An analytical Study on Growth and Development of Medical College Libraries and library networks in the Era of ICT in Punjab and Chandigarh

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The word technology and its applications are matters of newlinediscussion in every sphere of human life and creating new meanings for the world to newlinehave a chance of new creativity and innovation in this highly intuitive information-led newlinesociety. Technology is construing as a major driving force for development in every newlinefield and with the advent of Information and Communication Technology, the library and newlineinformation science field is also on the way of the ongoing transformation in the newlineavailability of information resources and accessibility of information services at a newlinespeed of nanoseconds. The users are becoming more are more versant with newlinetechnology which has created the environment where the user itself is the creator of newlinethe content. The libraries and information networks are playing a vital role in this newlinetechno-led society to provide authentically managed information to their users. The newlinelibraries of medical colleges and institutes are special kind of libraries and the users of newlinelibraries are medical students, teachers, researchers, allied staff members and patients, newlinewhere the authentic and more pinpointed information must be provided without delay newlineat their doorsteps as the information is concerned with the health of people. The newlinemedical information resources are very expensive so every library cannot fulfill the newlineneeds of the users. Moreover, there are other constraints in availability and newlineaccessibility of these resources like limited storage capacity, manpower, and day-byday newlinehike in prices of information resources. Thus, the library networks came into newlineexistence to solve these problems. The modern medical libraries have started joining newlinehands with various networks to meet the demands of their users. Hence, it is important newlineto know what role medical college libraries and library networks are playing in newlinePunjab and Chandigarh and the current study will provide the base for the newlinestakeholders especially the concerned authorities, decision-makers, and researchers newlinefor further improvement and development of the subject fields. newline