Article Details

Accessing of Electronic Information Resources: a Case Study of Awareness, Attitude and Resolutions In Academic Libraries |

Balijepalli Bhagyalakshmi, in Journal of Advances in Science and Technology | Science & Technology

ABSTRACT:

Library is a repository of resources that create afundamental change in education. Adequate electronic resource facilitiesempower and enrich the higher education system in meeting the best academicneeds. Users are able to access e-resources either by local or remotelocations. In this paper, we consider only electronic resources available atNational Institutes of Technology (NITs) libraries across the country. Theelectronic resources consist of online journals databases, CD-ROM material andaudio/video course materials. The survey finds majority of libraries use 11 to15 number of online journals databases, whereas 25 per cent libraries have thefacility of more than 16 number of online journals databases. Very fewlibraries (20%) indicate that they have less than 10 online journals databasesat their end. Eighty five percent of libraries have the facilitiese-resources on CD-ROMs/DVDs form. About 90 per cent of libraries obtainaudio/video course materials. This study also reveals the zone-wise performanceamong NIT libraries in Indiawith respect to electronic resources availability. The South zone (75%)libraries have better off in comparing to the other zones libraries.  In late 20th andearly 21st centuries, library automation and the Internetrevolutionized information access and library operations around the world. Theeffect on academic institutions has been profound. It enables users to accesslibrary resources from sites hundreds or thousands of miles away. Libraries inacademic institutions can now provide information access to off-campus facultyand students wherever they are located. Earlier information resources were considered physicalentities but now these have evolved from traditional print documents toelectronically stored information resources. In this time of lesseningfinances, myriad forms of resources and rising expectations of user community,libraries face many challenges to operate competently. The demand to providemore electronic information resources often results in a need to find creativeways to get the most out of our limited financial resources. Present paperdiscusses the Electronic Information Resources (EIR) in detail explaining theiradvantages and various types. Also depicts how consortia approach will behelpful in harnessing EIR for a developing country like India. Thepaper also tries to describe major prerequisites for consortia initiation andbenefits that can be expected from a successful consortium. It is concludedthat Indian libraries must seriously think, proceed and commence consortiummovement for maximum utilization of EIR at a reduced cost, time and space. E-resources are resources in which information is storedelectronically and it can be accessible through electronic systems and networkenvironment. E-resources are a very broad term that includes a variety of differentfile formats. Instant access is quite possible with E-resources within afraction of second. Acquiring knowledge from E-Books, E-Journals, Onlineresources, CDROM, Internet with related Databases are the impact ofE-Resources.