E-resources: To the Perspective of Library

Neelam Markande¹, Santu Ram Kashyap²

¹MLIS, UGC – NET (NFSC)

²SoS in Library & Information Science, PT. Ravishankar Shukla University,Raipur (C.G.), India

Abstract: This paper aim to determine the needs, types, advantages, disadvantages and effect of e-resources to the libraries’-resources has led to tremendous change in the way libraries function and offer services to their users.  This paper will provide the information about how e-resources promote the use of library and solve many problems faced by researcher and other library users. The basic objective of this paper is to inform all aspects of E-resources.

Keywords: e- resources, Print resources, Types & Characteristics of e- resources, Need of e-resources. Advantages and Disadvantages of e – resources. Publishers and websites. e – Resources and library.

Introduction 

The advent of technology has led to prodigious use of e-resources. Which has rapidly change the pattern of library housekeeping operations and also changed the way of information dissemination. Increasing technology has almost ended the trend of print resources and started the trend of digital resources / e-resources.

E-resources not only help in overcompensate the geographical limitation but also eliminates the time boundation which has a profound effect on academic life. E-resources consist of databases, articles, thesis, dissertation, e-books, e-journals, e-newspaper, CD-ROMs which is best alternative of print media.

The main aim of using electronic resources is to promote the library use and solve the problems faced by library user such as Students, teachers and research scholars.

What is E- Resources?

An e-resource is information resource that requires electronic media to access its content. e -resources refer to all the products that a library provides through a network whether it is provided online or offline. Example CD ROM, e-books, e-newspaper, bibliographic data-bases and digital collection of data etc.

Objectives

The objectives of this study are as follows.

1.     To know the needs of E- Resources.

2.     To study Types and Characteristics of E- Resources.

3.     To know advantages and disadvantages of E- Resources.

4.     To know the publishers and its website of E- Resources.

5.     To know the similarities and difference between Print and E- Resources.

6.     To study about E- Resource and library.

Review of Literature

Kenchakkanavar Anand Y. (2014). evaluated the types of e- resources and its utilities in library. In his study he focuses on several aspects of e- resources. He also explained the use of e- resources on libraries, its development in present year. The use of e- resources in library for saving the time of user and enriching the library growth.

Khairnar, jitendra M. and Malavi Uttam (2018). In his study, E – Resources: needs, types, forms and utility. They discussed in this study what is e – resources? Its needs, types, utility and how to retrieve e – resources.

Kavithanjali J.(2019). studied E–Resources: Their importance, types, issues and challenges: An analysis. In his study he found that e-resources are very important and familiar among the peoples of different fields. He also found that the e- resources are convenient and reachable to every person from anywhere.

Moruwawon, Olabisi Iyabode (2020). Studied e-resources as strategies for enhancing effective library services in academic libraries. The study focuses on e-resources that applied on enhancing library growth at present age. e- resources are growing with the advent of digital libraries in present era. The result concluded that e-resources enhancing the library service and user for getting information on electronic formats.

Types of E – Resources available in library

1.     E books: printed books in electronic forms consisting of text, image, or both which require electronic devices to read it electronic devices like computer, laptop or handheld device. E-books is available in both forms free and subscription. It depends on the publisher how he wants to publish the e-book. There are so many free e-book websites like LibriVox, BookBub, project Gutenberg, open library, kindle book, library genesis etc.

2.     E- journals:  Periodical publication in electronic forms publishes on internet with certain frequency. There are different types of e-journals available on internet like free access, exclusive subscription, selective access and consortium access. There are so many free e-journals websites like PLOS, biomed central, Penzu, Directory of open access journals (DOAJ), Science Direct etc.

3.     E-newspaper: Electronic form of newspaper or online version of printed newspapers access through internet. Multiple people can use it at the same time. National free e-newspaper are Amar Ujala, Asian Age, Dainik Bhaskar, Dina Tanthi, Financial Express, The Indian Express, The Times of India etc. International free e-newspapers are USA today, The guardian, The New York Times, Daily mail etc.

4.     E-thesis: Thesis or dissertation in electronic formats one-stop solution for researchers. It is online version of print thesis. Free e-thesis websites are ProQuest, Google Scholar, Shodhganga, etc.

