Cultural anthropology Essay

Cultural anthropology is one of the most important fields of anthropology that explores cultural variation among people and promotes culture as a meaningful scientific concept. The aim of this paper is to explore the key concepts, such as subsistence practices, economic systems, issues w/social stratification, marriage practices, kinship and marital residence, political life, religion and arts, and issues w/globalization or the environment, taking, as a case in point, African culture. Subsistence Practices In 1930s the researchers developed a better classification based on peculiarities of the subsistence practices (the methods and sources used by society to get the food and other necessary things in order to survive). This classification, being based on economic differences, was much more effective, as far as a culture is â€Å"directly related to its economy† (O’Neil, 2006). In such a way, the world cultures were divided into four types according to the subsistence practices: foraging (gathering wild plants and hunting), pastoralism (herding domesticated animals), horticulture (low intensity farming), and intensive agriculture (large scale farming). Intensive agriculture is the primary subsistence practice of such large-scale, populous society like Africa. Moreover, three fifth African citizens are subsistence farmers. Africa has a well-developed agricultural sector that provides for the most domestic needs. In addition, the country exports wool, corn, tobacco, peanuts, sugar, and other important farm products. Economic System Different types of culture have different economic systems, not only in terms of the scale (e. g. isolated, small-scale economies vs. large-scale economies), but also in terms of their systems of production (the subsistence practices), distribution and exchange. African economic system consists of industry, trade and resources of the nations of African countries. Africa is considered to be the poorest inhabited continent in the world. Its poverty is partially rooted in its history due to uncertain transition from colonialism. Being the country with poor economy, Africa has no complex market exchange system. African agricultural sector employs approximately sixty per cent of the country’s inhabitants. The most important exports are petroleum and minerals. Investment and banking is very problematic due to the country’s uncertain economy. Issues w/social stratification People are social human beings; and, having a need in social contact they live in isolation quite rarely. Social institutions and social groups have their own specific functions, which may overlap and are interconnected in multiple complex ways. Manifest functions are obvious, while latent functions are more difficult to discover and are less apparent. In all social groups people have a social status and a certain role to fulfill. Status is a â€Å"relative social position within a group† (O’Neil, 2006), while a social role is â€Å"the part our society expects us to play in a given status† (O’Neil, 2006). Alike other countries, Africans achieve statuses in two basic ways: the achieved social status is one the person acquires by doing something, whereas the ascribed status is the â€Å"result of being born into a particular family or being born male or female† (O’Neil, 2006) (e. g. some casts in African indigenous tribes). Social groups in Africa are organized on a basis of age, gender, common interest (e. g. avocation (fraternal organizations), vocation (trade unions), common residence (neighborhood organizations), religious belonging (membership in a certain church), past experience (veterans clubs), political beliefs (political parties), to mention a few. Marriage practices Marriage is â€Å"the socially recognized union of two or more people† (O’Neil, 2006), which functions as a glue in the organization of society. It is generally referred to as an efficient way to regulate heterosexual intercourse by determining â€Å"who is socially accepted as a sexual partner and who is not† (O’Neil, 2006). After the marriage, all other people, except of the souse, are treated as off limits for sexual access. Different societies have different views on sexual access restrictions, and, therefore, have different marriage practices. For example, in Africa marriage partner selection to a great extent depends on complex rules, which vary significantly from region to region. In addition, the concepts of beauty are also considerably different in different cultures (e. g. African countries consider large and pump bodies to be attractive, while European countries prefer slim women). Ttraditionally, African marriage is a kind of alliance between the kin groups. As well as in other countries, marriage partner selection restrictions in Africa imply two basic categories: exogamy and endogamy rules. Exogamy rules insist that marriage should occur outside of a certain social group (e. g. family) (in other words, exogamy explains who the person cannot marry), while endogamy rules require that the marriage should be â€Å"within some larger group, such as the local community† (O’Neil, 2006) (in other words, endogamy explains who the person is recommended to marry). For example, in Zambia a woman is not allowed to seek for marriage (it is a taboo). Pre-colonial marriage in Africa was a kind of transaction between the two kin groups, where the bridewealth was paid to the bride’s family. During the period of colonialism polygyny (the marriage of more than one spouse at a time) was a common practice. Nowadays, the vast majority of African countries have serial monogamy (a â€Å"marriage to multiple spouses but only one at a time†) (O’Neil, 2006) Kinship Kin groups are very important part of African culture. Kinship is a culturally determined