BRICKS TO CLICK: AN OVERVIEW
DR. RAJ KUMAR SINGH
KP Mishra Govt. Women Degree College, Aurai, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Bhadohi, (U.P)
Email:- [email protected]
&
Research Scholar (Deptt. Of Lib. & Inf. Sc.) UPRTO University, Allahabad (U.P.)
Email:- [email protected], [email protected]
Abstract:- Technology has generated more changes in libraries over the last few years. The digital library needs a well-defined mechanism to organize store and disseminate the information resources. Library professional needs to have knowledge about the new technological advancement and how to provide information effectively to the users at right time. In the light of the above the present paper would like to highlight the reading materials and retrieval techniques of early period library to digital library. The paper also tries to point out the digital library concept, definition purpose, characteristics digital library requirements, resources of digital library and how to create a digital library.
Keywords:- Pinack, Digital, LAN, MAN, WAN, INTRODUCTION
Presently it is a matter of discussion that library and librarian will become redundant in the tech-based education system. Some may think that library without wall and library without librarians are the same. Practically these two are quite different from each other. In the future it is some how possible to have a library without wall and the role of librarian and library professional just change their identity. Eg. Librarian and library, information processor.
Information consultant, etc. to cope with the rapid change of the technology and to control the ephemeral rate of information generation, librarians along with his professional colleagues should have to equip themselves as per the requirement of the electronic information society. A Digital library is an automated or electronic library, where activities like accessing, retrieval processing, automatic indexing and textual analysis are carried with the help of computer. The user can access information from anywhere,
anytime and information can be stored any where across the world.
Digitization of information basically means the process of converting paper documents such as text, graphics etc. into digital image, which can be made accessible through electronic network. We can say digitization means process which is meant to eliminate paperwork and make a transition to a paperless environment with the help of software technology. The challenge and the opportunity is to galvanize our national potential into a dynamic resource: an informed, enlightened and capable young Indian citizenry would not only enhance and enrich the process of national development but could be a possible force in the world. In the word of Dr. Man Mohan Singh, Prime minister of India,
“The time has come to create second wave of institution building and of excellence.
In the field education, research and capability building so that we are better prepared for the modern century ie (21st century).
Reading Materials and Retrieval Techniques of Early Period library to 21st Century library
Period Reading Material Retrieval Techniques
Early Period
Early reading material such as Pinakes, Clay tablets, Parchment, Vellum Bark of trees, Palm leaves, Papyrus, etc.
Scholar librarian usually depended in memory.
Limited collections confined to religious institutions, royals and rich.
Mediaeval Period
Paper, printing and books:
Paper was invented in 11th century in China, but rest of the world came to know only in 13th century.
Still books were limited called incunabula, often kept in chain and locked.
Scholars were the moving catalogues.
16th and 17th
Centuries
Printing press was
invented in the mid 16th century.
Movable letter presses and changes in social structure such as democracy and sovern states, resulting in the movement for education for the masses.
Birth of many educational institutions including Universities.
Production of books became easy
Demand for books has increased
Need arose for libraries storing books in rooms made of bricks with large collections.
This resulted for the birth of Librarianship as a profession.
Librarians were still scholars and were mostly depending on their memory for retrieval. Often prepared list of books (what we now call catalogues)
18th and 19th
Century
Saw the production of large number of books
Libraries were created for the benefit of citizens
Classification and
cataloguing dominated as two techniques of Information retrieval, assisted by personal assistance leading to Reference Service.
20th
Century Periodical/Publications and serials became handy as quicker and faster means of Information communication
Documentation work and
service by producing
Documentation lists.
Non-conventional documents:
Microforms, microfilms, micro-fiche, micro card
Video-audio tapes
Computer readable
material Floppy, CDs and other e- documents, net worked libraries etc.
Indexing, Abstracting, CAS, SDI, Repackaging were invented for Information retrieval.
Creation of large data bases, on-line retrieval
Public access system, etc.
21st
Century Euphoria of Internet Revolution
On-line services (with the help of clicks)
IDEA OF EASY FINGERTIP ACCESS TO INFORMATION-GAVE WAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES
Venna Bush’s Memex Machine, 1945 was supposed to the first conceptualization.
This was continued to evolve with each advance in Information Technology.
When computers were connected with large networks formed INTERNET.
Research turned to creating libraries of digital information that could be accessed by any one from anywhere in the world
This broad concept is now described interchangeably as‘virtual library’, ‘electronic library’,
‘library without walls’ and most recently ‘digital libraries’.
WHAT IS A DIGITAL LIBRARY?
Much confusion is surrounding this phrase, as library community has used several different phrases over the years to denote this concept- electronic library, virtual library, library without walls. But Digital Library is simply the most current and widely used term.
DEFINITIONS
K.C.Gupta states that, “Generally people name such an information access point a digital library or information centre where the information recorded on electronic media is stored and retrieved using the electronic devices.” According to Lesk,
“A digital library is a collection of information that is both digitized and organized and which offers capabilities beyond those of the traditional library.”
