Expert Systems in Library and Information Science

Expert Systems have evolved as one of the most successful branch of Artificial Intelligence during last two decades. The fifth generation computers developed a potential for natural language processing and reasoning capabilities in a much better way than their precursors. Areas in man - machine interfaces developed into knowledge based expert systems. The present paper gives a short overview and a background of Expert Systems, their features, components involved, and applications in Library and Information Science. It brings out the future challenges which are likely to be faced by information professional with the intelligent use of Expert Systems.