relationship between the people who are â€Å"commonly thought of as having family ties† (O’Neil, 2006). African culture uses kinship to classify people and to form social groups. Yet, as with other cultural practices, kinship patterns and rules are different for different types of country’s region. African kinship is â€Å"the most important social organizing principle along with gender and age† (O’Neil, 2006), because it â€Å"provides a means for transmitting skills and property from generation to generation† (O’Neil, 2006). No wonder that inheritance rights are predominantly based on kinship ties. Marital Residence Alike the vast majority of societies, African newly married couples rarely establish their own residence. Instead, they generally become a part of compound household occupied by relatives or a part of existing household. There are several types of residence in Africa: Patrilocal residence (when a couple establishes their home not far from or in the groom’s father’s house). It is the most common type of marital residence followed by the vast majority of African population; Matrilocal residence (when a newly married couple establishes their home not far from or in the bride’s mother’s house); Avunculocal residence (a couple establishes their home not far from or in the groom’s maternal uncle’s house); Ambilocal residence (when a newly married couple establishes their home not far from or in the bride’s or groom’s house); Neolocal residence (when a newly married couple establishes their home independent of both sets of relatives). Other types of marital residence (e. g. virilocal, uxorilocal, and natolocal) occur very rarely in African culture. Political life Alike all other countries, Africa has some sort of political system, because the politics is a â€Å"competition for power over people and things† (O’Neil, 2006). The simplest type of political systems can be presented in bands and tribes (in Ancient Africa and some modern African indigenous tribes). These kinds of societies are acephalous (Greek – without a head) (with no leader in the sense we commonly expect) (O’Neil, 2006). Tribes are a little bit more complicated system, compared to the band. Nowadays, modern Africa has plenty of political structures organized into bureaucracies of positions. Each of them has different levels of power, responsibility and authority. African Union (AU) consists of all Africa’s states except Morocco. African Union has a parliamentary government (the AU Government) and consists of judicial, legislative and executive organs. It is headed by the Head of State and the AU President Gertrude Ibengwe Mongella. Religion Generally, religion is a system of beliefs that usually involves the worship of supernatural beings and/ or forces. Religion plays an important role in African culture, as far as it introduces a kind of order â€Å"in what might otherwise be seen as a chaotic existence† (O’Neil, 2006) and provides the meaning and understanding for inexplicable things and events. African religious people define religious beliefs as the core of their world views. Sub-Saharan African traditional religion revolves around ancestor worship and animism. Indigenous African religion divides the ancestor spirits into two categories: helpful and harmful and involves the performance of rituals (a stylized and repetitive act that occurs at a set time and location and involves the use of symbolic words, objects and actions). African religion has psychological and social functions. It helps people confronting and explaining death, fears, and anxiety about the unknown and supernatural. They can â€Å"provide a basis for common purpose and values that can help maintain social solidarity† (O’Neil, 2006). In addition, there are many other religions in Africa, such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, to mention a few. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, about 46. 5% of all Africans are Christians and another 40. 5% are Muslims with about 11. 8% of Africans following indigenous African religions. African Art African culture enjoys a rich tradition of crafts and arts, such as brass, leather art works, woodcarvings, paintings, sculpture, pottery, religious and ceremonial headgear and dress, to mention a few. As far as Africans devote much attention to personal appearance, jewelry is the most important personal accessory. Traditionally, Africans make jewelry from cowry shells. The art of making masks is one of the most important aspects of African culture. There are several themes widely used in African art and craft. Couple theme is one of the most interesting, because, unlike in European cultures, the couple theme rarely expresses the intimacy between man and woman. Instead, the couples are most likely to represent married couple, ancestors, twins, and community founders, etc. Mother’s or woman’s theme is the second most important theme in African art. It embodies the woman’s desire to have a child, and may symbolize mother earth. The depiction of the man with the weapon or depiction of animals traditionally symbolizes power and honor. Issues w/globalization or the environment Africa is the country solely dependent on rains, global warming may cause devastating effect on the country by worsening the food supply and, consequently, exacerbating the widespread poverty in the entire African continent. Moreover, it is assumed that the reality of globalization for African continent is dramatically environmentally destructive and the human influenced environmental catastrophe in Africa is worsened by the impact of globalization that may result in further devastation of the continent. References O’Neil, D. D. (2006, November 30). Cultural Anthropology. Retrieved May 24, 2007, from http://anthro. palomar. edu/tutorials/cultural. htm

