Topic: Sources of Information – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary; Documentary and Non-Documentary (UGC NET Library and Information Science With MCQs Quiz)
1. Definition of Information Sources
Information sources refer to any person, document, institution, or system that provides knowledge or data to meet an individual's information needs. These are classified based on their physical form and processing level.
2. Categories of Information Sources
A. By Physical/Formal Nature
1. Documentary Sources
2. Non-Documentary Sources
B. By Content/Processing Level
1. Primary Sources
2. Secondary Sources
3. Tertiary Sources
3. Documentary Sources
These are recorded sources of information in the form of text, images, audio, video, or digital formats. They can be conventional or modern.
Categorisation by S. R. Ranganathan
S. R. Ranganathan, the father of library science in India, classified documentary sources into four broad types:
1. Conventional Sources:
Books, periodicals, maps, and atlases. These are traditional printed forms of knowledge and literature.
2. Neo-Conventional Sources:
Standards, specifications, patents, trade catalogues, technical reports, and statistical data. These are often technical and scientific in nature.
3. Non-Conventional Sources:
Audio, visuals, audiovisuals, microfilms, microfiches, slides, and recordings. These are non-book materials, especially useful in specialized libraries.
4. Meta Documents:
These are documents that describe other documents and help in accessing them. They include bibliographies, indexing and abstracting services, catalogues, and union lists.
Categorisation by C. W. Hanson (1971)
Hanson classified sources based on the level of processing:
Primary Sources: Original materials – research reports, journals, dissertations, patents, etc.
Secondary Sources: Interpretations or evaluations of primary sources – bibliographies, indexes, abstracts, reviews.
Tertiary Sources: Compilations of primary and secondary sources – encyclopedias, directories, yearbooks, manuals.
Categorisation by Denis Grogan (1982)
Denis Grogan emphasized the functional use of sources in the user’s information-seeking process. He broadly aligned with the primary-secondary-tertiary model but added user-centered interpretation:
Primary: For original research
Secondary: For tracking and retrieving literature
Tertiary: For general orientation and background knowledge
4. Primary Sources of Information
These are original, unfiltered, firsthand accounts. They present new data or findings.
Examples:
Journals: e.g., Nature (launched in 1869, published weekly, by Springer Nature)
Patents: Indian Patent Office (under Controller General of Patents, Govt. of India)
Standards: e.g., ISO Standards (by International Organization for Standardization, 1947)
Conference Proceedings: e.g., INDEST Conference (started 2003 by IIT Delhi under MHRD)
Dissertations/Theses: Shodhganga (UGC’s INFLIBNET initiative, launched in 2011)
5. Secondary Sources of Information
These provide analysis, interpretation, or indexing of primary sources.
Examples:
Bibliographies: e.g., British National Bibliography (started in 1950 by British Library)
Abstracting Journals: e.g., Chemical Abstracts (started in 1907 by CAS, ACS)
Indexing Services: e.g., Library Literature and Information Science Full Text (since 1984 by EBSCO)
Review Articles: e.g., Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (1966–2011, by ASIS&T)
6. Tertiary Sources of Information
These are compilations and digests of both primary and secondary sources, aimed at providing a broader overview.
Examples:
Encyclopedias: Encyclopaedia Britannica (first published in 1768, now online)
Yearbooks: India: A Reference Annual (since 1953 by Govt. of India Publications Division)
Directories: ULRICHSWEB (international serials directory, launched in 1932, now by ProQuest)
Manuals/Handbooks: Subject-specific handbooks (published by academic publishers)
Almanacs: e.g., The World Almanac (since 1868)
7. Non-Documentary Sources
These are unrecorded sources of information, typically involving human expertise or institutional support.
A. Human Sources:
Includes scholars, librarians, subject experts, professionals, witnesses, and mentors. These are often accessed through interviews, discussions, or oral presentations.
B. Institutional Sources:
Government departments, research labs (e.g., CSIR, DRDO), NGOs, university departments, and help desks. These are often approached for consultation, data sharing, and expert opinions.
8. Importance in Library and Information Science
- Primary sources help in original research and academic writing.
- Secondary sources aid in bibliographic control, information retrieval, and literature reviews.
- Tertiary sources are used in user education, ready reference, and general orientation.
- Non-documentary sources play a crucial role in personal interviews, oral history, and expert consultation.
9. Chronological Highlights of Major Examples
- 1620 – Novum Organum by Francis Bacon: Foundation of empirical science
- 1665 – Philosophical Transactions (Royal Society, UK): First scientific journal
- 1768 – Encyclopaedia Britannica launched
- 1869 – Nature journal launched
- 1879 – Index Medicus started by NLM, USA
- 1907 – Chemical Abstracts began
- 1950 – British National Bibliography established
- 1984 – Library Literature & Info Science Index launched by EBSCO
- 2011 – Shodhganga launched by INFLIBNET
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