Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 401

International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI 2019)

Digital Library Practice in University:

Advantages, Challenges, and Its Position
Lantip Diat Prasojo
Irsa Arma Perdana
Educational Management
Educational Management
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
[email protected]
[email protected]

Abstract— This paper is written to describe the Over time, libraries began to develop and adjust to
importance of digital libraries to be applied in university the rapid development of technology. Digital Library
library through the exploration of the advantages is the result of the technological developments
offered by digital libraries, as well as the challenges that influence in educational field. Digital library has now
will be faced in the implementation of digital libraries as
widely applied in various university libraries
infrastructure to support education. The exploration
was carried out by conducting a literature review from including in Indonesia. Digital library is an ITC based
some empirical study resources. Rapid technological library management system where users of library
developments in all fields including the library are the services can find information related to reading books
cause of the emergence of digital libraries. As a source of or other documents in digital form. Libraries
information and learning resources for educational development towards digital libraries is actually not
academics, digital libraries offer a variety of advantages just adjusting to the development of information
over conventional (traditional) libraries. With these technology, but rather due to demands for a change in
various advantages, conventional libraries are the paradigm of higher education, which includes a
irreplaceable, but the existence of digital libraries
paradigm shift in learning with e-learning, changes in
completes conventional libraries. In addition to offering
many advantages, various obstacles found in the digital scientific communication that lead to e-research, and
libraries practice such as facilities problems, digitizing urgent needs to create information literacy in higher
collections, copyrights, human resource, and cost issues. education [9].
These obstacles will later become challenges for library
The essence of the digital library practice is the
managers who will apply digital libraries in their
university. The result found that conventional library impact of information technology development.
remained irreplaceable by the digital library. Digital library emergence will certainly offer more
advantages for each user, especially users from the
Keywords: digital library, advantages, challenges, education sector such as students who obviously need
conventional library a library to support their learning process. In addition,
the digital library practice certainly has its own
I. INTRODUCTION challenges that are ready to face by the educational
The library categorized as an infrastructure of managers. This paper wants to explore more deeply
school, university, and any other educational about what advantages might obtained from the
institution. The library at a university is one of the digital library practice and what are the challenges
university facilities that very important. Libraries can that managers might face in implementing digital
support the teaching and learning process both libraries. After its advantages and challenges
directly and indirectly. In general, libraries has a revealed, the position of digital library practice in
meaning as a place in which collecting activity, education will be understood.
processing and dissemination (service) of all kinds of
information occur, both printed and recorded in II. METHOD
various media such as books, magazines, letters news, The paper’s method used some literature of earlier
films, tapes, tape recorders, videos, computers and research as an information and data sources. The
others. All of these information sources arranged process of taking data and information employed
according to a particular system and used to the some journal, conference, thesis and any other
benefit of learning through reading and finding research results as the main resources. The authors
information for all people who need it [4]. collected all these literatures by visiting library or
searching on the internet. The authors collected all
then analyze every result of these researches. After the

Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license -http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. 44
 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 401