Do Major Cities Reflect the Most Important Characteristics of a Society Essay

My opinion is that when analyzing the most important characteristics of a society, it is true that one must study its major cities; however focusing only in major cities would generate a biased result. They concentrate an important part of the population of a country and they can represent well the main characteristics of the urban life of a particular society, however they fail in reflecting the rural world, ethnic minorities and local languages. Major cities reflect the characteristics of the best-educated segments of the population, the ones with higher incomes and better job opportunities, on the other hand, small towns and rural communities may have totally different characteristics and probably will have lower quality education, lower income and worse jobs in terms of remuneration. One example is China, if one were to look at major cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing and only focusing on those cities, the conclusions would be wrong. One would conclude that China is very industrialized, that its society organizes in crowded, modern and congested cities. The truth about China is that there are two realities, the urban China represented in major cities and the rural one, depicted in its small communities, both with contrasting characteristics. In short, looking at the major cities is extremely important to assess an important group of the society, however we should always keep in mind that a society is composed by different groups and realities and in order to understand it correctly we must look into a representative set of communities whether they are big or small.

Empowerment and innovation change in workplace Essay

Empowerment and innovation change in workplace - Essay Example While performing the employee empowerment program care should be taken to provide maximum satisfaction to the employees. This will result production hike and thereby the customer satisfaction can be maximized. If there are technical difficulties in implementing empowerment program, then a cultural change is essential for the whole organization. The authorities must try to learn the requirements of the employees for dedicating themselves to promote result oriented work. People have different views regarding the nature of empowerment programs to be implemented. For different organization the structure of empowerment will be different. These variations are according to the requirements of each organization. The developmental background and the processing of procedures for empowerment implementation are entirely different with respect to organizational point of view. Moreover the working media, the type of work carrying out and the time frame of work are the various aspects which are to be considered before designing and implementing employee empowerment programs. The need of empowerment in an organization is a kind of work redesigning process. Before redesigning is carried out in an organization the authorities must make sure decisions regarding the innovations to be employed in the work front. They must make a confirmative effort to find out the section of the organization which needs the innovation. The organization expects well cooperated performance from the employee side. For achieving this feat the working environment of the natural work group should be enhanced considerably. Since the concept behind the working classes is highly complicated it should be dealt with utmost care. The very important part that we can observe in social work group empowerment is social interaction. These enable employees to socialize on works entrusted to them. The interaction should be purely task based. If

Critically evaluate one aspect of your chosen reserach article Essay

Critically evaluate one aspect of your chosen reserach article - Essay Example On the other hand, qualitative methods are generally supported by the interpretivist (also referred to as constructivist) who portrays the world in which reality is socially constructed, complex, and ever changing. Each represents a fundamentally different inquiry paradigm and researcher actions are based on the underlying assumptions of each paradigm. Strauss and Corbin, (1990) states that qualitative research, is any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or other means of quantification. Quantitative researchers seek causal determination, prediction, and generalization of findings; while qualitative researchers seek instead illumination, and understanding to similar situations. Therefore, qualitative analysis results in a different type of knowledge than does quantitative inquiry. Glesne (1999) states that qualitative researchers seek out a variety of perspectives; they do not reduce the multiple interpretations to a norm. She adds that in qualitative research, face-to-face interactions are the predominant distinctive feature and also the basis for its most common problem. Such problem she states include researchers’ involvement with the people they study and the accompanying challenges, and opportunities that such closeness brings. Straus and Corbin (1990) claim that qualitative methods can be used to better understand any phenomenon about which little is yet known. They can also be used to gain new perspectives on things about which much is already known, or to gain more in-depth information that may be difficult to convey quantitatively, or where the researcher has determined that quantitative measures cannot adequately describe or interpret a situation. Questionnaires were used in the study as a means of collecting data from participants, with an aim in obtaining their personal views on the safety and security of their children. Campbell et al

Critically Appraising the Business Case for Diversity Essay

Critically Appraising the Business Case for Diversity - Essay Example Managers should strive to fight off the fears that come with the policy of multiculturalism and should instead embrace the fact that the world is evolving and that no matter how diverse different communities are; we are all one and are united. Those managers who choose to go by the business case approach have no idea about the benefits that can be brought about by diversity. To enlightenment this point, diversity is discussed below. Managers are involved in many functions of an organization. These managerial functions are Controlling, Staffing, Planning, Directing and Organizing. With these functions, comes ethical responsibilities since the managers have to come up with clear expectations on how the employee should behave for the overall accountability, decision making and goal reaching in the organization. Consequently, organizations are impacted upon by laws and regulations of the area and country in which they are situated. Going against those laws leads to lawsuits and penalties . The linchpin to employee productivity according to a resent survey is employee engagement and ethical behaviour. These two aspects are built by the overall organizational culture. (Cummins, 1996) In general, managers deal with four main areas of an organization. These areas are employment, performance evaluation, restraint and termination of employment. These four areas influence the ethical issues in an organization because they deal with sincerity, justice and individual decorum. One of the major ethical issues that arise from the functions of a manager is diversity. (Pringle, 2006) Diversity means being different and unique in aspects that encompass race, customs, masculinity and femininity, sexuality, age, socio-economic status, physical abilities and inabilities, religion and political beliefs. It is an ethical issue because the manager ought to have the ability to look at these differences in a secure, optimistic and cultivating manner; being able to endure, embrace and commemorate the affluence in the diverse dimensions. They should also be in a position to help other employees embrace the concept of diversity. (Kirton, 2008) As a result of diversity, companies are faced with numerous issues and among them is the issue of harassment. The term harassment does not only mean sexual harassment. It is a broad term that encompasses all types of prejudice and behaviour considered as irksome, intimidating and distractive. It could be in the form of language, actions and menace and or negative remarks based on a person's diversity. (Cummins, 1996) Harassment can be of different categories not only sexual as most people would assume. However, sexual harassment is the most common type of harassment. Below are the types of harassment: Sexual Harassment, Race, Religion, National Origin harassment, Age harassment, Disability Status harassment, Sexual Orientation and Marital Status harassment, Gender Identification harassment, Political Beliefs harassment, Criminal History harassment, Occupation or Sources of Income harassment,

