Seminar on Impact of Digital
Library on Higher Education and Research in
Documentalists
(BALID)
Impact of Digital Library on
Higher Education and Research in
by
M. Shamsul Islam
Khan*
M. Nazim Uddin¶
M. Hossam Haider Chowdhury
*Head, Publications Unit, Information Sciences Division,
ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and
Population Research, Mohakhali,
¶Joint Librarian,
Associate Librarian,
Planning Academy
Auditorium,
Impact of Digital Library on Higher Education and
Research in
The library has, since long, been considered to be the source and power of knowledge and also the knowledge base. In higher education and research, the library has specific functions to facilitate the extensive use of learning resources by students, teachers, and researchers. With the growth of literature in large numbers even in the same field, these groups of library users have faced problems in identifying the appropriate literature for their use and consultation in a desired timeframe.
Information and communications technology (ICT), particularly during the last two decades, has significantly contributed to open the door of accessing, hidden, knowledge in a highly efficient manner. Initially, the ICT was used in the library environment for developing databases of in-formation resources mainly aiming at storing and retrieving information on various types of publication resources and also to organize various types of information services. The ICT has put us in the electronic environment to help identify, assess, acquire, record, store, organize, and disseminate information and information resources according to the need of specific requirements and/or of an organization or an individual requirement. The use of IT in libraries has enhanced efficiency in all aspects of information acquisition, storage, and transfer. Its magical opportunities have dramatically changed the operations of the library and its information services. With the new facilities, the traditional libraries have been modernized to make these as well-equipped and inter-connected electronic resource centres.
In the library and publication fields, computer-based communications have extensively facilitated the transmission of messages, transfer, and exchange of files and text, such as online submission of papers for publication in books and journals, uploading/downloading, access to databases, conduct of interactions, provision of bulletin boards and newsletters, journals, and publications, online orders, inter-library loans, creation of user profiles, consolidation and repackaging of information for specific needs, dissemination of information, and so on. Uncountable numbers of monographic materials, journals, learning resources, documents, reports, data, databases, and audiovisual materials generated and published by government and non-governmental organizations and commercial agencies/publishers are now available in electronic formats to access even from the remote corner of a country, thereby increasing the use of these materials and enhancing the efficiency of information dissemination.
The concept of developing the
digital library system is very new in
Library is used by various categories of people who need to read literature to keep themselves informed, to enhance their knowledge, to meet specific need(s), to educate themselves, to teach and for learning, practical applications, research, and dissemination. Their major interest is that their desired information/materials are made available at a minimum effort in an appropriate format and when they need these. Library patrons need information, use literature and knowledge, and again apply that knowledge to generate new knowledge and information. Information and knowledge can be obtained from print materials, audiovisual materials, databases, and the Internet.
With the change in the
information-provision system over the last few years, libraries are becoming
information resource-access centres, while maintaining also the traditional
library and modern library services. With the advent and applications of ICT,
libraries are now gradually becoming dependent on web-based resources available
through the Internet (network of networks), which was first developed and
launched in the
Users are now more independent than before, they are self-learners and self-accessors, and they can access web-based information resources even from their home computers and search databases according to their needs.
The technology has been gradually making the traditional libraries to become universal for all those who need, and seek for, information and information resources either from within or out-side the organization or the country where they are located.
The history of development of
libraries started with the preservation of knowledge on bones, wood surfaces,
bark, hides, textiles, stones, clay tablets, papyrus, parchment, vellum, etc.
and subsequently on paper with the advent of printing machine. The use of paper in recording knowledge helped spread out the use
of knowledge all over the world, even spreading up to rural areas. This
also helped preserve knowledge for a longer time. The mechanism for
preservation of knowledge on paper has gradually been transferred to the electronic
medium since the advent of the computer system which is used all over the
world, including
In the early stage of human communication and while transferring knowledge, "man may have even developed an ‘oral literature' that was handed down from generation to generation." Initially, library was usually conceived of graphics forms of recorded information, and the library was only one of many means of communication. "The library is a means of communication in the sense that it is a storehouse of recorded information…" So, the library is the fundamental source of organized recorded or stored information. The process of communication, thus, started first with speech, then writing, then printing, and finally with electronic devices. Each stage of the development of speech/language, writing, books, earlier libraries, and modern libraries passed though a process of considerable time-span to establish each stage of the conceptualization of each process to development, to organization, to implementation, and to management. "The earliest form of library was what we would consider today an archive, since it was really a collection of government or religious documents."
