CHAPTER THREE – LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 Library service model
3.1.8 Digital library model
91
In asserting the value of Information Commons in academic libraries, Lippincott (2006) makes the following comment:
An Information Commons can be a collaborative learning space, not just a glorified computing lab; it can be a place to access, use, and create information, not just a reference area with rows of computers; and it can provide transparent user services, not fiefdoms of service points. Information Commons can enhance learning, provide an environment which is both academic and social, and fosters a sense of community on campus for students (Lippincott 2006:22).
92
time of collections of digital works so that they are readily and economically available for use by a defined community or set of computers.
Some people confuse a digital library and a search engine. Amrelia, Murthy and Satyabati (2005) admit that digital libraries share an important characteristic with search engines – both are accessed online. However, they add that while search engines cover a wide range of subject areas, digital libraries are more narrowly focused around one or a specific group of disciplines. Further, unlike search engines, digital libraries use content-specific and highly descriptive metadata to describe each item in the collection. Thus, when a user conducts a search in the digital library, it is this metadata that is searched. Search engines, on the other hand, search “blindly” on an item‟s content and the results obtained may only indicate that a particular search term appears somewhere in the item, and not whether the overall content of the item is relevant to the search. They conclude that searches in a digital library produce more useful results, save users‟ time and effort in searching, and users can access the information found instantly.
There is also a popular perception that digital libraries should match and surpass traditional library services. Digital libraries should provide more than mere search facilities but should feature a high degree of selection of resources that meet criteria relevant to their mission, and they should provide services, including searches that facilitate use of the resources by their target community. They should maximize their borderless features to adapt their services and collections to the needs of the societies they serve. Digital libraries are also perceived as collaborative in nature and harness the inputs and evaluation of users and other stakeholders in actively conceptualizing, delivering and evaluating library services (Lagoze et al. 2005). Harter (1996) summarizes the properties of digital libraries as they progress from the traditional model in Table 3.1 on the next page.
Baohua, Xiaoyan and Fei (2002) identify the major characteristics of the digital library as: 1) The digitization of the information resources making them more durable and easily sharable; 2) Digital information transfer through communication technologies such as the Internet. Thus, the library users do not have to come to the library but can be served from wherever they are; 3) Limitless potential to share information across physical boundaries; 4) Focus on knowledge and not just information resources; and 5) Fast speed of service delivery. Singh (2003) also adds that digital libraries 1) have a higher variety of information resources; 2) provide localized access to distributed
93
content; 3) enable the same information resource to be shared by many people simultaneously; 4) have shifted paradigms from collection ownership to mere access; 5) emphasize quality and usefulness of collection as opposed to quantity; and 6) presuppose the absence of human intermediaries.
Table 3.1 - Properties of Digital Libraries Source: Harter 1996
NARROW VIEW (based on traditional library)
BROADER VIEW(a middle position between the
extremes)
BROADEST VIEW (loosely based on current Internet)
Objects are information
resources Most of the objects are
information resources Objects can be anything at all Objects are selected on
the basis of quality Some of the objects are
selected on the basis of quality No quality control; no entry barriers Objects are located in a
physical place Objects are located in a logical
place (may be distributed) Objects are not located in a physical or logical place
Objects are organized No organization
Objects are subjected to authority control
Some aspects of authority
control are present No authority control Objects are fixed (do not
change) Objects change in a
standardized way Objects are fluid (can change and mutate at anytime)
Objects are permanent
(do not disappear) Disappearance of objects is
controlled Objects are transient(can disappear at anytime)
Authorship is an
important concept Concept of author is
weakened No concept of author
Access to objects is limited to specific classes of users
Access to some objects is limited to specific classes of
users Access to everything by everyone
Services such as reference assistance are offered
The only services are those performed by computer software through Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Human specialists (called
librarians) can be found There are no librarians
There exist well-defined
user groups Some classes of objects have
associated user groups There are no defined user groups (or, alternatively, infinitely many of them) Singh (2003) also explains that there are many myths about the digital library model. These myths include:
94
1) The Internet is the digital library – the use of the Internet as a tool for information sharing cannot equate it to the library;
2) One window view of all collections – it is really not possible to present one window view of all the collections;
3) The digital library provides equitable access anywhere anytime – the Internet is not ubiquitous and is unavailable in many parts of the world, especially in the developing countries. This compromises the real possibility of equitable access of digital content and services; and
4) Digital libraries are cheaper than conventional libraries – although digitization may reduce costs in certain areas of library service, it increases costs in other areas. For instance, though digital collections may be more affordable, the need for ICT tools to use them may keep the costs up.
Prasad and Swarnalatha (2005) state that the goals of digital libraries are diverse but include:
1. To increase the access to all types of information available to users - both offline and online;
2. To preserve the original documents and manuscripts;
3. To facilitate qualitative and quantitative resource sharing;
4. To improve the library services;
5. Ensuring the effective usage of information storage in digital format;
6. To promote the effective utilization of funds invested in the digital library;
7. To facilitate user acceptability from their desktops; and 8. To satisfy the five laws of library science by Ranganathan.
The major benefits of digital libraries discernible from the literature reviewed (Amrelia, Murthy and Satyabati 2005; Baohua, Xiaoyan and Fei 2002; Harter 1996; Lagoze et al 2005; Leiner 1998; Singh 2003; Wikipedia Contributors 2009b) include:
1. No physical boundary. The user of a digital library need not go to the library physically. This makes library use convenient and also facilitates fast service delivery. Besides, people from all over the world can gain access to the same information, as long as an Internet connection is available.
95
2. Round the clock availability. A major advantage of digital libraries is that people can gain access to the information at anytime, night or day. Digital services are potentially available on demand though hitches may arise from technology down-times, among other factors.
3. Multiple access to services and collections. The same resources and services can be used simultaneously by a number of institutions and patrons. This may not be the case for copyrighted material as a library may have a license for “lending out” only one copy at a time.
4. User friendly interfaces. Digital libraries provide user-friendly interfaces giving ready clickable access to its resources.
5. Preservation and conservation. Digitization is not a long-term preservation solution for physical collections, but does succeed in providing access copies for materials that would otherwise deteriorate from repeated use.
6. Space. Whereas traditional libraries are limited by storage space, digital libraries have the potential to store much more information simply because digital information requires very little physical space and media storage technologies are more affordable than their physical counterparts.
7. Value addition. Certain characteristics of objects, primarily the quality of images, may be improved. Digitization can also enhance legibility and remove visible flaws such as stains and discoloration.