Wireless Power Transmission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Wireless Power Transmission - Essay Example As the stydy highlights low power devices that include mobile phones and digital cameras use batteries which are charged. In cases where one has many low power devices and intends to charge them simultaneously, it becomes a tedious affair. Current manufacturers make electronic gadgets with varying charging systems. To curb the messy picture of using wired systems, wireless power transmission comes handy and an effective way to charge portable and low-power gadgets. From this study it is clear that electromagnetism is considered to be the study of physical interaction occurrences placed between electrically charged elements. The power of electromagnetism manifests as a field, which is one of the major four fundamentals in nature’s interactions leaving the other three as gravitation, weak interaction, and strong interaction. â€Å"WPT is carried out using either the â€Å"near-field† electromagnetic (EM) induction (e.g., inductive coupling, capacitive coupling) for short-term distance (say, less than a meter) applications such as passive radio-frequency identification, or the â€Å"far-field† EM radiation in the form of microwaves or lasers for long-range (up to a few kilometers) applications†. Lorentz force is an electromagnetic phenomenon which including both electric and magnetic elements of a single phenomenon. The force of electromagnetism plays a significant role in the determination of the functions of the objects we encounter every day . Ordinary things then aquire the form resulting from intermolecular forces that are between the individual matter molecules. Electrons are bound by electromagnetic wave mechanics to form building blocks of molecules called atoms.

Health Care in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Health Care in California - Essay Example Unfortunately, a large number of Americans cannot afford to finance the cost of health care, which has escalated in the past few years. Although Medicare and Medicaid health care system have been helpful in ensuring the provision of quality healthcare to every American, the system is not completely universal. This is true because most Americans still lack health insurance coverage. Although the Obamacare Act has attempted to improve health care quality to the people, California Health Care Foundation (2014) report shows that the system is discriminatory since it is selective and benefits only a few groups. California is among the states with the largest numbers of residents without health insurance. Unfortunately, the majority of these poor is low-income earners and cannot afford to finance their medical bills whenever they fall sick. Therefore, to improve the quality of life of the Californian people, there has been an increased need for the instantiation of health care reforms to e nsure universal coverage for all residents of California. This document will discuss the various health care reforms initiatives that have been implemented in California in the last three years. California is one of the most populous states in the country. At the same time, California has one of the highest numbers of people without health insurance cover. Accordingly, millions of Californian residents have not been able to receive the quality of healthcare they need. A California Hospital Association (2014) report shows that the majority of Californian residents are not receiving the care they need despite the state spending large amounts of money per individual on health care. Reports indicate that California, like most other states in the country, has underutilized preventive care, a situation, which has resulted in large spending on treatment. A CDC report also indicates that state has not prioritized offering quality health care services to its