Based on the growth and change in library systems within the traditional and modern concepts, we have, like computers, several generations in the development of the library system since its inception to up till now. The generations are:
First generation: Generation of the early archival library system with early writing materials
Second generation: Generation of the traditional library system with collection of printed materials and without the use of modern tools of library organization, such as cataloguing rules and classification schemes
Third generation: Generation of the traditional library system organized with modern tools of library organization
Fourth generation: Generation of the computerized library system with the use of IT/ICT
Fifth generation: Generation of the digital library system without any space, time and language barriers and highly depending on the Internet/web-based resources.
The term 'digital library' has synonymously been used for meaning 'automated library', 'electronic library', 'virtual library', and 'digital library'. The concept of digital library began initially with modernization of libraries with electronic devices. GG and S Chowdhury reports that "Borgman suggests that the first research-oriented definition of digital libraries appeared in 1992 when the phrase 'electronic libraries' was used for what is now called digital libraries." Another name that we come across is 'hybrid library'. A hybrid library is a library where both "digital and printed information resources co-exist and are brought together in an integrated information service accessible locally as well as remotely." Whatever may be the name, all mean almost the same, which "support full life cycle of creation, storage, preservation, dissemination, and use of data, information and knowledge." The scope of the functionality of these terminologies is almost same.
Unfortunately, as of now,
concerned professionals could not conclude an acceptable definition of digital
library. Various researchers and information professionals have proposed
various definitions. GG and
The 1994 IEEE CAIA Workshop on Intelligent Access to On-line Digital Libraries defined "A digital library is an assemblage of digital computing, storage, and communications machinery together with the content and software needed to reproduce, emulate, and extend the services provided by conventional libraries based on paper and other material means of collecting, cataloging, finding, and disseminating information. A full service digital library must accomplish all essential services of traditional libraries and also exploit the well-known advantages of digital storage, searching, and communication." The Stanford digital library research team defined a digital library as "coordinated collection of services that are based on collections of materials, some of which may not be directly under the control of the organization providing a service in which they play a role".
Oppenheim and Smithson defined a "digital library as an information service in which all the information resources are available in computer processable form and the functions of acquisition, storage, preservation, retrieval, access and display are carried out through the use of digital technologies." According to Arms, a digital library is a "managed collection of information, with associated services, where the information is stored in digital formats and accessible over a network." The Digital Library Federation in the USA defines the digital library as "Digital libraries are organizations that provide the resources, including the 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 and economically available for use by a defined community or set of communities." Access to the entire collection is globally available directly or indirectly across a network.
Review of the above concepts and definitions suggest that the digital library is "the collection of services and the collection of information objects that support users in dealing with information objects and the organization and presentation of those objects available directly or in-directly via electronic/digital means." A digital library may contain materials that are already available in digitized format, such as electronic online journals, electronic information resources, or may contain materials that were originally produced in another form, but subsequently digitized.
Many academic and research
organizations and libraries in developed countries are building institutional
repositories of the institution's books, papers, theses, and other works.
Institutional repositories are often referred to as digital libraries.
With the gradual change in the library-accessing system and with the increased use of IT in libraries, the libraries in Bangladesh will, in the near future, be in a position to put linkages to international online resources and develop their own digital libraries with collection that are relevant to their library patrons. This is imminent because of the absence of the needed infra-structural facilities in libraries, urgency of the need for information and information resources, information resource-accessing problems in the local environment, e.g. home, shortage of man-power and budget, scarcity of foreign currencies, and pressure from library users and also from the higher authority.
If we consider the advantages and disadvantages of the digital library system, it also guides us to think of developing and establishing the digital library system without wasting any more time.
A digital library being in the web is not limited by any space/location and time, resulting in an easy and open access to web-based information resources compared to the traditional library system. Any user may access to information resources round the clock, provided he/she has the access facility. The major important benefits are that users from various locations within and outside the country can simultaneously access the required document without any serious hindrances and download the needed documents without loosing the quality. They can also search for documents by word, by subject, by phrase, by author, by title, etc. as the providers of the digital library system facilitate user-friendly search interfaces. The digital library system takes very little space in storing information resources, allowing unlimited networking benefits, link-age of documents in any site at a lower cost, handling of the system with minimum staff and at a lesser cost, and adoption of new developments compared to the traditional library system where budget, space, and skilled manpower are the important constraints.
