the needs of different types of clientele with the following objectives:

 

·                     To build up a strong collection in the field of mental retardation and allied areas

 

·                     To keep abreast of the latest developments/techniques reported in the literature on care, training and rehabilitation of persons with mental retardation by collecting, sifting, assimilating and disseminating tailor made information to the professionals working in the Government and non-government sectors in the country through different types of information and documentation services

 

·                     To provide an effective and efficient document delivery services to the users.

 

·                     To disseminate information on government policies pertaining to the welfare, legal and financial aspects to the parents, self-help groups and voluntary organizations working in the field of mental retardation.

 

·                     To create awareness among general public and educate the parents of mentally retarded persons by providing awareness material such as educational folders, pamphlets posters, newsletters, video films, manuals and other booklets on identification, causes, prevention, training and rehabilitation aspects of mental retardation

 

NIMH library is being extensively used by the students of different courses numbering about 140, faculty/staff members and research staff of the Institute (approximately 160). In addition, the professionals working in NGOs, research scholars from universities/colleges, parents and general public are permitted to use the library with prior permission.

 

            The details of information and documentation services offered by the library are furnished below:

 

Reference Service

 

Enquiries on general and multi-disciplinary aspects of mental retardation received from the NIMH staff, parent s of mentally retarded children and professionals working in different institutes in the country are accepted and required information is provided to the users.

 

Current Awareness Service

 

To keep abreast of the latest developments and techniques in the field of mental disability and allied areas to the professionals geographically located in different places of the country, a bi-monthly service called 'MENTARD' was started in January 1986. This service includes abstracts of recent articles published in the journals received in the Library, News items on disabilities, New products/ Aids that are useful for disabled per sons, Forthcoming Conferences / seminars, Professional Placements and new additions to the Library.

 

Photocopy Service

 

NIMH Library believes in strong back-up service in support of their regular documentation services.  Photocopies of the journal articles and chapters from books (not exceeding 50 pages) included in MENTARD bulletin and bibliographies are supplied on nominal payment against specific request.

 

Newspaper Clipping Service

 

This service was started in July 1990 with an objective to bring Government policies on the welfare of the disabled persons, views of parents/ public on legal, financial, training programmes offered by the Government Institutes/Voluntary organisations to their disabled children, events/activities of different Institutes working in the field of disability, to the notice of the professionals working at NIMH and other training centres.

 

Literature Search Service

 

Requests for literature search on in-house data base are accepted on specific topics of interest. Literature Searches on MEDLARS/ERIC databases are also conducted on specific areas against the search requests received from the members of the library.

 

Compilation of Subject Bibliographies

 

Bibliographies on given topics in the field of mental disability and allied areas are compiled in anticipation and on demand. Literature searches on specific topics are conducted and reading lists are provided to the professionals on specific requests.

 

In-house Video Service

 

Members can view the video films that are available in the Library. A colour TV set with VCR and head phone facility is accessible for the members to view the required film. However the Audio/Video cassettes shall not be issued out.

 

Select Contents Service

 

It is a fortnightly service comprising contents pages of a few selected journals, which are not being subscribed by this library. The articles in the field of mental retardation and allied areas are 'tick' marked in the contents pages for quick reference to the users. Photocopies of the required papers can be obtained on request.

 

Internet / E-mail Services

 

Through the VSNL's Internet broadband connection Internet service is being provided exclusively to the students community w.e.f. 1st March 2005. Two systems have been deployed for this purpose in the Internet Search cabin in the library wherein students can avail this service.

 

Content Alerts

 

This weekly service is being provided from February 2004 for the benefit of professionals working at three regional centers of the Institute located at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata. It includes contents pages of professional journal issues received at NIMH Library during preceding week. This main objective of this service is to provide wider access to the scientific literature reported in different professional journals in the field of mental retardation and allied areas to the regional centers where these journals are not being subscribed. It is hoped that this service would meet academic endeavors of the professionals working in these regional centers.

 

Institutional Membership

 

To support NGOs particularly those involved in HRD and R&D activities, institutional membership facility has been started in March 2005. Under this membership scheme, the intended NGO has to pay refundable deposit of Rs.10,000/- and annual membership fee of Rs. 5,000/-. A maximum of six books can be borrowed at a time and six members are permitted to use the library. An institutional member can also avail photocopy facilities and other documentation services.