Transformation of Indian libraries since two decades : A study by examining

library websitesBy

Mr. Deepak Mehta, Asstt. Librarian, BITS Pilani

Dr. M. Ishwara Bhat, Librarian, BITS PilaniBITS Pilani

Pilani Campus

Transformation of Indian libraries since two decades : A study by

examining library websites

IntroductionPresent studyIn the present study, an effort has been made to survey the

range of new innovation brought in by Indian libraries since two decades. We went through about 300 library websites which included all the different types of libraries, viz., Public Library, Academic Library (colleges and universities), Special Library, School Library, Children Library and Circulating Library. We looked for libraries which adopt the new ways of providing information and marketing, which are not found in traditional libraries.

Categories of libraries

Type of library Numbers

Academic 40

Circulating Library 6

Special Library 7

Children’s Library 3

Public Library 11

School Library 4

Total 71

Innovations in Indian libraries

• WebOPAC• New ways of marketing library resources• Integration of multimedia resources• Online access to e-resources• Contact us & Feedback facility • Online Reference Service• Access to in house digitized documents• Institutional repositories• Use of Web 2.0• Pictures and virtual tours of libraries

• Publications of the institution• Library staff awards• Floor maps and layout plans• Library location maps • Press clippings• Special section for disabled persons• Books and toys on rent• Pick and drop facility • Booking hall in the library• Email & SMS Alert Service• Interview with authors• Campus Connect & Refer a Friend

• Role of library consortiums and networks

Conclusions :

During the past two decades, there has been a transformation of libraries in India, whether they belong to public library, special library, academic, school or circulating library. Many Indian libraries have been quick to harness the potential of information technology

Recommendations

• There are large number of libraries which are yet to adopt new technologies. They need to adopt innovate immediately.

• Library websites need to be prominently placed in the parent institutions’ sites which would attract more attention and traffic to the library sites besides improving the image of the library.

• All library websites need to be kept up-to-date which will help develop their credibility and impage.

• Indian libraries need to use their imagination and apply the Web 2.0 increasingly, though hitherto the applications are very few.

• More libraries need to build their own institutional repositories.

• The released staff time as a result of automation has to be utilized for improving traditional services as well as for developing technology enabled services.

• Libraries need to increase the footfalls to the physical library by innovative marketing, such as events, competitions, awards to readers, etc. and the web will serve as a handy tool for publicizing these events.

• We need to not only provide better facilities for web access in the library (eg wifi in library with high speed internet), but also need to engage in continuous research in integrating both print and e-resources.

Thank You Email Ids : deepak_mehta@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in

ibhat@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in