L ibrary Science. Study of use of information sources and services at Sant Gadge Baba (SGB) Amravati University Library, Amravati (Maharashtra)

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1 L ibrary Science An International, Registered & Referred Monthly Journal : Research Link - 120, Vol - XIII (1), March , Page No RNI No. MPHIN , ISSN No Study of use of information sources and services at Sant Gadge Baba (SGB) Amravati University Library, Amravati (Maharashtra) This paper is about services and sources at Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Library. Present data being compiled through questionnaire issued to various departments of SGB Amravati University. And also the viability, accessibility and efficiency are judged to verify standard and quality of services and sources at SGB Amravati University. Conclusions were also screened through discussions at various levels, so as to assure best services catered through Library. Keywords : Information Sources, Information services, Users Study, Sant Gadge Baba (SGB) Amravati University Library. DR. SACHIN D. SAKARKAR Introduction : SGB Amravati University is established on 1st May, 1983 on the auspicious occasion of Maharashtra Day & Worker's Day. Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University geographically covers the western Vidarbha belt i.e. five districts Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldhana and Washim of Maharashtra State. The University, in its small span of two decades, has contributed in many ways for economic, social and cultural upliftment of the society by offering best quality education. Nature of Library : Present Library building was established in decade of 1980 considering up-to-date standards. This building comprises of 4 floors, out of which some part of premises being not in use is currently occupied with some offices of University. But major portion of it is used by the Library for various activities of S. G. B. Amravati University Library. Ground floor accommodates Administrative Section, Circulation Section, Acquisition, OPAC, and Study Section for students appearing for Competitive Examinations. Periodical Section, Maintenance Section, Book Bank, Reference Section, Stack Room, and Reprography Section are located on First Floor. The Second Floor is accommodating Department of LIS and Stack Room Section, while Third floor accommodates Stack Room and Record Section. Library is eager to launch RFID technology for high speed provisions and advanced services to be offered to Library Users in near future. Library Users : The Teachers, Research Scholars, P. G. Students, Non Teaching staff of Sant Gadge Baba University Amravati, Research Scholars, Social Workers, Press Personnel's, faculties of colleges affiliated to Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati are regular members of Library. The library has three thousand seven hundred thirty eight of members, beside members even outside visitors approach the library for availing the facilities. The library is visited by about approximately one hundred sixty seven readers daily and the reading rooms are fully occupied during peak hours. While the reading habits are on the verge of extinction, the numbers of library users are growing in proportion of the population. Objectives of the Study : (1) To determine the major information sources and services used by the respondents at SGBAU library. (2) To identify sources and services available in the university library (3) To investigate the difficulties faced by the students while handling sources and services in university library. Scope of the Study : The present study is limited to the departments, which comes under to Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Amravati premises. There are total 20 departments in Amravati University. Methodology : The study has been made by surveying the different user groups of the Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Library by distributing questionnaires. To collect data, the questionnaire was circulated to users of SGB Amravati University Library. The investigator distributed 150 questionnaires among PG students, Research scholars, Teachers and Non-Teaching staff out of which 123 questionnaires were selected for analysis. The data was analyzed according to the objectives. Librarian, Shri. R. R. Lahoti Science College, Morshi (Maharashtra) Research Link - An International Journal Vol - XIII (1) March

