This paper aims to describe the development of the Indian National Union Catalogue for Scientific Serials (NUCSSI).
The stages in the development of the national union catalogue and software used for database design and development with different computer systems are discussed. The integration of the database with an e‐mail service for routeing of library/user request information is also described.
It was found that NUCSSI is an ideal access tool and is indispensable in supporting document supply. Regular updating of the database is enhanced with the online access granted to the participating libraries via the internet.
Desktop connectivity to the NUCSSI database through the internet has made it easy to find and obtain a journal/article of interest. User‐friendly interface and powerful search enable easy and improved access to locate a particular journal and its availability in various libraries free of cost. It provides a decentralized document supply system for India.
This article is of significance to librarians, information specialists in India and the international serials community.
