Good Afternoon…

Resource sharing in e-environment: A Study of

P.M.N.M. Dental College and Hospital Library,

Bagalkot

Mr. Vijayakumar Y. Jalagar

Librarian,

P.M.N.M. Dental College and Hospital,

Bagalkot- 587101

E-mail: vijay.jy84@gmail.com

Mr. Shrikant G. Karkun

Assistant Librarian

Basaveshwar Engineering College, (Autonomous)

Bagalkot- 587103

E-mail: becshrikant@gmail.com

Introduction

Resource sharing is a concept which includes many cooperative

activities between libraries and Information centers. Advent of IT

and ICT’s have opened up new opportunities for greater

cooperation. So digital interactions, collaborative approaches to

digital repositories, providing Content Consortiums and other

practical experiences for sharing resources are promising

development in the recent years. Nowadays, PMNMDCH Library is

participating through HELINET Consortium, which is trying to

prepare an appropriate access to digital resources for all college

members in local, national and even international level.

Objectives:

To introduce practical experiences of some

important resource sharing activities in the

PMNMDCH Library by focusing on digital

activities and the HELINET Consortium of Rajiv

Gandhi Health Sciences, University.

Advent of IT and ICT:

In the recent times Library and Information Profession has face

serious transformation particularly with the proliferation of

Information Communications Technology (ICT) which has

transformed the way and manners business transactions,

education and learning, use of library and its numerous functions

including that sharing of information for education and general

social interaction. Library just like all other business organization

evolved into online base outfit, meanly due to the growth and

development recorded in Information Communications

Technologies such as the internet.

Definitions of Information Resource Sharing

Walden (1999) defines resource sharing as “a term used to

describe organized attempt by libraries to share materials

and services cooperatively so as to provide one another

with resources that might otherwise not be available to an

individual institution. It represents an attempt to expand the

availability of specialized, expensive, or just plain not-

owned resources beyond the bounds of a single

institution”.

Definitions of Information Resource

Sharing

Posner (2012) believes that: “Librarians are in a good position

to understand and mediate among all stakeholders so that

individual and societal interests in learning and in creating

new knowledge are ultimately served. Instead of merely

minimizing risks to their institutions, they should, instead, lead

discussions of how to improve the system for everyone.

Therefore, it is vital that librarians make all parties – including

the public – understand why open, free, convenient resource

sharing is crucial to scholarly communication and popular

culture, and to protect what is at stake – the intellectual

development of individuals and society – when it is

threatened”.

The Major Goals of Resource Sharing :

To facilitating users to have better access to library holdings

or services;

To conducting User Orientation Programme for fresher's;

To positive effect on library budget;

To enhance the library resources for the benefit of users;

To enable the users to be more aware regarding the resources

not available in their own library;

The Major Goals of Resource Sharing :

To easy made access to library information resources and

services through web

To acquire materials for students, academics and staff through

interlibrary loan and other resource sharing arrangements

powered by ICT and internet connectivity.

To adopt technology advancements for preparing electronic

catalogues and indexes for print resources available in the library.

To standardize software, hardware and databases, proper

policies and implementation rules, preparing manuals for

operations and training staffs and end-users, etc.

Benefits for Sharing Resources

Enhancement of services through access more information

available in consortia member libraries

Cheaper and more effective

Document delivery services

Selective Dissemination of Information and Current Awareness

Services

Electronic Conferences

Increased Human Cooperation

Increased cooperation and sharing

Improved purchase of electronic information and library

collection management

Benefits for Sharing Resources

Reduced library subscription

Provision of education and library services

Increased value (quality and quantity) of information resources

available to both staff and students, thus supporting the mission

of the institution.

Standardization of library services across the country

Standardization of library training facilities

About the PMNMDCH Library

The main objective of our library is to create a better learning

environment to the users and maintaining/ developing a variety of

learning resources like Books, journals, E-Databases of books

and journals in specific field of dentistry. A knowledge doorway to

accessing the main goal is preparing digital services, is

“Information Technology Division and lifelong Learning”.

The Library provides updated facilities by developing

Information Communication Technology and using new

technologies in order to prepare and deliver information services

to the wide range of end users.

About the PMNMDCH Library

The major activities of this unit are divided in three sub-divisions:

I. Technical Division; includes network, software and hardware;

II. Digitization Division; includes production, maintenance and

dissemination of digital contents; and,

III. Services to Users Division; includes Internet services and

library databases.

HELINET (Health Science Library Network)

Consortia:

HELINET Consortium is first of its kind in the country when it was

started in the field of health sciences information network in the

year 2002. About 600+ core international e-journals, 2000+ e-

books, 1500+ videos and databases are being subscribed/

procured and provided to students and faculties and research

scholars pursuing their studies in various faculties of health

sciences of all the respective affiliated colleges under RGUHS.

About a million of scientific articles are being downloaded

annually by our academic community, which is a healthy recovery

of investments and enhancement of academic standards

empowering knowledge and skills.

Access to HELINET Gateways:

Clinical Key

MD Consult

Science Direct

Wiley Blackwell

Springer

Nature

Lippincott William and Wilkins

BMJ

Oxford University Press

Jaypee Digital

Conclusion

Resource Sharing is an effective tool towards providing

extensive access with limited financial resources. Users’

demands and expectations have also arisen with the

speedy growth of knowledge resources. Because of

budgetary cuts, libraries are unable to purchase the needed

material, so they should aim for mutual cooperation.

Nowadays, libraries preserve various shapes and formats of

information resources. E- resources and digital resources

are more popular these days due to their distinct features.

Digital Libraries (DLs) have its own strategy and process of

disseminating and transferring articulated knowledge items,

and librarians perceive this process as knowledge share.

There is a dire need for mutual formal cooperative

programs at different levels.

Thank you ……