2 Table 1 show that Library Users were issued 150 questionnaires, out of which 123 were retrieved from the Table 1 : Personal Identification (N = 123) User Category No. of Male Female Respondent PG Student Research Scholar Teacher Non-Teaching Staff Total Percentage (32.52%) 83 (67.47%) Source : Questionnaire. users (40 Male + 83 Female). Most of the questionnaire filled by PG students i.e. 74 (20 Male, 54 Female), while as Research Scholars filling the questionnaire were 27 (11 Male, 16 Female), so also Teachers filling such questionnaires were 15 (8 Male, 7 Female), Non Teaching staff contributed was 7 (1 Male, 6 Female). So % are the male students and 67.47% are Female students. Table No 2 concerned with Purpose of Information seeking. In all 95 (77.23%) users had stated their purpose of information seeking was Research, these library users were classified as PG students 63, Research scholars 27, Teachers5, Non-teaching staff were nil. While 70(56.91%) users were judged for seeking information as regards General Awareness, spotting showed 35 P. G. Students, 25 Research Scholars, 7 Teachers, 3 Non Teaching staff. While as Recreation motif was tested and spotted 23 P. G. Students, 11 - Research Scholars, 3 Teaching staff and 6 Non-teaching staff total 43 (Totalling to 34.95%). Referring for Class Notes motif was tested total 26(21.13%) keen users were marked constituting 9 P. G. Students, 7 Research Scholars, 8 Teachers and 2 Non User Category Teaching staff. Motif of reading and thinking was tested 50(40.65%) library users were classified as 37 P. G. Students, 8 Research Scholars, 3 Teachers and 2 Non-Teaching staff. Motif of Reading Journals & Magazines was tested 60(48.78%) users opted as under - i.e. 14 P. G. Students, 22 Research Scholars, 23 Teachers and 01 Non Teaching staff. While Library Users visiting Library with clear motif of Internet Browsing, noticeably 70 P. G. Students, 22 Research Scholars, 17 Teachers and 6 Non Teaching staff showed interest. Thus total 115(93.49%) Library Users were benefited with Internet browsing facilities offered by the Library. Above table no.3 depicts that, The major information sources used by respondents are Newspapers, Textbooks, Journals and Reference books. It is not a surprise to find that textbooks are top the list. From this its found that the users of SGB Amravati University, Amravati meet their information needs from Textbooks, journals, reference books and newspapers. The university library is set up to provide efficient information services in support of teaching and research. Conclusion : Readers have clear intentions to seek or search specific information, resources, but simultaneously they always have very little time and patience as well as knowledge to hunt exact direction and opt a proper tool or search engine. Readers are reverted from Libraries because they do not have sufficient information sources and services, hence many readers visit once or twice in a week, while as many readers visit frequently to adopt all possible tools and resources to acquire the requisite information and knowledge. References : Table No.3 : Information sources used by respondents in the Library S. Sources Satisfied Very Fairly Fairly Dissatisfied No. Satisfied satisfied Dissatisfied 1 Text books 64 % 14% 4 % 12 % `6% 2 Journals 40 % 17 % 3 % 22 % 13 % 3 Reference 33 % 27 % 12 % 8 % 20 % books 4 Newspapers 73 % 8 % 11 % 2 % 6 % 5 Magazines 24 % 15 % 5 % 37 % 19 % 6 CD -ROM 12 % 21 % 4 % 38 % 25 % 7 The entire collection No. Of Respon dent Table No 2 : The purpose of information seeking (N= 123) Research recreatio n Reading/ Thinking General awareness Referring to class notes 47 % 27 % 5 % 6 % 15 % (1) Ali (Amjad). Reference services and the digital sources of information Ess. Ess. pub.; New Internet Delhi.Pp (2) Browsing Bhavakutty (M) & To read journals & Magazine s PG Students Research scholar Teacher Non-Teaching staff Total (77.23% ) 70 (56.91%) 43 (34.95%) 26 (21.13%) 50 (40.65%) 60 (48.78%) Source : Questionnaire. 115 (93.49%) Research Link - An International Journal Vol - XIII (1) March Veeran (MLK). Information access, Management and exchange in the technological age Ess. Ess. Pub. New Delhi. Pp (3) Gorej, L.( 1993). Zo sondy o atraktivnosti sluzieb. Survey of the use of library services. Kniznice a Informacie.Vol.25(7), (4) Kemp, J H.( 2001). Using the LibQUAL+Survey to assess user perceptions of collections and service quality. Collection Management. Vol.26(4),1-14. (5) Koskinen, M. Teholisa selvitti kirjaston palveluja Turussa. Increased effectiveness solved library services in Turku. Signum.v.32.No , p (6) Kumbar, Rajashekhar D.(2004). The importance of marketing and total quality management in libraries. E-JASL: The Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship,Vol..5,2-3.