5.     Indexing and abstracting database: Provides abstracts of subject or group of related subjects it is a summary of document. Indexing is the process of describing information in terms of their subject contents. Indexing and abstracting act as reference sources. There are so many Indexing and Abstracting database like Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed etc.

6.     E-standards: rules, written definition, benchmark, approved by higher authoritative.

7.     E-patent: patent is a statutory right granted by governments to their citizen. This is a legal right by which you can protect your intellectual property.

Characteristics of E - Resources

1.     Easy to access: e-resources are easy to access from anywhere anytime without geographical barrier or time boundation.

2.     Fast retrieval: e-resources is easy and fast to recover it can retrieve old and large database in micro seconds.

3.     Promote multiple access:  e-resources serve many of its users at a time, it can be used by many people simultaneously.

4.     Environment friendly: like trees are used in print documents, no environmental factor is used in electronic resources.

5.     Up-to-date information: it is very easy to keep the database up-to-date in electronic resources; you can update the information in a very short time.

6.     Easily transferable: e-resources are easy to transferable and downloadable from one device to other.

7.     Deep study: electronic resources provide world wide access which helps in deep study. With the help of electronic resources international resources can also be used from home or from anywhere.

8.     Save space: electronic resources save library space, they can keep millions of files in single folder.

Needs of E – Resources

1.     Knowledge is increasing day by day, in such a situation it has become impossible to get particular information, and e-resources are effective in giving particular information in less time and money.

2.     For updating of knowledge e - resources help in doing which is not possible to do with print media.

3.     The pattern of retrieving information has also changed due to advancement of technology. Now information can be retrieve anywhere without geographical limitation.

4.     E-resources save the time of users, they provide service to many users at a time.

5.     Due to having such a large database, it gives a wide variety of information to do deep research.

6.     It is very easy to retrieve the huge collection of data in digital media. There is no fear of misplace or loss of data in e-resources whereas there is in print media.

Advantages  of E – Resources

1.     The library is designed to provide more service in less time e-resources database can handle multiple users simultaneously.

2.     E-resources are so easy to transfer and download that the user can use it even form their comfort zone.

3.     If the user is not satisfied with available information in any discipline, he can go deeper and study further.

4.     We can provide different services with the help of e-resource like current awareness service, selective dissemination of information service.

5.     E-resources reduce the burden of storage of electronic repository for library staff and reduce storage space.

Disadvantages  of E – Resources

1.     It is very difficult for different groups of people (like old persons or young child etc.) To read from a computer screens it cause eyestrain and screen glare.

2.     Electronic media is only limited to those who have a computer or any electronic media and those who do not have a computer cannot access electronic media.

3.     There is such a huge database of electronic media that it is difficult to find particular information on time.

4.     Power is needed to use electronic media, electronic media cannot be used without electricity.

5.     If there is any problem or virus in the system then there is a risk of deleting the entire database.

Publishers and websites of E – Resources

Similarities and differences between Print and E – Resources

E – Resources and library

Electronic media is a modern approach adopted by the library. The first and most important function of the library is to serve its users. According to Ranganathan’s 4^th law, “save the time of the reader.” The time of the readers is very valuable. To save the time of users, electronic media is used in the library to provide the best possible service to the users.  To further improve the service of the library, it has very important to use electronic media.

Effect of electronic media on libraries

1.     With the help of electronic resources we can access the library on any devices anytime, anywhere without barriers.

2.     If the user does not know anything about electronic media, then he/she can study more deeply in his subject with the help of a librarian.

3.     Electronic media also overcome the geographic barrier called library without wall.

4.     Library users always need updated and latest information, with the help of electronic resources; it is possible to provide fast, latest and current information to library patrons.

5.     Help to break out the limitations of physical proximity to use library resource.

6.     Economically poor people can also access electronic resources at public library.

7.     Electronic media provide different option for search like keyword search, title search, subject wise search, editor search etc.

8.     With the help of electronic resources library cover all type of education –formal, informal, non-formal distance, vocational education etc.

Conclusion

The advances in technology have changed the traditional way of seeking information for library users. E-resources is advance and modern technology which is more convenient than print resources for information exchange. In this modern time, everyone is in a hurry, in such a situation e-resources is the best technology for those who want to get information quickly.

Bibliography

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4.     Kumari, Praween (2015). Procurement, management and use of e – resources in current library trends : common issues. International journal of Digital library services. 5 (2). 150 – 159.

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