Company analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Company analysis - Research Paper Example It is a holding company. The company is a supplier of communications, entertainment, and information services and products to customers, government agencies, and businesses. It functions in two most important segments: Wireline and Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless Communications services and products consist of data services, equipment sales, and wireless voice over all United States (Verizon). The services and products of Wireline include internet access, voice, long distance, broadband video and data, network access, Internet protocol network services, and various other services. The company gives these services and products to consumers of United States, as well as to businesses, carriers, and government consumers in both America and all its one fifty countries globally. Verizon Communications Inc. attained HUGHES Telematics Inc. as well. The long-term source of Verizon value is central role we usually play in industry fundamental to global economy and extremely embedded in cust omers’ lives. Even though it’s the iconic products that enhance people’s creative strategies, and lives that release new markets and develop technological access. The associations that endorse initiatives or innovation apply technology to imperative social issues. Verizon is standard-bearer for industry and organizer in giving advantages of our authorizing technology to the global (Verizon). Verizon Communications Inc. ranked number one in industry list of World Most Admired Companies in 2012 Fortune magazine. For Verizon Communications Inc, the philanthropic and technological resources to attend to world’s unmet environmental and social needs are the first priority. In this procedure, the social innovation that will release new markets, reinforce growth and grow Verizon’s important role in digital world. Verizon Wireless was founded in 2000 as a mutual venture of Verizon Communications and also Vodafone. It is an inventive wireless communications corporation that links businesses and people with innovative wireless technology and also available service (Verizon). Vodafone is also an innovation of Verizon Communications Inc. It is the biggest mobile telecommunications giver in Western hemisphere and accounts for 45% possession of the Verizon Wireless. Vodafone provides services in thirty countries and networks in more than fifty more. The mission statement of Verizon Inc is As follows: "As a leader in communications, Verizon's mission is to enable people and businesses to communicate with each other. We are also committed to providing full and open communication with our customers, employees and investors." (Verizon). â€Å"Vision statement of Verizon Communications Inc is, â€Å"Win customers by building wireless, broadband and global IP networks and delivering the innovative products, services, applications and content that transforms lives and empowers businesses and communities.† (Verizon). Strategic Imperatives A t Verizon Communications Inc, the power of technology is used to resolve the impediments any company may face. The Strategic Imperatives are to increase the revenue, customer retention and growth, give bundle services of Television, data, and voice and takes share from the competition. Verizon exploit the weaknesses of cable, outperforms cable on service of customers, give best customer service, and also provided flexibility of installation. Verizon believes in

