MANAGING COLLEGE LIBRARIES IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

: OPPURTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN INDIA

Prof. Preeti Mahajan,Department of Library & Information Science,

Panjab University,Chandigarh.

Most new collegeMost new collegestudents are students are frightened offrightened of

or at the least,or at the least,

Are hesitant to approachAre hesitant to approachtheir college library their college library

system.system.

Our high school libraries provide Our high school libraries provide a comfortable classroom settinga comfortable classroom setting

►With familiar, easily accessed With familiar, easily accessed resourcesresources

►And a comfortable study environment And a comfortable study environment in a single roomin a single room

A college library is different - A college library is different - can be intimidatingcan be intimidating

►More than one room? More than one room? ►More than one floor? More than one floor? ►More than one building?More than one building?

Some Special services Some Special services to look for:to look for:

►Writing labWriting lab►Course reservesCourse reserves►Textbook bankTextbook bank► Interlibrary loanInterlibrary loan►Copiers/ computers for student Copiers/ computers for student

useuse►Reference serviceReference service

SO… What skills do the colleges SO… What skills do the colleges expect from students?expect from students?

►Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

►Written and Oral Communication Written and Oral Communication SkillsSkills

A Few “Academic” Level A Few “Academic” Level Information SkillsInformation Skills

►What are “scholarly” journals? What are “scholarly” journals? ►How do print indexes work? How do print indexes work? ►How can you determine the validity of How can you determine the validity of

internet sources?internet sources?

IT IN THE CHANGING IT IN THE CHANGING EDUCATIONAL SCENARIOEDUCATIONAL SCENARIO

►Onset of information age and information Onset of information age and information society.society.►Developments in IT specially Internet has Developments in IT specially Internet has opened new vistas in education as information is opened new vistas in education as information is created & communicated at a very fast speed.created & communicated at a very fast speed.►Can libraries lag behind in using IT.Can libraries lag behind in using IT.

OPPURTUNITIESOPPURTUNITIES

►USE OF ITUSE OF IT (AUTOMATION) (AUTOMATION)►USE OF INTERNET USE OF INTERNET (LIBRARY WEBSITE, (LIBRARY WEBSITE,

E-MAIL,WEB OPAC,LISTSERVS, BLOGS, E-MAIL,WEB OPAC,LISTSERVS, BLOGS, WIKISWIKIS))

►E-RESOURCESE-RESOURCES (EBOOKS, EJOURNALS, (EBOOKS, EJOURNALS, ENEWSPAPERS)ENEWSPAPERS)

►LIBRARY CONSORTIALIBRARY CONSORTIA

ChallengesChallenges

• CREATE A HEALTHY POSITIVE IMAGE CREATE A HEALTHY POSITIVE IMAGE • REVISE COLLEGE LIBRARY STANDARDS AND REVISE COLLEGE LIBRARY STANDARDS AND

POLICIES POLICIES • PROVISION OF REFERENCE AND INFORMATION PROVISION OF REFERENCE AND INFORMATION

SERVICESSERVICES• HELP IN SEARCHING INFORMATION FROM THE HELP IN SEARCHING INFORMATION FROM THE

INTERNETINTERNET• CREATE THE LIBRARY HOMEPAGE CREATE THE LIBRARY HOMEPAGE • ACCESS TO E RESOURCES ACCESS TO E RESOURCES • FORMING OF COLLEGE LIBRARY CONSORTIA FORMING OF COLLEGE LIBRARY CONSORTIA • LIBRARY SERVICESLIBRARY SERVICES

ChangeChange

1.1. Adding value: synthesise, specialise, Adding value: synthesise, specialise, mobilisemobilise

2.2. Gravitational pull is required.Gravitational pull is required.

Synthesize - to combine often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole.

Synthesize

Web services

Patron services

Content

Policies

Registries

Forward knowledge

Fulfillment services

Mobilize

Specialize - involve specific knowledge in order to serve a particular purpose; to apply or direct to specific end or use.

