Internet applications for library and information services
Monday, 10 December 2007
AIM Jakaria Rahman
THE internet is not based upon a single location nor it is a centrally managed network. The internet is an international computer network encompassing thousands of smaller interconnected networks. This offers breadth, flexibility, world scale interconnectivity and a self-expanding system that will grow with the efforts of all who contribute to it. Access to the Internet from any point generally means access to all the computer servers and information sources that are a part of Internet. Most users will connect temporarily to the system through linkages to "server" computers.
Much of the content of the Internet has been built by government, university, library, non-profit and volunteer resources who have recognised that information needs to be widely distributed and made accessible. For most supporters of Internet, that has meant that costs of information are recovered during its development. Free access removes an important barrier to the use of information.
Even commercial sites on Internet have recognized the tradition by making no-cost contributions to the system. But increasingly, password protected information is developing. Access to these sites requires paying a fee. It may be argued that this form of financing is required for substantial, sustained and reliable information. But the weight of the evidence is that valuable information and communication on internet will depend primarily upon the goodwill of organisations committed to building an open information platform. The synergy of collective action will rapidly expand the scope of information.
In addition to printed library materials, which are still in heavy demand, libraries are offering a growing collection of digital information and digital publications. Libraries have been working hard to find ways to offer printed and electronic materials in an integrated form. Usually the library's web site is the access point to the library's products and services. Through internet users can be beneficiary of the following aspects like OPAC (On-line Public Access Catalogue), journal contents databases, electronic journals in full text, electronic full text publications, electronic dissertations, electronic document delivery services, multimedia products, collections of links, knowledge portals, virtual special libraries and more electronic services.
Librarians use many internet communications and service utilities. They use e-mail to communicate with colleagues and customers. They participate in electronic discussion groups, share experiences and ideas with other librarians, and create and monitor discussion groups of interest to their customers. They use Telnet to connect to remote computer resources. They explore other library catalogues, access commercial and non-commercial database services, and share the resources of campus-wide information systems and community Free-Nets. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) enables librarians to obtain software programs, text, images, and sounds files from the net and then offer them to their customers.
Librarians and information professionals contribute to the internet community by making library catalogues and local databases available on the network; creating sites that offer logical, well organized and menu-driven access to services and resources on the Internet, and establishing world wide web servers that provide graphical user interfaces for browsing the resources of the Internet.
Internet services and resources influence library services. Libraries frequently take the lead by introducing the Internet to user communities in, and often provide training and access for customers as budgets allow. The electronic forums facilitate information exchanges among librarians from all over the world. Librarians now keep up with advances, challenges, and issues without having to attend expensive conferences or subscribing to multiple library journals.
Libraries now have customers from all over the world. Internet accessible library catalogues assists research endeavours, provide interlibrary loan verifications, and offer a myriad of reference materials that enhance local library collections. There has been a rapid growth in fee-based document delivery services that use the network to order and/or transfer documents to libraries and often to end users, bypassing libraries completely.
Major bibliographic utilities are experimenting with the use of real time bibliographic transactions over the network, while already supporting batch mode transactions. Government information can be distributed over the network to libraries allowing unparalleled opportunities for libraries to inform communities and constituents about government issues.
Academic libraries are on the leading edge of internet developments because of the information resources they provide for research. Distance education degrees and library catalogues available on the internet provide a global customer base for academic libraries. Academic libraries often distribute academic authors' unpublished documents via the internet allowing subject experts to be direct sources of information for the user. The roles and responsibilities of librarians, the library, and campus computing services, campus administration, publishers, and vendors need redefinition in a networked environment.
The public library community has been slow to connect to the internet. Public libraries serving large communities, however, are more likely to have an internet connection than those serving smaller communities. The cost of connectivity is the main barrier to a public library presence on the internet. Staff support, expertise, and training are other issues that need resolution to ensure internet access for public libraries and their customers.
Librarians need to have a stake in the development of policies and roles as their communities adopt internet technologies. They need to take an active role during formulation of national policy and legislation to ensure that libraries receive adequate funding to be major players. Internet connectivity does not guarantee equitable access to the internet. Librarians as a profession need to become internet literate and in turn need to provide programs and facilities so their customers will become internet literate.
The services and resources of the internet need to be created and organised by librarians. A catalogue of network services and resources is essential for efficient use of the internet. Library administrators need to include staff training and practice time in any budget for internet connectivity. They need to take an active role in new legislation being proposed concerning intellectual property and copyright in an electronic environment. They need to have significant influence on the evolution of internet services and need to be prepared to share their ideas with administrators and project planners.