Mis Used in Libraries Essay Example for Free

Mis Used in Libraries Essay Information systems are the software and hardware systems that support data-intensive applications. An information system is a collection of methods, practices, algorithms and methodologies that transforms data into information and knowledge desired by and useful for the individual and the group users in organizations and other entities. This system can involve a combination of work practices, information, people and technologies organized to accomplish goals in an organization. All businesses today utilize some form of a technological information system in their company. Using an automated system to record and process business transactions is essential to running a profitable company and responding to market fluctuations. However, information systems are best for just collecting and reporting company information; management must still review and use the information for achieving company goals. As information systems have enabled more diverse human activities, they have exerted a profound influence over society. These systems have quickened the pace of daily activities, affected the structure and mix of organizations, changed the type of products bought, and influenced the nature of work. Information and knowledge have become vital economic resources. Yet, along with opportunities, the dependence on information systems has brought new threats. Intensive industry innovation and academic research continually develop new opportunities while aiming to contain the threats. A management information system (MIS) is set of internal controls that aid company management in running a business on a daily basis. The MIS is not just a computer information system that gathers information, but an overall decision-making tool used by management. The information reported by the MIS will help management find areas that need improvement in their company. How this information is used to correct business operations relies on the style of management used in a business. Using a de-centralized management style allows for corrections to be made by the front-line manager; this allows for a great deal of autonomy in management positions. Centralized management styles rely on top-level managers to correct business operations. NEED FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN LIBRARIES. Information systems are electronic databases that manage large amounts of information, often for a business or large organization. You might not initially associate information systems with libraries, as libraries at first glance seem like buildings filled with paper books. However, many libraries use information systems to help them complete various tasks. There are a few key advantages for libraries that use information systems. Keeping Stock †¢One of the challenges for any library, especially large ones, is keeping track of all the books, CDs, DVDs, maps and other materials. Information systems can be used to put an indentifying code on each material that allows a librarian to look up where a material is, who took it out, and when. If a book is missing, the information system can help the librarians find it. Building a Collection †¢Whenever a librarian is choosing which materials to buy to add to the librarys collection, he must research what, if any, similar materials already exist. Information systems allow librarians to access easily information about what materials the library already owns on a particular subject or time period. This expedites the purchasing process. Customer Service oA library can use information systems to make it easier for customers to offer comments on how the library can change or improve. Customers can send an email or fill out an online form and an information system can collect all the comments and send them to the right person. This not only helps keep track of customer opinions, it also allows the librarian to receive a daily or weekly comments email rather than deal with multiple messages per day. Money Management oWhile books at libraries are usually free, libraries run on money. Information systems, including simple systems like spreadsheets, help libraries manage their budgets and plan their finances for the future. Large libraries with endowments rely even more on information systems to keep track of their investments and expected dividends. Traditionally, libraries have been aligned with the collecting, organizing, archiving, disseminating, and sometimes evaluation of data and information. Libraries are not about books. They are about information and knowledge. In the past libraries has been associated with books only because books were the primary manifestations of information. In todays world, information manifests itself in many more mediums. Most notable is the electronic medium. Integrated library system, or ILS, is another enterprise resource planning system for a library. One word, ‘INTERNET’ has completely changed the way Libraries operate. Today’s libraries are having a paradigm shift towards web-based e-resources. The conventional bibliographic resources are now fast supplemented by the e-resources. It is huge task for librarians to maintain a supply chain that moves shoulder to shoulder with a global information generation rate that doubles at every 20 months. Management Information Systems (MIS) have emerged as a solution to this capacity expansion requirement of Academic Libraries. According to McClure (1990), Management information systems are tools designed to improve management decisions. †¢Integrated Library System Modules module = a portion of a program that carries out a specific function Acquisitions: select, order, budget, receive, pay for materials; claim or cancel orders that were not received. Cataloging: create records which describe and classify materials Serials: describe and check-in serials (periodicals, magazines, journals) †¢5. Integrated Library System Modules (pg. 2) 4. Circulation: record the check-in and check-out of materials to patrons 5. Interlibrary Loans: lend and borrow materials from other libraries 6. OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog): display materials to patrons The Main Functions of a Library Knowledge is for all, but to be indeed for all, it should be accessible for all those who seek it regardless of their mother tongue. Consequently, libraries as the organizers and heralds of this knowledge, adding value to it by cataloguing and classifying, should, in turn, be Universal; i. e. provide equality of access for all. Today, Information Technology has converted the world into a global village and libraries, as part of this age, should make use of these technological advancements in achieving the Universality goal and quenching the generations thirst for knowledge. This means that traditional libraries should change into well-equipped interconnected digital libraries Libraries should be so organized and the staff so trained that they become relevant to user communities (including special groups) in every respect. Primary Functions of Integrated Library Systems 1)Ordering and receiving materials. 2)Recording financial information 3)Storing information about the library’s collection of materials 4)Recording the borrowing of materials . The objective of an MIS based Library is to be an effective library through: (1) Providing convenience and justice to its readers. (2) Attract non-readers to become readers. FEASIBILITY STUDY Key Features 1Tracks number of books and subscribers in a library 2Add manage books categories 3Manage and edit books 4Search books by name 5Add book details with category, price and purchase date 6Maintains book issue date, return date and overdue days. 7Maintains employee details who borrows the books Benefits 1User friendly interface 2Subscribers can easily check availability of books, CD’s, DVD’s in a library 3Reporting of overdue books 4Cost effective 5Efficiency in speed and operation 6Elimination of duplication of Books, CD’s and DVD’s 7Security of Library 8Better inventory preservation because of less handling by staff 9Time saving 10Easily locate books, CD’s and DVD’s on racks SOFTWARES USED IN LIBRARIES VOYAGER: Voyager is broken down into different modules that are focused on helping with certain tasks commonly done in a library. The modules are the main way that library workers interact with the system. They are implemented as custom Microsoft Windows programs that talk to a centralized server and database. The modules are as follows: 1. Circulation The primary use of this module is charge and discharge items to library patrons. It allows for the creation and maintenance of patron records, fine processing and request processing of library items. 