Specialize

…

Mobilize - to put into action

Workplace applications - points of need

Profiles

• Local service• Local added value• Local context• Local knowledge

ChangesChanges

► Pay attention; seek attentionPay attention; seek attention► Add real value in a networked information Add real value in a networked information

environmentenvironment► First step –create a homepage to show First step –create a homepage to show

your identityyour identity► Course reservesCourse reserves► Resource sharing and networkingResource sharing and networking

Designing of a homepageDesigning of a homepage

►Essential rulesEssential rules►ServicesServices►Subject gatewaysSubject gateways►BlogsBlogs►Access to Public domain/subscribed e-Access to Public domain/subscribed e-

resourcesresources► Internet resource catalogue (IRC)Internet resource catalogue (IRC)

Take a Virtual TourTake a Virtual Tour

► Find your College library onlineFind your College library online► Take a virtual tourTake a virtual tour

Where is it located? Where is it located? Where is the main collection?Where is the main collection? Who is/are the librarian (s)Who is/are the librarian (s) Where are the reference documents located?Where are the reference documents located? What special collections do they have?What special collections do they have? Library policies or special services?Library policies or special services? Is orientation available?Is orientation available? Other special featuresOther special features

OPAC/ONLINE ResourcesOPAC/ONLINE Resources

►OPAC searchOPAC search Access points like author, title, keyword, etcAccess points like author, title, keyword, etc can you search other libraries from the college can you search other libraries from the college

web page?web page?

►online (or electronic) resources availableonline (or electronic) resources available What kinds of information do they provide?What kinds of information do they provide? Can you access them from home or dorm Can you access them from home or dorm

room? room?

E-PUBLICATIONSE-PUBLICATIONS

►E-books E-books ►E-journalsE-journals►E-newspapersE-newspapers►Could be printed/electronic or born Could be printed/electronic or born

digital.digital.

E-book Reader E-book Reader SoftwaresSoftwaresdotReaderdotReader

E-book Reader E-book Reader SoftwaresSoftwares

dotReaderdotReader

LIBRARY CONSORTIALIBRARY CONSORTIA

► A Strategic alliance with institutions that A Strategic alliance with institutions that have common interests.have common interests.

► Consortia are all about sharing resources and Consortia are all about sharing resources and improving access to information.improving access to information.

► These resources are shared among libraries that These resources are shared among libraries that have common missions, goals, and clients have common missions, goals, and clients (users) and act on those commonalties.(users) and act on those commonalties.

Consortia GoalsConsortia Goals

► Increase the access base – More e-Journals.Increase the access base – More e-Journals.► Rational utilization of funds - A little more pays a lot.Rational utilization of funds - A little more pays a lot.► Ensure the continuous subscription.Ensure the continuous subscription.► Qualitative resource sharing - Effective document delivery Qualitative resource sharing - Effective document delivery

service.service.► Improved infrastructure.Improved infrastructure.► Enhanced image of the library - Visibility for smaller libraries.Enhanced image of the library - Visibility for smaller libraries.► Improve existing library services - Boosting professional Improve existing library services - Boosting professional

image.image.► Harness developments in IT - Facilitate building digital Harness developments in IT - Facilitate building digital

libraries.libraries.► Cost sharing for technical and training support.Cost sharing for technical and training support.► Increase user base – Access from desktops of users.Increase user base – Access from desktops of users.

Consortia ServicesConsortia Services► Union catalogues: Books, Journals, Technical Reports, and Union catalogues: Books, Journals, Technical Reports, and

Conference Proceedings.Conference Proceedings.► Shared professional expertise. Shared professional expertise. ► Human resource development – Training staff and users.Human resource development – Training staff and users.► Electronic contents licensing for access to Bibliographic Electronic contents licensing for access to Bibliographic

databases, e-Journals, Conference Proceedings etc.databases, e-Journals, Conference Proceedings etc.► Inter Library Lending and Document Delivery.Inter Library Lending and Document Delivery.► Physical storage for archiving – Old back volumes and less used Physical storage for archiving – Old back volumes and less used

documents.documents.► Development of IR systems, Portals and other web interfaces.Development of IR systems, Portals and other web interfaces.► Evolve standards for techniques and services for the benefit of Evolve standards for techniques and services for the benefit of

consortia members.consortia members.

