Management of digital libraries in technical educational institutes an evaluative study of selected engineering and management colleges in Karnataka

Abstract

Digital Libraries can be defined as libraries which have a number of machine readable publications and facilities for remote access to several databases . A Digital Library may allow either online or offline access to the elements it organizes and may include multimedia as well as multilingual data. The present study aims at understanding various issues related to managing digital libraries in technical institutes in Karnataka. The findings of this study covered various issues regarding digital library infrastructure, digital library services provided, e-resources and databases, library networks etc. The study makes it amply clear that a majority of libraries are having basic digital library infrastructure and there is a tremendous scope for development of digital library services. Based on the findings of this study, a model of digital library development and management has been evolved. In this development model, the libraries in academic institutes come under four stages of Evolution viz., Stage I Conventional Library with limited computerization, Stage II Limited Access to Digital Resources, Stage III Augmented Digital Library Services and Stage IV Enhanced Access to Digital Library Services. At each of these stages the model covered six factors Characteristics, Technical Services, Service Portfolio, Training and Development, User Development and Management Interventions. The study brought into light that, although a majority of the libraries are in Stage I and II, libraries are in favor of taking steps in the direction of setting up digital libraries. However, this stage could be considered as introductory stage towards a new journey characterized by lack of planning, challenges of resistance to change, apprehensions about technology, understanding the work under new environment and top management attitude towards investing huge amounts on digital technologies. newline newline newline