The writer is a library professional and may be reached at jakaria@gmail.com
THE internet is not based upon a single location nor it is a centrally managed network. The internet is an international computer network encompassing thousands of smaller interconnected networks. This offers breadth, flexibility, world scale interconnectivity and a self-expanding system that will grow with the efforts of all who contribute to it. Access to the Internet from any point generally means access to all the computer servers and information sources that are a part of Internet. Most users will connect temporarily to the system through linkages to "server" computers.
Much of the content of the Internet has been built by government, university, library, non-profit and volunteer resources who have recognised that information needs to be widely distributed and made accessible. For most supporters of Internet, that has meant that costs of information are recovered during its development. Free access removes an important barrier to the use of information.
Even commercial sites on Internet have recognized the tradition by making no-cost contributions to the system. But increasingly, password protected information is developing. Access to these sites requires paying a fee. It may be argued that this form of financing is required for substantial, sustained and reliable information. But the weight of the evidence is that valuable information and communication on internet will depend primarily upon the goodwill of organisations committed to building an open information platform. The synergy of collective action will rapidly expand the scope of information.
In addition to printed library materials, which are still in heavy demand, libraries are offering a growing collection of digital information and digital publications. Libraries have been working hard to find ways to offer printed and electronic materials in an integrated form. Usually the library's web site is the access point to the library's products and services. Through internet users can be beneficiary of the following aspects like OPAC (On-line Public Access Catalogue), journal contents databases, electronic journals in full text, electronic full text publications, electronic dissertations, electronic document delivery services, multimedia products, collections of links, knowledge portals, virtual special libraries and more electronic services.
Librarians use many internet communications and service utilities. They use e-mail to communicate with colleagues and customers. They participate in electronic discussion groups, share experiences and ideas with other librarians, and create and monitor discussion groups of interest to their customers. They use Telnet to connect to remote computer resources. They explore other library catalogues, access commercial and non-commercial database services, and share the resources of campus-wide information systems and community Free-Nets. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) enables librarians to obtain software programs, text, images, and sounds files from the net and then offer them to their customers.
Librarians and information professionals contribute to the internet community by making library catalogues and local databases available on the network; creating sites that offer logical, well organized and menu-driven access to services and resources on the Internet, and establishing world wide web servers that provide graphical user interfaces for browsing the resources of the Internet.
Internet services and resources influence library services. Libraries frequently take the lead by introducing the Internet to user communities in, and often provide training and access for customers as budgets allow. The electronic forums facilitate information exchanges among librarians from all over the world. Librarians now keep up with advances, challenges, and issues without having to attend expensive conferences or subscribing to multiple library journals.
Libraries now have customers from all over the world. Internet accessible library catalogues assists research endeavours, provide interlibrary loan verifications, and offer a myriad of reference materials that enhance local library collections. There has been a rapid growth in fee-based document delivery services that use the network to order and/or transfer documents to libraries and often to end users, bypassing libraries completely.
Major bibliographic utilities are experimenting with the use of real time bibliographic transactions over the network, while already supporting batch mode transactions. Government information can be distributed over the network to libraries allowing unparalleled opportunities for libraries to inform communities and constituents about government issues.
Academic libraries are on the leading edge of internet developments because of the information resources they provide for research. Distance education degrees and library catalogues available on the internet provide a global customer base for academic libraries. Academic libraries often distribute academic authors' unpublished documents via the internet allowing subject experts to be direct sources of information for the user. The roles and responsibilities of librarians, the library, and campus computing services, campus administration, publishers, and vendors need redefinition in a networked environment.
The public library community has been slow to connect to the internet. Public libraries serving large communities, however, are more likely to have an internet connection than those serving smaller communities. The cost of connectivity is the main barrier to a public library presence on the internet. Staff support, expertise, and training are other issues that need resolution to ensure internet access for public libraries and their customers.
Librarians need to have a stake in the development of policies and roles as their communities adopt internet technologies. They need to take an active role during formulation of national policy and legislation to ensure that libraries receive adequate funding to be major players. Internet connectivity does not guarantee equitable access to the internet. Librarians as a profession need to become internet literate and in turn need to provide programs and facilities so their customers will become internet literate.
The services and resources of the internet need to be created and organised by librarians. A catalogue of network services and resources is essential for efficient use of the internet. Library administrators need to include staff training and practice time in any budget for internet connectivity. They need to take an active role in new legislation being proposed concerning intellectual property and copyright in an electronic environment. They need to have significant influence on the evolution of internet services and need to be prepared to share their ideas with administrators and project planners.
The writer is a library professional and may be reached at jakaria@gmail.com