Open Access to Textual and Multimedia Content: Bridging the Digital Divide [2009]

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https://ir7.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/1944/1455

Jointly Organised by INFLIBNET Centre and CEC

29th - 30th January, 2009

Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003

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Browsing Open Access to Textual and Multimedia Content: Bridging the Digital Divide [2009] by Author "Arora, Jagdish"

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    Digital Preservation: An Overview*
    (2009-01-29) Arora, Jagdish
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    Information and Communication Technology in Academic Libraries
    (INFLIBNET Centre, 2009-01-29) Arora, Jagdish
    Information technology refers to mosaic of technologies, products and techniques combined to provide new electronic dimensions to information and retrieval activities. The term information technology represents convergence of three strands of technologies, namely computer, microelectronics and communications. It is used to describe products and services that came-up with rapid changes in computer and communication technologies and their fusion. The libraries and information centres have always been quick to find applications of new information technologies in their libraries. Today’s modern libraries perform most of their functions using software packages that are now available off-the-shelf. It has their catalogues available on the Internet with a web-based search interface along with links to resources either acquired through external agencies or created in-house. Most such libraries are on the Campus network with CD ROM networks put-in place to serve the information requirement of their academic community. Several libraries have taken-up small-scale digitisation projects for part of their collection. The librarians and information professionals are required to develop skills that are required to use, develop and maintain IT-based services and products used by today’s libraries. Rapid changes in information technologies and their adoption in libraries during past three decades have drastically changed the functions and activities of information professionals in libraries. The article deals with new information technologies, their applications in libraries and their products and services. It describes webbased library services that are modified versions of existing services and technology-driven new web-based library services.
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    Library 2.0 : Innovative Technologies for Building Libraries of Tomorrow*
    (INFLIBNET Centre, 2009-01-29) Arora, Jagdish
    The concept of Library 2.0 is borrowed from that of Web 2.0 and Business 2.0 and follows some of the same underlying philosophies. Library 2.0 encompasses a range of new and contemporary technological tools and techniques that are used for evolving collaborative environment required for Library 2.0. These tools and techniques can broadly be grouped into five categories, i.e. i) Synchronous Communication: Instant messaging; ii) Content Delivery: RSS Feed, HTML Feed, Streaming Media, Podcasting, Vodcasting and SMS Enquiry Services; iii) Collaborative Publishing Tools: Blogs and Wikis; iv) Collaborative Service Platforms: Social Networks, Tagging, Social Bookmarking Services; and v) Hybrid Applications, Programs and Programming Tools: Mashups, AJAX, API and Toolbar. These tools and techniques are useful for libraries in providing new services and making existing services available in new and interesting ways. Implementation of some of these tools and techniques are likely to improve reputation and standing of libraries in the community. Some of them may successfully attract new patrons to the library, others may help to retain existing members or make libraries even more important as centres of the culture and history of their cities and academic institutions. Some of the new services may remain unused, however, since feedback and public opinion is a vital component of Library 2.0, such services may be abandoned in favour of other services that are better accepted by the users. Some of those changes may be viewed as disruptive, while others may not be feasible or applicable to all libraries. These new services and ongoing changes are likely to make libraries more interesting, more relevant, and better acceptable place.Library 2.0 proposes to bring revolutionary changes in libraries that are bound to bring about conceptual, cultural and physical changes in libraries to keep pace with the changes in communities and their information seeking behaviour. Applications of Web 2.0 technologies in libraries will result in a meaningful and substantive change in libraries, its collection, services and methods of delivery of services. The library’s collection will change, becoming more interactive and fully accessible. The library’s services will change, focusing more on the facilitation of information transfer and information literacy rather than providing controlled access to it. The implications of these revolutionary technologies are enormous and are discussed in the paper.

Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) and the Information Library Network (INFLIBNET) the two Inter-University Centres (IUC's) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) were set up with common facilities as IUC's equipped with infrastructure for research and academic activity in the universities of higher education in the country considering the fact that heavy investment on infrastructure and other cost-intensive central facilities may be beyond the reach of individual institutions. CEC and the INFLIBNET Centre of UGC provide information support for education and research in colleges and universities through their services and facilities. While CEC concentrates on creation and dissemination of multimedia-based learning resources, the INFLIBNET specialises in textual-based information retrieval services through its union databases and by facilitating access to full-text and bibliographic e-resources through consortium arrangements. Both the organizations make intensive use of Internet, Web and other communication technology to develop and disseminate their services. While both the institutions work primarily for the same goal, albeit separately, there is a lot of scope for the them to cooperate, coordinate and collaborate in the process of creation, development and dissemination their resources and services. The Internet and Web technology offer virtual environment that facilitate collaboration, hitherto, not possible in the traditional communication system. There is, therefore, an opportunity to examine and evaluate the activities, services and functionalities of the two institutions, identify gaps in resources, services and infrastructure and flag potential areas of coordination and collaboration. The two organizations may also redefine their roles in changing scenario and identify modalities to work in tandem with inputs from their users and experts in Media, Communication and Library Information Science.