The traditional library system is demarked and/or highly constrained by space and print collection and by provision of time-needed traditional library services. In this system, information-seekers and library users are generally required to personally visit libraries to meet their needs of information and literature and to get services. Unfortunately, the services do not reach them in our country. On the other hand, the open access or digital libraries are demarked by electronic collection, electronic preservation system, and online access facilities. Time and access problems are important factors in the traditional library system, whereas time and access are not barriers in the digital library system. Digital libraries can serve the user population very fast and with easy access to online resources. The digital library system can cope with the problem of handling information explosion and can manage large amounts of digital contents.
Implementation of the digital library system has tremendous benefits and impacts. It brings in-formation and information resources to users, provides a one-stop service, facilitates improved searching, manipulation of information, improved information-sharing, timely access to information, improved use of information, and improved collaboration, and reduces the digital divide. The digital library system permits offering of digital library services, including personalized information services, reference services, SDI and current awareness services, literature-searching services, bibliographic services, transmission and exchange of literature search results, files, and publications, library-to-library cooperation, removal of barriers of space, time, and language, avoidance of dependence on others, improved communications between receivers and providers, e-alerts of table of contents of journals and publications, and many more.
The digital library helps build own personal collection according to need, lessens the dependence on information professionals or intermediaries, facilitates access to information resources wherever they are located, facilitates the use of same information resources simultaneously by various users, and provides access to information resources not owned by the service-providing organizations. It brings paradigm shift in the creation, distribution, management, and use of information and facilitates the consumption, creation, and sharing of knowledge. It also facilitates better delivery of information than was possible in the traditional library system.
Examples of major sources of digital information resources and are given in the Appendix.
Digital libraries cannot possibly replace the environment of a physical library as we still like to see and browse reading materials physically and get attracted more to read these. Lack of skills in handling computer viruses and lack of standardization for digitized materials are important limitations. While there are obvious benefits of digitization, the major problem is, however, ensuring the quality of digitized materials. The other problems are access management, determination of authenticity of materials, and control of unauthorized access and use. Access being open, through the Internet, many people may be indulged in browsing vulgar resources. Sometimes, it may take a long time to access literature that are immediately needed. It may happen that computers and other related facilities remain paralyzed in absence of regular maintenance and replacements of necessary equipment.
The development of the digital library system at least involves (a) digitization (data conversion, data organization, etc.) and (b) establishment of linkages to digitized publications. Development of databases only does not mean digital library. Digitization also involves hardware and software costs, staff cost, outsourcing cost, cost of various related activities before and after digitization, such as movement of physical items, copyright clearance, creation of records, indexes, and so on. The development of a digital library system demands incurring of "large costs for the conversion of print materials into digital format, for the technical skills of staff to maintain them, and for the costs of maintaining online access (i.e. servers, bandwidth costs, etc.)." Data from the old system to the new system would also need additional costs. The initial cost (cost of hardware, software, groundstations or leasing communication circuit, etc.) is rather high. For fast access and transmit files, the system needs high bandwidth.
In the Internet environment, it is difficult to monitor and keep track of information resources used for subsequent use. Users face the problem of 'information overload', receive unwanted information, data, or resources, and provision of services may be disrupted unless access or facilities are ensured.
Like other countries,
In 1987, the Library Association
of Bangladesh organized a national seminar on library education to assess the
requirements of library education for incoming librarians who would join the
library profession in
If we read the scenario
carefully, we will notice that the modern library service that the first author
of this paper dreamed in 1987 that could be attained by 2001 has already been
attained by 1997. This indicates how fast things have changed and that our
visions remain far behind the fastness of progress in the IT sector that has
already been stepped into the library profession in
In 1993, the Library Association
of Bangladesh organized a 3-day seminar on preparing the library professionals
and libraries of
Digitization of documents,
publications, journals, newsletters, audiovisuals, government records, etc. has
already begun in
University Grants Commission of
Bangladesh and Dr. Javed I. Khan of Kent State University have recently taken
an initiative to develop a digital library system for
Although some emphasis has been given on library automation in recent years, library and in-formation science education, offered in two universities and 11 institutes, still puts strong emphasis in syllabuses and courses of studies for traditional librarianship. The emphasis on courses of studies is highly inadequate in educating students with hands-on solid experience with computers, Internet use, and web-based information resources.
The digital library environment demands the acquisition of appropriate competencies and skills by library professionals to respond to the new environment. Necessary experiences are required to respond to the need of the time that extends beyond the traditional library setting. At the same time, persons involved in higher education and research programmes are also required to intensively orient themselves with the mechanisms and techniques of accessing and retrieving their desired information and information resources from the web-based information system.