2. Media Scheduling (optional) lets people reserve videos and media equipment ahead of time as well as equipment maintenance. The types of items allowed to be reserved are only limited by what library staff have added to it. 3. Web Voyage This is the web based interface for use by patrons to search, renew items, and request items from the libraries collection. 4. Access Reports Not officially a module, Voyager does allows for an ODBC connection to its main database. This allows library staff to create custom Statistic and usage reports. 5. Reporter One of the purposes of this module is to generate email and print notifications to patrons informing them of, recalls, overdue items, courtesy notices and fines. Reporter also generates exception reports, which are violations of system policy, Transaction reports, and some statistics, which are used by library staff. 6. Cataloging This is the main module used by Library Technical Services department. It is used to create and edit records for all the items in a libraries collection. 7. Acquisitions Lets staff track orders and assign money to funds and ledgers. 8. Call Slip (optional) Allows patrons to request items to be transferred between different units in a library system. 9. Self Check provides and interface for Self Check stations. 10. Voyager Inter-library Loan (ILL)- (Optional) Allows library patrons to request items from other institutions. 11. System Admin Used to add system users, set up circulation locations, and policies as well as setting up location calendars. Alexandria: Alexandria efficiently manages modern libraries, freeing up administrators, technology coordinators, and librarians for more important tasks. Library Automation Software Benefits to IT Managers You are tasked to do more with less, and you need library automation software that can answer the call. Alexandria will enable you to: †¢Relieve the support load of your staff. In addition to ease-of-use and stability, Alexandrias unmatched technical support team is available any time you need them via phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, providing end-user support directly to your users, and IT support to you when necessary. †¢Minimize the resource drain of multiple servers at multiple sites. Alexandria gives you the ability to update/upgrade and backup your entire district from one primary location. †¢Eliminate upgrade and backup hassles. Alexandrias update, upgrades, and critical data backups are all done automatically within the software. Library Automation Software Benefits to Administrators Alexandria library automation software allows you to efficiently manage your varied library education and management responsibilities with the following unique capabilities: †¢Improve reading scores. Alexandrias built in Lexile capabilities actually improve reading scores †¢Universal access from home. With Alexandria, there is secure access to your library—24 hours a day. †¢Relieve the resource drain of extra support staff just to manage your library automation software. Alexandrias automatic updates, 24/7/365 technical support, and renowned ease-of-use allow you to re-deploy valuable resources to more important areas. †¢Alexandria is the only library system that provides a live 24/7 help line for any librarian or tech person in your facility who needs assistance. e-Granthalaya e-Granthalaya is a library automation software from National, Department of Electronics Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India. The software has been designed by a team of experts from software as well as Library and Information Science discipline. Using this software the libraries can automate in-house activities as well as user services. The software can be implemented either in stand-alone or in client-server mode where database and WebOPAC are installed on the server PC while the data entry program is installed on client PCs. The software provides LAN/Web based data entry solutions for a cluster of libraries where a centralized/Common database can be created with Union Catalog output. The software provides Web OPAC interface to publish the library catalog over Internet/Intranet. The software runs on Windows paltform Only, UNICODE Compliant, thus, supports data entry in local language.. Distribution Policy The software is provided at zero cost libraries. The support, training, Data Entry, Maintenance, Migration, etc are provided on Payment basis by the NIC/NICSI Empanelment Agency. System Requirements Hardware: the computer itself, (CPU), and all of its support equipments. Among the support equipments are input and output devices, storage devices and communications devices Connectivity: LAN/Internet Connectivity. BarCode Printer (Any Model/Make) with Barcode Reader Software Components 1. Database (MS SQL Server 2005/2008) on Server PC (Windows 2003/2008) 2. Web OPAC on Server PC 3. Data entry program on client PCs For the details and information with regards to our project , the following libraries have been visited THE AMERICAN LIBRARY The American Library, Mumbai is one of the divisions of the American Center, which carries out a variety of activities aimed at promoting a better understanding of the policies, values, institutions, and culture of the United States. The American Library, Mumbai provides you with a wide range of current, accurate and authoritative information from a vast selection of print and electronic resources using state-of-the-art technology. The American Library collection focuses primarily on U. S. foreign policy, business and economics, management, law and legislation, human rights, environment, and life and culture in the U. S. It maintains a collection of approximately 13,000 volumes of books, government publications, and think tank reports. It has 89 U. S. magazines and 3 newspapers titles in hardcopy. They provide timely, reliable and comparative information on a variety of topics ranging from American politics, culture, history, economy as well as international relations and global issues. With books, journals, English language learning materials along with DVDs, newspapers, U. S. government publications, there is something for everyone. Even the young reader will find more than 1,000 titles of fiction and non-fiction at the American Library. This library uses Voyager as its software . It is a centralized network . oVoyager automates many of the processes necessary for libraries to function smoothly, such as circulation. o Voyager is capable of managing a variety of formats, such as print and online resources. oIt addresses recent concerns for patron information privacy and privacy related to circulation history oGives more options on user/patron service (e. g. alerts for pending transactions for a patron) oImproved search tools for staff and patrons, including enhancements for subject headings searching (controlled vocab), where patron doesn’t have to know starting words or word order of headings to look them up oAcquisitions: select, order, budget, receive, pay for materials; claim or cancel orders that were not received. oCataloguing: create records which describe and classify materials oSerials: describe and check-in serials (periodicals, magazines, journals) MMRDA LIBRARY Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority commonly abbreviated as MMRDA, is a body of the Government of Maharashtra that is responsible for the infrastructure development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. MMRDA was set up on the 26th January, 1975 under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act, 1974 Government of Maharashtra as an apex body for planning and co-ordination of development activities in the Region. The MMRDA comprises 17 members and is chaired by the Minister for Urban Development in Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan (who is also the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra). It is also the richest state owned organisations in india. on the similar lines to this, recently government of maharashtra has announced to establish pmrda and nmrda for pune and nasik respectively. Mmrda uses e granthalaya. It consists of an isolated network design  omulti-lingual version supports data entry in all the 10 Indian Scripts/languages oHigh security for library data and members’ accounts oFine calculation for late receipt or lost or damage of items oEasy way to take Database Backup and Restore the database oTimely reminders will be given for the periodical subscription of items oImproved circulation and tracking oEasy access to all information BIBLIGRAPHY The American Library MMRDA library http://egranthalaya. nic. in/ http://www. exlibrisgroup. com/category/Voyager.