3 L ibrary Science An International, Registered & Referred Monthly Journal : Research Link - 120, Vol - XIII (1), March , Page No RNI No. MPHIN , ISSN No Digital libraries : Policy and Strategic Issues The paper discusses meaning, concept, importance of digital library and strategic issues on digital libraries. Policy and strategic issues on digital libraries include legal issues, collection development, infrastructure, access capacity building, funding, partnerships awareness of digital resources, bibliographic control preservation. Keywords : Digital Libraries; copyright issues; electronic initiatives. MS. SANGEETA AMTE Introduction : Today' libraries are dynamic information systems which have the power to reach out to it supers without the restrictions of geographical boundaries as never before. Rapid advances in information and communication technologies have transformed the nature, content, format and even concept of libraries. Right information to the right user at the right time has been the motto of information professionals recent development in information and communication technologies has brought significant changes in the ways we generate distribute access and use information. With the advent of IT the printed information was started to be digitized and made available to use with the help of computer networks. Meaning and Concept of Digital Library : A digital library is a library consisting of digital materials and services. Digital Materials : Digital materials are items that are stored processed and transferred via digital (binary) devices and networks. Digital Services : Digital services are the services (such as reference assistance) that are delivered digitally over computer networks. The term digital library is widely accepted to mean the use of digital technology in the provision of library services and operations, which include acquisition, organization, storage, conservation and dissemination of information to users. Definition : "Digital library is a collection of digital objects, including text, video and audio, along with method of access and retrieval and for selection, organization and maintenance of the collection". T.B. Rajashekhar : "The concept behind digital library has its roots in what is the philosophy of libraries of disseminating knowledge for all". H. G. Wells : "Digital Library is a collection of Information Bearing objects (IBOs) that are in digital form and that may be organized, accessed, evaluated and used by means of heterogeneous and extensible set of distributed services that are supported by digital technology." Characteristics of Digital Library : (i) The Characteristics of digital documents differ greatly from those of paper document. (ii) Digital documents are not localized. Given telecommunication connection digital documents can be used from anywhere without one even knowing where it stored geographically. (iii) In practice several people can use the same database or digital records at the same time. (iv) Digital documents are easily copied. (v) Documents stored electronically are very flexible. (vi) Collection of documents stored in electronic form is now less bulky than paper version. Importance of Digital Library : (i) Facilitates improved access to information. (ii) Provides up to date information by reducing time lag. (iii) Breaks all types of barriers to information communication. (iv) Facilitates improved collaboration among user. (v) Reduces the gap between nation and people. (vi) Meets the challenges of Global Resources sharing. (vii) Advanced and easily affordable storage technology. (viii) Digital library is a boon to teaching learning process. (ix) Increases the efficiency and effectiveness of libraries. Policy and Strategic Issue on Digital Libraries : The digital library is basically a computer-based system for acquiring, storing, organizing, searching and distributing information in digital format to end-users. The growth and development of digital library involves digitization of library materials held at the traditional library, connecting users to the online and offline, integrating the networks and making materials on the World Wide Web available to users. The transformation of the traditional library system to digital will then depend on library policies, strategies and planning geared towards the digital libraries. The formulation of library policy and strategic planning is meant to guide libraries to successfully integrate traditional and digital formats. The following are some of the crucial policy and strategic issues that need sincere attention for the successful implementation of the digital library. (1) Legal Issues : The concept behind the development of the internet was that information was to flow freely among Librarian, Career College, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) Research Link - An International Journal Vol - XIII (1) March