As
Courses of studies relating to library education need to be reorganized to ensure that at least 40% of the course time is spent on education relating to digital library and digitization and that all essential facilities are developed to impart appropriate skills to students. The teacher community may need to acquire necessary additional skills to prepare their students as professionals to work in the digital environment.
The fastness in the growth of the digital environment prompts us to suggest the introduction of a masters degree programme in digital library science for library professionals.
Considerations should be given to re-define the functions and objectives of libraries and also re-define the functions and objectives of library professionals.
Already-approved policies should
be re-assessed to put emphasis on the availability of digitized publications
and development of the digital library system. The printed materials already
gene-rated in
A national expert committee
representing relevant professionals may determine the steps to be taken in
developing the digital library system for
A digital library association
with interested library professionals may be formed to create aware-ness among
policy-makers, professionals, and users of information resources, including
those who need information but are located at the village level and to achieve
the goal of developing the digital library system for
Although the library world is moving towards digitization of information resources and provision of electronic-based information-support services, it is believed and likely that the future library world will be the combination of traditional library, electronic, digital or virtual library.
Our proposed definition of digital library is: A digital library is the stockpile of data, information, audiovisuals, graphics, images, and information resources organized electronically, either at an individual initiative or in combination of efforts, with provision of information services by eliminating cost, time, space and language barriers, developed for the benefit of humanity.
Preparation of this paper was supported by ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Re-search and its donors which provide unrestricted support to the Centre for its operations and research. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the donors for their support and commitment to the Centre's research efforts. Opinions expressed in this paper are of those of the authors.
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AGORA (http://www.aginternetwork.org/en): AGORA (Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture) provides access to over 600 journals from major scientific publishers in the fields of food, agriculture, environmental science, and related social sciences.
Bioline International (http://www.bioline.org.br/): The site includes journals on the following subjects: health (tropical medicine, infectious diseases, epidemiology, emerging new diseases), biodiversity, the environment, conservation, and international development..
BioMed Central (http://www.biomedcentral.com/: BioMed Central publishes more than 50 online journals covering the whole of biology and medicine.
BioMedNet (http://journals.bmn.com/): BioMedNet contains over 170 biological and medical journals, with abstracts and some articles available free.
BMJ journals (http://www.bmjjournals.com): The site contains full-text access to 29 journals published by the BMJ Publishing Group.
(http://www.uncw.edu/cte/et/distance_learning_sites.htm)
CyberDewey (www.anthus.com/CyberDewey/CyberDewey.html): David Mundie started it 1995 in organizing Internet information resources using DDC.
CyberStacks (www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS): It is a centralized, integrated and unified collection of selected digital resources categorized using the Library of Congress Classification Scheme.
Development Gateway (http://www.developmentgateway.org): Information on publications is disseminated regularly through email, but some one has to register before getting the service.
Digital Library
of
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Higher Education Online (http://www.uncw.edu/cte/et/HE Online)
(http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/devecon.dtl): The site contains links to free access journals published online by HighWire Press including titles from the BMJ. Access is for all countries that appear in the World Bank's list of "low income economies".
(http://dir.yahoo.com/health/medicine/journals/): The site contains articles from over 4,600 Medline journals and free full text articles from 361 HighWire-hosted journals. http://highwire.stanford.edu/
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How to write a PhD thesis (http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/thesis.html)
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INASP: Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information (PERI)
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Indian MEDLARS Centre (IMC) (htttp://indmed.nic.in): A full-text database of peer-reviewed Indian biomedical journals from 2000 onwards can be accessed through this site.
(http://www.sciencekomm.at/journals/medicine/med-bio.html): This is an alphabetical list of links to journal home pages. It includes general medical journals (e.g. JAMA, BMJ, NEJM), nursing journals and books on medical writing.
Medical journals and books (http://www.gfmer.ch/Medical_journals/Free_medical.php)
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Online dictionaries, thesauri, and cyberpedias (http://www.uncw.edu/cte/et/Diction)
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Online acronym Finder (www.acronymfinder.com/)
Open access medical journals (http://www.inasp.info/health/links/ejrlsdir.html)
Popline
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Ptolemy Project
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PubMed Central: An archive of life science journals (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/): This digital archive provides free and unrestricted access to full-text journal articles.
Science Direct (http://www.sciencedirect.com)
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Yahoo: health/medical journals (http://dir.yahoo.com/health/medicine/journals/): Yahoo provides an alphabetical, keyword and subject index with links to full-text journal articles and abstracts.