What Is an Internet Resource What Is an Internet Resource Catalogue?Catalogue?

►An IRC is similar to the library An IRC is similar to the library catalogue, but describes networked catalogue, but describes networked information sourcesinformation sources

►Catalogue of information sources on Catalogue of information sources on the Internet with links to their sites. the Internet with links to their sites.

►Also called virtual library Also called virtual library catalogues, gateways and portals catalogues, gateways and portals (IPL, Intute)(IPL, Intute)

Purpose of IRCPurpose of IRC►Offer libraries a means to extend Offer libraries a means to extend

library collections by integrating library collections by integrating networked information sourcesnetworked information sources

►Although a number of Internet Although a number of Internet portals exist , a library needs to portals exist , a library needs to develop a local IRC describing develop a local IRC describing Internet resources of relevance to its Internet resources of relevance to its usersusers

►Library users can access the IRC on Library users can access the IRC on the library website.the library website.

Scope of IRCScope of IRC► extent of local effort?extent of local effort?►How much to rely on subject How much to rely on subject

gateways, Internet portals and search gateways, Internet portals and search engines?engines?

►As a minimum library websites should As a minimum library websites should point to these gateways and search point to these gateways and search enginesengines

►Provide a more extensive collection of Provide a more extensive collection of resources, tailored to local needs and resources, tailored to local needs and presented in an integrated mannerpresented in an integrated manner

IRC…IRC…

►An IRC mainly covers sources An IRC mainly covers sources available via the Internetavailable via the Internet Subscribed sources (Electronic Subscribed sources (Electronic

journals )journals ) Reference sources (e.g. Encyclopedia Reference sources (e.g. Encyclopedia

Britannica)Britannica) Free resourcesFree resources Subject gateways, Internet portals and Subject gateways, Internet portals and

search engines.search engines.

Creation and MaintenanceCreation and Maintenance

What sources to cover and how many?What sources to cover and how many? How do we identify current and new How do we identify current and new

sources?sources? How do we select good sources?How do we select good sources? What data elements are used to describe What data elements are used to describe

the sources?the sources? How will the IRC be accessed?How will the IRC be accessed? How do we verify the currency of links?How do we verify the currency of links?

Identifying SourcesIdentifying Sources► Surfing was a typical approach for finding Surfing was a typical approach for finding

information on the Web.information on the Web.► A number of new tools have been developed A number of new tools have been developed

that enable information published on the Web to that enable information published on the Web to be searched and discovered more effectively.be searched and discovered more effectively.

► Some of the tools now available for finding Some of the tools now available for finding information on the Web using two information on the Web using two interdependent approaches are browsing interdependent approaches are browsing through subject trees andthrough subject trees andhierarchies, and keyword searching using hierarchies, and keyword searching using search engines.search engines.

Suggestions for preparing your Suggestions for preparing your students:students:

►Take yourself on a field trip to the Take yourself on a field trip to the library.library.

►Take them on Field trip to the college Take them on Field trip to the college librarylibrary

►Plan an online tour of their college Plan an online tour of their college

Suggestions for StudentsSuggestions for Studentswhen they get to college:when they get to college:

►Find the section of the library containing Find the section of the library containing materials of special interest to you. materials of special interest to you.

►Browse the shelves, handle the books.Browse the shelves, handle the books.►Browse the journals in your area of Browse the journals in your area of

interestinterest►Ask for help on the computers.Ask for help on the computers.►Ask a librarian for information –it Ask a librarian for information –it isis their their

job and they JUST job and they JUST LOVELOVE TO BE ASKED TO BE ASKED QUESTIONS!QUESTIONS!

Thank youThank you