4 professionals and community members. With time authors and other information generators started publishing and posting information on the internet to have access to these materials, one must pay for the same. This calls for appropriate legal framework to address serious issues such as copyright obscenity, intellectual property, communication laws etc: The American Library Association states that copyright issues are among the most hotly contested issues in the legal and legislative work; billions of dollars are at stake. Legal principles and technological capabilities are constantly challenging each other and every outcome can directly affect the future of libraries. Indeed digitization is creating serious problems and strains on the traditional copyright issues. With digitization it is not easy to recognize a work of authorship posted on the internet. One may download an entire book from the internet, print it, and even make several copies and distribute them without being noticed. The policy should therefore address issues such as downloading and printing information from the internet. (2) Collection Development : Now that the electronic initiatives are first sweeping the globe, libraries are also moving from the traditional library to the e-library. There is therefore need to either review the current collection development policy or formulate new ones based on digital collections. Some of the crucial issues to be addressed here include : (i) Define the digital materials to be acquired i.e. online or offline materials such as CDs. DVDs, video tapes, audio tapes etc. (ii) Determine whether it is necessary to retain the traditional library while developing the digital library. (3) Infrastructure : This refers to the various infrastructure and equipment to be used for digitization, storage and access of information. The policy should address issues such as storage, space, and server capacity, networking hardware/software etc. (4) Access : Once information has been generated it must be disseminated to users. The policy should therefore address issues such as what should be posted on ibex Internet either full text or abstract. The policy may' also address other issues such as: (i) Who should have recess to the information? (ii) Should there be subscription fee to access the resources etc? (iii) How will the disadvantaged members of the community e.g. the visually impaired get access to the resources? (5) Capacity Building : The policy should lay emphasis on training and retaining of both end users and library staff in the use of IT based resources and services such as use of search engines, subject gateways application software, online information resources, digitization etc. With the introduction of the roles of the librarian will be required to play the following roles: (i) Multi-media user who are comfortable with a -video rage of electronic media and data formats. (ii) Connecting users with information and information systems. (iii) Metadata producers creating records of information sources in a variety of schemes. (iv) Negotiators dealing with publishers and suppliers particularly on software. Data and information licensing and collaborative sharing of ICT resources. (v) The library and information science curriculum will have to be revised and updated to include changes in the digital library environment. (6) Partnerships and Collaboration : Digitization being an expensive initiative, there is need to collaborate with other libraries. The collaborating libraries may for example decide to contribute and acquire digitization equipments or pay for the subscription of digital information, of staff training, exchanging ideas, sharing digital information etc. (7) Awareness of Digital Resources : There is little awareness in the developing countries on the value and importance of digital resources. Most people still prefer the print based information resources. The policy should then address Issues of creating public awareness on the importance of digital resources. (8) Bibliographic Control : Traditional libraries have been compiling bibliographic details of information materials produced i.e. each country complies and publishes its national bibliography. Information materials in the digital library are massive and a dynamic hence compiling bibliographic detail is not possible. The policy should therefore address siren issues. (9) Preservation : There is serious problem in the preservation of digital materials caused by the fact that digital information is very dynamic. The databases are always being updated. What one gets on the web site today now may not be there in the next few seconds. The digital media are fragile with a limited shelf life. Further still, the digital information on the storage devices with time will be rendered unreadable by obsolescence of technology. This is due to the fact that information technology evolves very fast and the old systems are no longer in use. To preserve the digital information, libraries will keep on migrating information from one digital hardware and software configuration. The policy should address these issues. If preservation of digital resources will not be in place then future generations will look back at this time as a digital dark age a time when, somehow, the records of human knowledge went missing. Conclusion : Building and managing digital library ask for huge intellectual and financial resources. The huge amount, which is required in establishing and developing digital library certainly ask for the utility of their establishment. The digital libraries are built with the belief that they will facilitate better delivery of information than was possible in the past. References : (1) Arora, Jagdish. Open Access to Textual and Multimedia Content Bridging the Digital Divide, Digital Preservation: an overview. pp (2) Dhiman, Anil Kumar and Singh, Mahesh. Emergined Trends and Technologies in Libraries and Information Science Perspectives on Digital Libraries. pp (3) Harineeswaran, V and Nithyananda, K. Open Access to Textual and Multimedia Content: Bridging the Digital Divide. Issues and Strategies in Digital Preservation. pp (4) Khan, Mohammad Haroon and Rao, Ashher Kamal Waris. Emerging Trends and Technologies in Libraries and Information Science. Digital Libraries Problems, Issues and Challenges. pp Research Link - An International Journal Vol - XIII (1) March