My Country India Essay Example for Free

My Country India Essay India, officially the Republic of India (Bharat Ganrajya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1. 2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China,Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, Indias Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia. Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the regions diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Indian economy is the worlds tenth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. A nuclear weapons stateand a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks seventh in military expenditure among nations. India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 28 states and 7 union territories. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, andmulti-ethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. India comprises the bulk of the Indian subcontinent and lies atop the minor Indian tectonic plate, which in turn belongs to the Indo-Australian Plate. Indias defining geological processes commenced 75 million years ago when the Indian subcontinent, then part of the southern supercontinent tGondwana, began a north-eastward drift across the then-unformed Indian Ocean that lasted fifty million years. The subcontinents subsequent collision with, and subduction under, the Eurasian Plate bore aloft the planets highest mountains, the Himalayas. They abut India in the north and thenorth-east. In the former seabed immediately south of the emerging Himalayas, plate movement created a vast trough that has gradually filled with river-borne sediment; it now forms the Indo-Gangetic Plain. To the west lies the Thar Desert, which is cut off by the Aravalli Range. The original Indian plate survives as peninsular India, which is the oldest and geologically most stable part of India; it extends as far north as the Satpura and Vindhya ranges in central India. These parallel chains run from the Arabian Sea coast in Gujarat in the west to the coal-rich Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand in the east. To the south, the remaining peninsular landmass, the Deccan Plateau, is flanked on the west and east by coastal ranges known as the Western and Eastern Ghats;[114] the plateau contains the nations oldest rock formations, some of them over one billion years old. Constituted in such fashion, India lies to the north of the equator between 6Â ° 44 and 35Â ° 30 north latitude and 68Â ° 7 and 97Â ° 25 east longitude. The Kedar Range of the Greater Himalayas rises behind Kedarnath Temple, which is one of the twelve jyotirlinga shrines. Indias coastline measures 7,517 kilometres (4,700 mi) in length; of this distance, 5,423 kilometres (3,400 mi) belong to peninsular India and 2,094 kilometres (1,300 mi) to the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep island chains. According to the Indian naval hydrographic charts, the mainland coastline consists of the following: 43% sandy beaches; 11% rocky shores, including cliffs; and 46% mudflats or marshy shores. Major Himalayan-origin rivers that substantially flow through India include the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, both of which drain into the Bay of Bengal. Important tributaries of the Ganges include the Yamuna and the Kosi; the latters extremely low gradient often leads to severe floods and course changes. Major peninsular rivers, whose steeper gradients prevent their waters from flooding, include the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Kaveri, and the Krishna, which also drain into the Bay of Bengal; and the Narmada and the Tapti, which drain into the Arabian Sea. Coastal features include the marshy Rann of Kutch of western India and the alluvial Sundarbans delta of eastern India; the latter is shared with Bangladesh. India has two archipelagos: the Lakshadweep, coral atolls off Indias south-western coast; and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a volcanic chain in the Andaman Sea. The Indian climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, both of which drive the economically and culturally pivotal summer and wintermonsoons. The Himalayas prevent cold Central Asian katabatic winds from blowing in, keeping the bulk of the Indian subcontinent warmer than most locations at similar latitudes. The Thar Desert plays a crucial role in attracting the moisture-laden south-west summer monsoon winds that, between June and October, provide the majority of Indias rainfall. Four major climatic groupings predominate in India: tropical wet, tropical dry, subtropical humid, and montane. Indian cultural history spans more than 4,500 years. During the Vedic period (c. 700–500 BCE), the foundations of Hindu philosophy, mythology, and literature were laid, and many beliefs and practices which still exist today, such as dharma, karma, yoga, and mok? ha, were established. India is notable for its religious diversity, with Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, and Jainism among the nations major religions. The predominant religion, Hinduism, has been shaped by various historical schools of thought, including those of t he Upanishads, the Yoga Sutras, the Bhakti movement, and by Buddhist philosophy. Much of Indian architecture, including the Taj Mahal, other works of Mughal architecture, and South Indian architecture, blends ancient local traditions with imported styles. Vernacular architecture is also highly regional in it flavours. Vastu shastra, literally science of construction or architecture and ascribed to Mamuni Mayan, explores how the laws of nature affect human dwellings; it employs precise geometry and directional alignments to reflect perceived cosmic constructs. As applied in Hindu emple architecture, it is influenced by the Shilpa Shastras, a series of foundational texts whose basic mythological form is the Vastu-Purusha mandala, a square that embodied the absolute. The Taj Mahal, built inAgra between 1631 and 1648 by orders of Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, has been described in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the worlds heritage. Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture, developed by the British in the late 19th century, drew on Indo-Islamic architecture.