LIS 113: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION
CENTER
Lecturers: Dr. Olanike Alabi & Prof. Yetunde Zaid
Basic skills and competencies of library and information centre librarian/manager
Digital libraries, virtual libraries and
electronic libraries, differences between
these types of libraries
The advent of ICT led to a great transformation in the
type of resources and services now rendered by libraries.
This has enabled Library and information centers to
provide an array of information resources and services.
Moreover, the era also made possible the connectivity of
computers both locally and on the global network though
the Internet.
Different types of libraries are born into our society, as a
result of the emergence of ICT such as: digital library, virtual
library and electronic libraries
Libraries have developed in five steps, leading to various types of libraries
namely:
1. Traditional libraries: in this kind of libraries most resources are printed materials.
Most of library services like as cataloguing, classification, and reference services
client are manually done by librarians and other library staff.
2. Automated libraries: resources did not change or differ from traditional libraries but
services are done by automated and computer machines.
3. Electronic libraries: has material both in print and electronic format.
4. Digital libraries: Distinctive feature of digital libraries is that several resources and
services are provided quickly for user
5. Virtual libraries: this modern generation can be illustrated with term of "libraries
without walls". This means that all resources, services, and access to library are provided
through web .
Digital Libraries
The word digital library could be defined in different ways.
It could be defined as a “collection of digital object (text, video and audio) along with
method for access and retrieval.
A digital library could also be defined as a collection of digital computing, storage and
communications technology together with the content and software needed to reproduce,
emulate and extend the services provided by taditional libraries.
A digital library is a library in which the collections are stored in digital formats (as
opposed to print, microform, or other media) and accessible by computers. The content
may be stored locally, or accessed remotely.
In other words, a digital library is a collection of documents in organized electronic
form, available for access on the Internet or on CD-ROM (compact-disk read-only
memory) disks.
It is not just a collection of material in electronic form; it includes a browser interface
and perhaps a virtual space and society.
Digital Libraries
The Digital Library Federation defines digital libraries as: Organizations
that provide resources, including specialized staff, to select, structure, offer
intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of, and
ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital works so that they
are readily available for use by a defined community or set of communities.
Terms such as "electronic library" and "virtual library" are often used
synonymously with the word digital library.
Digital libraries, like traditional libraries, select, acquire, make available, and
preserve collections. The major differences are that digital libraries consist
of resources in machine-readable form only. This implies that the traditional
concept of collection must be revised to accommodate materials that are
accessible electronically.
Digital Libraries
In India, Health Education Library for People (HELP), Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and National Centre
for Science Information (NCSI) were the institute that developed digital library and
provided access to bibliographical details of their content.
Example of digital library: Digital Library of India (DLI). DLI is a digital library of
books, predominantly in Indian languages, available to everyone over the Internet. Books
are searchable and free-to-read. In addition, it provides links to six online Indian
newspapers such as Times of India, The Hindu, Indian Express, Deccan Herald.
Digital Library at Jaypee University of Information Technology (DL@JUIT)
Digital Library at Department of Library and Information Science, Mysore University,
Mysore. http://www.vidyanidhi.org.in/home/ index.html
Functions of Digital library
1. The following are some of the function of digital library
2. To enable use of network facilities.
3. To enhance advanced search, access and retrieval of information.
4. To improve the library operations.
5. To enable users perform searches that is not possible manually.
6. To preserve unique collection (rare materials) through digitization.
Advantages of digital libraries over traditional
libraries
1.Space: Digital information takes very little physical room to contain its
collection and are more economical than ever, digital libraries have the
potential to store considerably more information than traditional libraries,
which are restricted by storage space.
2. Information retrieval: The user can search the full collection using any term
(word, phrase, title, person, or subject). Digital libraries have exceptionally
user-friendly interfaces that allow resources to be accessed with a click.
3. Multiple access: Multiple institutions and users can use the same resource
at the same time. This may not be the case for copyrighted materials because
a library may have a license for “lending out” those resources.
Advantages of digital libraries over traditional libraries
4.Round the clock availability: One of the main benefits of digital libraries is that
individuals can access the content at all times..
5. No physical boundary: A digital library allows users to access the same content
from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection, the need
to visit library physically is not necessary. Digital libraries can be accessed by users
without going to library physically. Digital libraries provide increased access to users
at different geographic locations;
6. Use of new technologies: digital libraries embrace new technology to allow users
have access to electronic databases
7. Cost: The cost of maintaining a digital library is much lower than a traditional
library. Traditional libraries spend large sums of money for paying to staff,
maintenance of books, building and equipment. Digital library can reduce or do
away with these costs
Services of Digital Libraries
Digital libraries can provide various services to users. Such services include:
Automated Web Search: This involve use of search engine to access
information available on remote computers
Audio-Video Conferencing: A face to face interaction between two or more
people through the Internet
Access to email: A widely used service to communicate with individuals as
well as groups
Browsing the Internet: Digital libraries provide browsing service to access
information on any subject
Bulletin Board Service: this is a service permitting a person to read, compose
and send messages to a newsgroup.
Problems of digital libraries
These are some of the problem faced by Libraries and information
centres as regards digital libraries:
1. Financial constraints
2. Technological obsolescence of hardware and software;
3. Unwilling staff to adopt the new technologies;
4. Non-availability of appropriate infrastructure
Assignment
1. State 5 differences between traditional an digital libraries
2. List four advantages of digital libraries
3. Mention three examples of digital libraries
4. Enumerate the differences between Digital libraries, virtual
libraries and electronic libraries