According to Griffin, “an organized collection multimedia data with information management methods that represent the data as useful information and knowledge to people in a variety of social and organizational contexts.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL LIBRARY
To overcome the geographical boundaries to access the information resources.
To improve library operation.
To enhance advanced search, access and retrieval of information.
To support varies library functions.
To provide network facilities.
To provide user friendly interface.
Data can be access by all type of uses at all level retrieving all kind of information.
Information is provided in a large amount than it possible to physically acquired and maintained as compare to traditional library.
One copy of document could be viewed by many numbers of people simultaneously.ISSUES
1. Staff Development: Traditional library training and staff development need to be supplemented with significant technological skills and capabilities.
2. Equipment and Software: Libraries acquire information in electronic form; they must address the technological needs of staff and
patrons. Keeping the equipment and software fresh and upgraded.
1. Licenses
Potential loss of knowledge
License restrictions
Limitations on users rights
Licenses are labour intensive
Cost
Copyright issues.
2. Technological Adoption:
Librarian need to be aware of technological development in order to present to their customers an image that is advance, efficient and effective as possible.
3. Financial issues: Change to funding allocation.
4. Personnel Issues: Staff commitment to new system and service.
5. Organizational Issues: Need for new organizational structure.
6. Technophobia: Fear for upcoming technology hence still not ready for using it.
PURPOSES OF DIGITAL LIBRARY SYSTEM
1. To contributing to the lifelong learning opportunities.
2. To encourage cooperation among libraries.
3. To promote the economical and efficient delivery of information.
4. To develop the means to collect, store and organize information and knowledge in digital form.
5. To strengthen communication and collaboration between and among the research, and educational communities.
6. Provide download and printing facilities.
7. Helps in reduction of procurement of multiple copies of text books.
8. Provide access to rare books.
9. Provide easy and fast access to information irrespective of time and location.
10. Digital library have lot of storage capacity.
MOST IMPORTANT CONCERNS FOR A DIGITAL LIBRARY:
(A) Space: Digital library provide digitized resource of print collection with searchable effect. It requires only a little space to accommodate a huge collection.
Thus it has minimized the storage problem of library’s holding effectively.
(B) Preservation: Digital preservation becomes an essential part in digital libraries. Reason is its long term, error free and techno- savvy storage capabilities.
(C) Wide range of Services: Digital library provides both traditional services such as CAS, SDI, and Ready Reference.
(D) Round the Clock Availability:
digital Libraries are that, people can gain access to the information at any time any where.
(E) Rapid and Multi Access: The user of digital library need not go to library physically; they can access the same information over the world as long as internet connection is available.
(F) Networking: Digital libraries are linked by hyperlink globally, thus a seamless integrated resources sharing can be achieved.
(G) Powerful Search Tool: Digital library can provide very friendly interface and open access to its user with authoritative, refined and quick searching facilities.
(H) Cost Effectiveness: The cost of digitization is the kind of hydro power project development once the project has implemented it cost little and finalize will be more than expected.
RESOURCES OF A DIGITAL LIBRARY The resources of a digital library are those, which the computer can store, organized, transmit and display without any intervening conversion process. It includes both print and electronic or digital materials. The digital material may be of multimedia types or any other i.e.
digital audio, video, full text information, photograph, drawing, digitized sound, e- book, v-book, map, image, 3D representation etc. the collection may also include structured/ unstructured text, scanned images, graphic audios, video recording etc.
ONLINE RESOURCE
1. Local database of traditional books in machine readable form.
2. E-book, V-book, map, image, sound video and multimedia etc.
3. E-journal
4. LAN, MAN, WAN for web browsing e-mail etc.
5. Well trained manpower for online help.
OFF LINE RESOURCE
1.
CD-Rom, Jukebox etc.2.
Audio Visual aid etc.Difference between Traditional and Digital Library
Traditional Library Digital Library
1 1. Documents are found on stacks and shelf list.
2. Main purpose in collection development.
3. Documents are issued on loan.
4. Information is located at one place.
5. It emphasizes on the storage and preservation of physical items.
1. Data are found digital form in hard disk, floppy, CD-ROMs.
2. In digital library data is captured on- line.
3. We just access the information for IT Tools.
4. There is no need to visit any particular place. We can access from any access point.
5. It emphasizes on access to digitized materials.
WHY DIGITAL LIBRARY?
The unprecedented surge of activities and interests in digital library can generally be attributed to the following factors:
Emergence of internet and web technologies as a media of information delivery and access. The Internet, particularly World Wide Web (WWW), allows rapid access to a wide variety of networked information resources extending a uniform interface to a vast number of multimedia resources.
The web, being a hypermedia based system, allows linking amongst electronic resources;
i. Availability of highly evolved, extraordinarily simple and intuitive user interface , i.e.
Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator for all prevalent platforms; and
ii. Advances in online storage technologies enabling storage technologies enabling storage of large amounts of contents at increasingly affordable cost;
The digital library offers significant and unparallel improvement and unparallel improvement and value addition to library services while providing workable solutions to problems traditionally associated with the management of print- based collections in traditional libraries.
Improved information retrieval and enhanced document delivery capabilities are widely acclaimed strength of digital libraries
DIGITAL LIBRARY: REQUIREMENTS The Internet and World Wide Web provide the impetus and technological for the development and operation of a digital library. The Internet provides the TCP/IP and or its associated protocol for accessing the information and web provide tools and technique for publishing the information over internet. In the digital environment it is reasonable to say that a central back up or archive should be created at the national level, which will store information output of the region as well as information from outside the country.
Some of the requirements for a digital library are:
1. Audio visual: Color T.V., V.C.R., D.V.D. Sound box, Telephone etc.
2. Computer: Server, P.C. with multimedia, etc.
3. Network: LAN, MAN, WAN, Internet etc.
4. Printer: Laser printer, Dot matrix, Barcode printer, Digital graphic printer etc.
5. Scanner: HP Scan Jet, Flatbed, Sheet Feeder, Drum Scanner.
6. Microfilming Scanner: Digital Camera, Barcode scanner etc.
7. Storage Device: Optical storage device, CD-ROM, Jukebox etc.
8. Software: Any suitable software, which is interconnected and suitable for LAN and WAN connection.
HOW TO CREATE A DIGITAL LIBRARY?
The integration of digital media into traditional collection will not be straight forward, like previous new media (e.g.
video and audio tapes). Because at the unique nature of digital information- it is less fixed, easily copied, and remotely accessible by multiple users are simultaneously.
Some the more serious issues facing the development of digital libraries are below:
1. Technical requirements 2. Building digital collection 3. Digitization
4. Metadata
5. Naming and identification 6. Preservation.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The first issue is that of the technical architecture that underlies any digital library system. Libraries will need to enhance and upgrade current technical architectures to accommodate digital materials.
The architecture will include components such as:
High-speed local networks and fast connections to the Internet
Relational databases that support a variety of digital formats
Full text search engines to index and provide access to resources
A variety of servers, such as Web servers and FTP servers
Electronic document management functions that will aid in the overall management of digital resources.BUILDING DIGITAL COLLECTIONS One of the largest issues in creating digital libraries will be the building of digital collections. Obviously, for any digital library to be viable, it must eventually have a digital collection with the critical mass to make it truly useful.
There are essentially three methods of building digital collections:
1. Digitization, converting paper and other media in existing collections to digital form.
2. Acquisition of original digital works created by publishers and scholars for e.g., electronic books, journals, and data sets.
3. Access to external materials not held in-house by providing pointers to Web sites, other library collections, or publishers’ servers.
DIGITIZATION
What does this term mean for as? Simply, it is the conversion of any fixed or analogue media- such as books, journal articles, photos, and paintings, microforms- into electronic form through scanning, sampling, or in fact even keying. An obvious obstacle to digitization is that it is very expensive.
METADATA
Metadata is another issue central to the development of digital libraries. Metadata is the data that describes the content and attributes of any particular item in a digital library. It is a concept familiar to librarians because it is one of the primary things that librarians do- they create catalogues that describes documents.
Metadata is important in digital libraries because it is the key to resource discovery and use of any document.
NAMING AND IDENTIFIERS
The issue is related to metadata. It is the problem of naming in a digital library.
Names are strings that uniquely identify digital objects and are part of any document’s metadata. Names are as important in a digital library as an ISBN number is in a traditional library. They are needed to uniquely identify digital objects for purposes such as:
citations
information retrieval
to make links among objects
and for the purpose of managing copyright.PRESERVATION
Another important issue is preservation- keeping digital information lasting forever.
In the preservation of digital materials, the real issue is technical obsolescence.
Technical obsolescence in the digital age is like the deterioration of paper in the paper age. Libraries in the pre-digital era had to worry about climate control and the de-acidification of books, but the preservation of digital information will mean constantly coming up with new technical solutions.
When considering digital materials, there are three types of
“preservation” one can refer to:
the preservation of the storage medium
the preservation to access to content
the preservation of fixed-media materials through digital technologyCONCLUSION
Libraries around the world have been working on this daunting set of challenges for several years now. They have created many digital library initiatives and projects, and have formed various national schemes for jointly exploring key issues. With several years of accumulated experience, the initial enthusiasm surrounding the development of the digital library has been replaced by sober second thought. Librarians have discovered that, with a few exceptions, making a business case for digitization and investments in digital technology is
more difficult than first envisioned, especially given the technical constraints that must first be overcome. As with most other technical developments in libraries over the years, we will have to move forward in small, manageable, evolutionary steps, rather than in a rapid revolutionary manner.
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