5 L ibrary Science An International, Registered & Referred Monthly Journal : Research Link - 120, Vol - XIII (1), March , Page No RNI No. MPHIN , ISSN No N-List - Its Contribution to College Library The N-LIST project provides access to e-resources to students, researchers and faculty members from colleges and other beneficiary institutions through server(s) installed at the INFLIBNET Centre. All e-resources subscribed for colleges under the N-LIST Project are now accessible to these 3214 colleges through the N-LIST... Thus the basic function of a college library is to assist its parent body to carry out its programme. Information world, a library and Libraries and information networks is broadly described as group of libraries and information centers coming together with some agreement of understanding to help each other with a view to satisfy the information requirements of their users. Now resource sharing and cooperative functioning through networking have become inevitable and indispensable for libraries and information centers situated worldwide. N-LIST Programme offers the best possible discounted prices negotiated between N-LIST and Publishers. Keywords : INFLIBNET Centre; N-List programme; College Library Services; e-resources. REKHA KHATARKAR & POOJA KARAIYA Introduction : An Initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) Under the National Mission on Education through ICT The Project entitled "National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST)", being jointly executed by: UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, INFLIBNET Centre and INDEST-AICTE Consortium, IIT Delhi cross-subscription to e-resources subscribed by the two Consortia, i.e. subscription to INDEST-AICTE resources for universities and UGCINFONET resources for technical institutions; and access to selected e-resources to colleges. The N-LIST project provides access to e-resources to students, researchers and faculty members from colleges and other beneficiary institutions through server(s) installed at the INFLIBNET Centre. The authorized users from colleges can now access e-resources and download articles required by them directly from the publisher's website once they are duly authenticated as authorized users through servers deployed at the INFLIBNET Centre. The INFLIBNET Centre has initiated Inter Library Loan (ILL) services for the benefit of users from colleges enrolled under the NLIST programme. All faculty, staff and students from member colleges are welcomed to use this service and request journal articles and chapters from books that are not available through resources subscribed under the NLIST Programme. The requests for articles can be sent online using the Online ILL Request m available on the NLIST website. This service is free of charge. Users are required to log-in with their user ID and password to request articles using NLIST ILL Service. The user ID and Password for ILL request are the same that have been provided to the users in colleges for accessing NLIST resources. It will facilitate desk top access to high-quality e-resources to your students and researchers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. N-LIST - Four Components : The project has four distinct components, i.e. (1) To subscribe and provide access to selected UGC- INFONET e-resources to technical institutions (IITs, IISc, IISERs and NITs) and monitor its usage; (2) To subscribe and provide access to selected INDEST e-resources to selected universities and monitor its usage; (3) To subscribe and provide access to selected e-resources to 6,000 Govt./ Govt.- aided colleges and monitor its usage; (4) To act as a Monitoring Agency for colleges and evaluate, promote, impart training and monitor all activities involved in the process of providing effective and efficient access to e-resources to colleges. The INDEST and UGC-INFONET are jointly responsible for activity listed at i) and ii) above. The INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmadabad is responsible for activities listed at iii) and iv) above. The INFLIBNET Centre is also responsible for developing and deploying appropriate software tools and techniques for authenticating authorized users. Current Status of N-List : As on Jan , a total number of 3527 colleges have registered themselves with the N-LIST programme including 3214 Govt. / Govt.-aided colleges covered under the section Assistant Librarian, Career College, Govindpura, BHEL, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) Research Link - An International Journal Vol - XIII (1) March