analyzing process, the writer will make a conclusion According to Rodliyah there are several
about the advantages, challenges, and the position of advantages if digital libraries are implemented such as
digital library practice in university library. digital libraries can be accessed anywhere, improve
the ability to search for information, provide ease of
sharing information, help users get the latest
III. DISCUSSIONS information, lower costs and so on [10]. In line with
Rodliyah, Uzuegbu and McAlbert from their research
A. Digital Library in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture library
Digital library is a library that stores information in also argue that digital libraries promise new social
digital form or fulfillment of information needs in benefits, one of it is the removal of time and space
digital form from external information sources to be restrictions in accessing knowledge and information
distributed to users both registered as certain from library [14]. Research from Mishra also found
customers and the community in general [7]. almost the same thing about the advantages of digital
libraries. The benefits of digital libraries such as no
Digital libraries are the same as traditional physical limits, people can get information 24 hours,
libraries, but the material provided is digital. The allowing multiple access to an information source,
definition and characteristics of digital libraries at making it easier to search for information by
several points can be describe as: (a) Digital libraries keywords, preservation and conservation data,
are those that encode journals, books and information digitization clear up the writing in books or other
in digital format. (b) Collection of text, images, etc., printed reading sources, and information is more
encoded so that they are stored, retrieved, and read by easily accessed by the digital library [5]. Another
using a computer. (c) A digital library is a digital opinion from Bamgbade et al mentions some benefits
collection representation of information content, along that can be obtained from the digital libraries practice
with hardware, software, and staff to support library compared to traditional libraries namely storage space
functions. (d) A series of integrated services to is almost unlimited with much lower costs, no
capture, catalog, store, search, protect and retrieve physical boundaries, no limited time, easy to search
information. (e) A large collection of digital objects, information, preservation of some printed materials,
consisting of all types of materials and media, which universal access [2].
are stored in distributed information repositories and
accessed through national computer networks. (f) In Indonesia, digital libraries have implemented at
Large collection of information that has been stored in several universities. A study conducted by Mukhlis at
digital form. Digital libraries can include documents, the digital library at UIN Sunan Kalijaga about the
images, sound, and information collected from exploration of digital library development at UIN. In
ongoing events (eg continuous photos from weather his research found that the Digital Library UIN Sunan
satellites). (g) Digital libraries can include reference Kalijaga can be accessed on the page
material or resources that accessible through the World www.digilib.uin-suka.ac.id, in the portal there are
Wide Web. Digital parts of library collections or several advantages that can be obtained by users. The
original material produced for the web can also be advantages of digital library according to Mukhlis
included in a digital library [15]. research’s such as (a) There is a digital collection that
can be accessed through networks such as theses,
There are several characteristics of digital libraries, dissertations, research reports and so on. (b) Facilities
namely as follows [13]: for searching and retrieval of information are
1) Use a computer to manage. available. (c) Has collection content, both in the form
2) Use electronic channels to connect of data and metadata formats. (d) Information access
information providers with information users. to various links is available. (e) Can be accessed
3) Make use of electronic transactions. anywhere and anytime through remote libraries [6].
4) Use electronic facilities to store, manage, and There is any other research findings from Sugianti
convey information to users. about digital library in MM-Digilib University of
Digital library is an innovation from conventional Indonesia (UI). This study concerned in the user
library that very closely related to the use of interface of digital library system. In general, this
technology. The core of a digital library is library research found that it has benefit on ease of access of
materials that are not physical but digital. any research publication and ease of usage [11].
B. Digital Library Advantages Various findings above explain the benefits
Digital library is the answer to the challenges of obtained from digital libraries. Based on these
the technological development. Many universities findings, there are many benefits of digital library
have implemented digital libraries as supporting practice obtained. It categorized in three main
facility for student learning activities. Compared to advantages:
conventional libraries, digital libraries provide more 1) Easy to Access
benefits for each user. All of research results agree that digital library is
easier to access than conventional library. The

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 401

researcher agree that by using digital library, users can awareness of digital library projects, (2) the length of
find an information that they need easily. It is easy the bureaucracy to build a digital library, (3)
because users can access digital library without space Inadequate internet access, (4) Poor infrastructure to
and time limited. Users can access the collection by support digital libraries such as lack of electricity, (5)
using their own device everywhere and every time if Lack of skilled staff to operate digital libraries, (6)
the digital library is online based. If the digital library Lack of subscriptions to electronic databases such as
is not an online-based library, users still get many e-book or journal supplier subscriptions, (7) Lack of
benefits than using conventional library. For example integration with traditional libraries, (8) Lack of
when users want to read a book in a digital library, sustainability plans, (9) There is no external funding
they do not need to search over the bookshelf but they [1]. Besides, Sen, Jain, and Ranjan from their research
only need to search it in the computer that the libraries finding about digital library practice in university in
provided. Nigeria find many problems such as [10]: (1) Lack of
cost to build the digital library, (2) Lack of
2) Bigger Storage networking (LAN/WAN or internet network), (3)
The second advantage of digital library practice is Inadequate electricity supply, (4) Lack of
the space that provided to store the collections. If technological infrastructure, (5) Lack of digital
universities applied a conventional library, they need documents and bad digitization results quality, (6)
to provide big room, building, and many bookshelf to Ineffective interface search engine, (7) Copyright
store its collections. This is caused by what they store problems, (8) Information security issues against
is a physical form so it take more place. Digital library computer virus attacks, (9) Lack of suitable staff and
is different from the conventional library, it provide lack of technical support.
more space not only the collections storing purpose
Meanwhile, some researchers in Indonesia also
but also any information. It can be happen because
found various problems that were not much different.
what is digital library store is all in digital form. The
Susanto suggests two main obstacles in the digital
university library managers only need to provide
library practices, there are the digitizing quality
some devices (computer) that have a big storage
documents and the copyright issues for digital
capacity or they can synchronize the collection and
collections that must sorted for borrowing [12]. In
any other information into cloud storage.
other study, Rodin found four main obstacles in
digital library practices in some universities in
3) Persevation of Any Collection
Bengkulu, there are inadequate facilities, the cost
The basic difference between conventional and
problems to build up the digital libraries, the lack of
digital library is about the physic and the digital form
human resources in IT (Information Technology), and
of all information sources including the collections.
non-technical issues such as the ego of every library
Digital form collections quality is better than printed
staff [8]. The other research result from Yuliani about
collections. The collection quality is timeless. Even
digital library practice in IAIN Batusangkar found that
the digital collections unbreakable by users during the
some trouble faced in their digital library such as
loan period that usually happen to the printed
human resource problem, library management
collections. The preservation is not only for the digital
problem, and the facilities problem [16].
collections itself but also for the printed collections.
The printed collections can be made into the digital The various findings above explain the obstacles
form through digitization. Digitization can preserve faced in implementing digital libraries. Obstacles will
the old collections into digital form so it can be saved be a challenge for every library manager who will
into a digital storage before it is started to be apply a digital library for their university. From these
unreadable. The digitization itself can clear up the challenges, the core issues about the digital library
writing of the book collections. practices listed such as:

C. Challenges of Digital Library Practic 1) Facilities

Digital library is useful to be applied in any Digital library establishment requires physical
university library. Although the digital library is equipment and non-physical equipment. Physical
important and useful to be applied a university library, equipment means building, hardware (computer,
there are many challenges that must be faced by the LAN, WAN, etc.), electricity supply, etc. Non-
university library managers. The challenges that they physical equipment means software, digital
will are supporting facilities, lack of human resources, collections, internet network, etc. To apply the digital
the number of documents provided, equipment library in a university need to adequate all of facilities
maintenance problems, technicians needed, and the required. It will be difficult to build especially in a
main problem of the library itself is like the budget for development country like Indonesia. In Indonesia,
the digital library and the need for the digital library. there are many places that still not having internet
Anunobi and Ezeani explain digital libraries practices access even some places also has no electricity
in universities in Nigeria. In this case, several digital supply. These conditions will be the biggest challenge
library problems were found, namely: (1) Lack of

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 401

for educational managers who will establish a digital electricity, it is clear that digital libraries will not run
library. optimally, while conventional libraries will continue
to work. Another example is when the digitization
2) Human Resources process of an old published book, it usually found
It is important to consider the human resource problems such as writing that is difficult to read. In
ability. Human resources who are trusted to manage this case, old books will be easier to read in print.
or operate digital libraries must understand the use of Many people also still prefer to read printed books to
technology in the system. The needs of human e-book. It is be evidenced from a study conducted by
resource that understand about ITC is not only for the Gray & Copeland shows that the demand of printed
technician but also for every staff. To find a man to books outpaced the demand of e-books in academic
operate the digital library maybe is not too difficult, libraries [3]. Things like explain above is that makes
but how about a university that has a conventional digital libraries still not able to replace the position of
library then want to upgrading their library into a conventional libraries, but its position is as a
digital library? Should they find many workers to be a complement. From all the explanation above drawn
staff and retiring the old staff and find new people to below:
works? These questions are every manager should
answer the challenges. CHALLENGES FIXED
1. Facilities
3) Copyrights 2. Human Resources
Many book authors do not want to sell their 3. Copyrights
books in digital form. It is happen because the 4. Digitization
copyrights issue problems. Digital library materials 5. Cost Issue
will be very vulnerable to copyright infringement
problems. If there is no system that protects the digital
collection, copyright infringement will be very easy to
do for example by copying the file. In addition, data
in digital form will be easier to expose to plagiarism if
not protected.
DIGITAL LIBRARY
4) Digitization PRACTICE
Library material certainly becomes the core of a
library, while the core of a digital library is the
collection in a digital form. The addition of a digital
collection must be complete and the collection quality ADVANTAGES
must be good. The digital collection quality means the 1. Easy to Access
level of readability of a digital collection that must be 2. Bigger Storage
clear. The book that will be digitized must be various 3. Preservation of Any Collection
from the new book until the old book. The digitization
of the old book must be more difficult than the new
book because its writing is usually unreadable. This is
the challenge of library manager to makes it clear and
readable if the book will be digitized.
CONVENTIONAL
5) Cost Issue LIBRARY
The cost issue is the basic problem in every COMPLEMENT
program that will implemented in every organizations
especially the university digital library. Digital
libraries is taking cost less in operation than Fig. 1. Relation concept of digital library challenges, advantages,
conventional libraries, but the establishment of new and position.
digital libraries requires expensive costs ranging from
building infrastructure to procuring computer
equipment. IV. CONCLUSIONS
Digital libraries provide a variety of benefits that
can help users in many ways. Digital library existence
D. Digital Library Position
certainly greatly helps educational academics in
Viewing the many shortcomings of digital finding learning resources. The core benefits of digital
libraries as described above, it shows that the position libraries are easy access, unlimited space and time,
of digital libraries cannot replace conventional preservation of collections. From many benefits
libraries but it is complete the conventional libraries provided by digital libraries, do not makes it replace
with all the benefits that cannot met by conventional the position of conventional libraries. The position of
libraries. For example, when there is a problem with

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 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 401

the digital library is complementary to the existence [9] Rodliyah, U. (2012). Perpustakaan digital, dan prospeknya
menuju resource sharing. Visi Pustaka 14(1), 39-47.
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developments. digital-dan-prospeknya-menuju-resource-sharing.html
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Although it has many benefits, digital libraries libraries, problems and prospects. IJLTEMAS 2(3), 9-21.
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be done to face each of these challenges in the
implementation of digital libraries.

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