This paper has focused on the problems of acquisition and the use of academic publications in a special/research library with special reference to linguistic publications.

The term `Acquisition' includes the task of identifying the academic publications through various bibliographical tools, selection and ordering them. Particularly, emphasis has been laid on the non-availability of a single and a proper bibliographical source for the Indian publications, that are emanated from different parts of the country and how this situation is the lack of bibliographical control has affected the identification and procurement of linguistic publications, in particular.Although, there are two major Indigenous sources: (a) Indian books in print (for English publications only) and (b) Indian National bibliography (for Indian languages) are available, their inadequacy with regard to their coverage and the time gap in these appearance, have been stressed.Also, another western oriented source for Indian publications is the ` U.S. library of congress accessions list'; for India , Pakistan and Nepal .  Even this course has not been able to achieve much with regard to its coverage, it mentions some of the leading publishers in linguistics in India , categorizing them as follows:

a) Commercial publishers

b) University publishers

c) Learned societies, associations and autonomous bodes

d) Government and its various agencies.

A rough estimate of linguistic publications that are being generated in the country both in English and Indian languages have been made, based on the bibliographical tools:

(a) Indian books in print, (b) Indian national bibliography/U.S. library of congress.  Accessions list.  Also a sample survey has been made by comparing the actual number of publications that are brought out by various agencies and their coverage in the National bibliographical sources.

In the light of the above role of Indian National Library, to act more effectively as a `National bibliographic Agency' for the entire country's publishing out put with comprehensive coverage and timely appearance, has been emphasized.  It further discusses the need and the importance of legal deposit in achieving this goal.  Once the legal deposit is enforced on the publishers, it would gradually lead to the adoption of International standards, such as ISBN (International Standard Book Number) and ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) for the purpose of identification.  This will eventually contribute to the International movement towards the concept of Universal bibliographical control (UBC), which the UNESCO is promoting through various programmes in different parts of the world.

All the above factors indicate, how the lack of bibliographical control over the country's publishing output affect the procurement of academic publications especially in a research library, where the resource development is one of the important functions.

Mere `Resources building' will not be of any use for a research library.  Promoting the use of academic publications, which are procured would be the main aim.  After all the main objective of the academic publishing is to disseminate scholarly works and make available the results of the researches, that might not be otherwise adequately published by the commercial publisher.  It is in this context that the libraries play an important role in disseminating the thought content of these publications to the research scholars.

       The libraries act as catalytic agents between the publisher and scholar, by providing an effective access to the scholarly publications.

       Cataloguing is an immediate and important access to the resources of a particular library.  How fast and effectively libraries can gain control over the cataloguing of its resources is a point to be discussed.

       As research and scholarly publications continue to proliferate, the problems of successfully and quickly accessing them are also increasing.  This is especially so in case of Indian libraries are under-staffed, and the traditional pattern of cataloguing is still in vogue.  Further cataloguing of a document differs from library to library depending on various factors such as, the method of cataloguing adopted, classification scheme used, availability of adequate professional staff, etc.  The cost involved in the process of cataloguing in terms of money, energy and personnel, is enormous that many libraries cannot afford to provide even this essential service.  To cap it all, the time gap between the procurement of documents and till it reaches the hands of the scholars, is to wide.  As a result of this the very purpose of an academic publication with which, it is generated, has not been served.

       The problem is not peculiar only to Indian libraries, but in other developing countries too.  Even the developed countries like U.S.A. and U.K., that were facing similar problems have been successful in solving them by introducing a new programme known as `cataloguing in publication data' (CIP).

       This programme was first started in U.S.A. in 1958 but it was successfully accepted in 1971.  It was intended to provide U.S. library of congress cataloguing information in monographs produced by the American book trade publishers, academic presses and scholarly reprint publishers.  It was aimed at standardizing cataloguing, through out the United states and thereby resulting in substantial savings to libraries in both time and money.  The completed CIP data contains the LC established form of main entry, a short identifying title, series statement, appropriate bibliographical notes, LC subject headings and added entries, LC & DC numbers.  The LC catalogue number and the ISBN supplied by the publisher.  This complete cataloguing record is entered into the MARC (Machine Readable Cataloguing) distribution system, which disseminates  them to its subscribers.  This CIP data helps libraries in rapid processing, speedy availability of books to users and reducing the technical processing costs.

       The success of this CIP programme can be attributed to the co-operation of American  publishers to the rapid communication and the close liaison that has emerged between librarians and publishers.  The International interest in this proramme has resulting in the development of fulfledged programmes in other developing countries  Further, it has stressed the need for such a programme in India with suitable modifications especially in standardizing the transliteration, for the documents published in various Indian languages.  This programme not only brings uniformity in cataloguing, but also accelerates the technical processing, and help in reducing the costs for the same.

       Finally, the purpose describes the importance and the advantages of the adoption of ISBD (International Standard Book Description) for compiling national records and the role of the publishers in implementing this scheme, for exchange of bibliographic information both at the national and international levels.