6 12 B/2F of UGC Act as well as Non-Aided colleges. Log-in ID and password for accessing e-resources has been sent to the authorized users from these 3214 colleges. All e-resources subscribed for colleges under the N-LIST Project are now accessible to these 3214 colleges through the N-LIST. College Library : The college is a considered a library and library is regarded as a college. The education becomes student centred and encourages student to play a dynamic and creative roles in their own education. the effectiveness of student learning process in increased by various means especially the use of library center student are expected to do independent study with guidance from teachers, who are experts in bibliographical organization. Librarians having suitable qualification and experience can also provide guidance. College Library Function : A college library is expected to support the objective of the college. Thus the basic function of a college library is to assist its parent body to carry out its programme. This means that it must adequately serve the needs and requirements of the teachers and students towards reading study and research. This can be achieved if facilities and services are made available towards this end. It may be added that the major distinction between a college library and university library lies in the fact that a university library lays emphasis upon providing for the needs of researchers. College Library Services : (1) Lending Service. (2) Instruction in the use of the library. (3) Assistance in the location (or searching) of documents or use of library catalogue or understanding of reference books, etc. (4) Readers advisory service. (5) Provision of general or specific information. (6) Inter library loan. (7) Compilation of bibliographies / indexing / abstracting. (8) List of additions. (9) Reservation of documents Reprographic services The users would mostly need fact and background type of information. Most often they would be able to collect information on their own. Sometimes they would consult the librarian. It is important that a librarian should devise means to bring additions to the library to the notice student and teachers. College Library Services through N-List Programme : Level and extent of the use of a college library would largely depend upon the following : (1) Collection of the library. (2) Services provided by the library. (3) Type of curriculum. (4) Methods of teaching followed by faculty. (5) E- Resources E-Resources@N-LIST : The Consortium subscribes to the following resources for the colleges. All electronic resources subscribed under N- LIST Programme are available from the publisher's Web site. (1) E-Journals (Full text) (2) E-Books (3) Bibliographic Database (4) E-Resources for Universities (5) Resources for Technical Institutions (IITs, IISc, IISERs and NITs) The N-LIST covers all the disciplines viz. Pure Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities including Linguistic and Languages. However e-resources in engineering, agriculture and medicine are not covered under the N-LIST programme. How to Join : Faculty, staff, students and researchers from eligible colleges covered under Section 12B/2F of UGC Act and Non- Aided colleges (except Agriculture, Engineering, Management, Medical, Pharmacy; Dentistry and Nursing) are eligible to access e-resources through the N-LIST project. Colleges, desirous of accessing e-resources, are required to register themselves with the N-LIST. Visit the N-LIST Website and click on Register on the navigation bar. Fill-in the Registration m online and submit it. You may also download the Registration m and submit it by post. Ensure to provide a list of authorized users including faculty, staff, researchers and students. Conclusion : The Project entitled "National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST) is important aspect for extending access and changing learning behavior and academic research work. INFLIBNET centers acts as a godsend for Indian higher education system in satisfying its information needs for academic as well as research communities. It is interconnection various libraries and information in the country to improve capability in information handling. INFLIBNET initiatives in future contributing to progress and prosperity of India. The college libraries with a few exceptions have been unable to provide adequate collections and services to meet the requirements of the users effectively. College libraries in a given region should from linkages among themselves to share resources. They should linkages with other libraries especially libraries attached to institute of higher education. References : (1) Journal of Indian Library Association Voll XLVIII No 1 January - March (2) Krishan Kumar; Library Organization Page No. 36,39,40,43 (2003) UBS Publishers distributors New Delhi. (3) (4) Gahale, Pravin D ;Fundamentals of N-List its contribution to college libraries (2013)D. K. Publishers Distributors Ltd. (New Delhi, India). (5) Singh, S P; Library Information System(2008) Omega Publications (New Delhi). (6) Upadhyay, Rashmi ; Digital Library Management (2011) alfa Publications (New Delhi). Research Link - An International Journal Vol - XIII (1) March