JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION AND AUTOMATION SCENARIO OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LIBRARY IN THE AGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: A CASE STUDY OF ADESH INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY, FARIDKOT, PUNJAB
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MR.PRITHVI SINGH BAMNIA, PROF.C.K.SHARMA, INDERJEET SINGH
1
Research Scholar, Shri Jagdish Prasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala
University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan
Librarian, Sant Longowal Institute of Engg.And Technology (Deemed University Estd. By Govt. Of India), Longowal, Punjab
2
Professor and Head, Department Of Library And Information Science,
Teerathankar Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
3
Librarian, Adesh Institute of Engg. And Technology, Faridkot, Punjab
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ABSTRACT : In this age of IT, users want information irrespective of format, time and location of document. Therefore, IT application to Libraries is indispensable to meet the requirements of information seekers effectively and efficiently. The paper describes the profile of the Institute and its Library. It also discusses how Institute Library is improving its traditional services as well as acquiring new technologies to cope with the present IT era. Future plans of Library regarding collection development and reader services have also been discussed.Key words-- Library automation; Library survey; Library Science; Engineering college library
ISSN: 0975 –6701| NOV 11 TO OCT 12 | Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 90
JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
I: INTODUCTION
Today’s era of IT has influenced all walks of life and libraries are not far away in application of IT in its functions, services and structure. Factors such as information explosion and availability of information resources in machine readable form etc. have forced institute library to automate its functioning and readers services.. Computers have also offered new dimensions among libraries like networking of libraries for sharing and exchange of bibliographical, reference & full text resources. Due to growth of machine readable databases and exploitation of existing resources, libraries are being automated rapidly. It is necessary and also the need of the hour to automate institute libraries in this present environment of electronic information. Electronic publishing activities of reputed publishers have also attracted the library professionals to transform their services from traditional to modern to exploit their resources.
Information means processed data or data with meaning and technology means application of science. Hence IT is applied science dealing with collection, storage, organization, processing and movement of information. Today, it has become easier to send data over the network from one place to another, because more of the networks are now based on the use of digital equipment and signals. Fiber optics cables are replacing the old wires and these wires are transmitting digital information at a very fast speed.
II: THE INSTITUTE
Adesh Institute of Engineering and Technology (AIET) , spread over 60 acres of land, was established in 1996 to provide technical education in emerging areas of Engineering & Technology. It caters to the technical manpower requirements at various level by adopting a new concept of modular system in imparting technical education with emphasis on practical training in industry. The Institute has started M. Tech. Courses from the academic year 2008-2009. It is approved by AICTE and affiliated with Punjab University, Jallandhar. AIET is a self supported, self financed and privately managed institute. This institute is offering 5 Degree programmers and 5 PG courses in various branches of engineering and technology as shown below :-
A. Degree Courses
1. B.Tech. Electronics and Communication Engg.
2. B.Tech. Computer Science and Engg.
3. B.Tech. Information Technology
4. B.Tech. Electrical Engg.
5. B.Tech. Civil Engg.
B. Post Graduate Programmes
1. M.B.A.
2. M.Tech. (Electronics and Communication Engg.)
3. M.Tech. (Computer Science and Engg.)
4. M.Tech. ( Information Technology)
5. M.Tech. (Electrical Engg.)
III: INSTITUTE LLIBRARY
Library of Adesh Institute of Engineering and Technology (AIET) came into existence with the inception of the Institute in 1996.Library of the Institute is one of the rapidly growing Libraries in Punjab. Beside Institute Library as central facility 3 departmental libraries form the part of Institute Library System. At present, Institute Library is housed in a single storey modern building with 800 sq. meter floor area and having good sitting arrangements for readers.This library is equipped with a collection of 28520 books, 1500 print journals, 1800 CDs and 500 audio cassettes. Beside this, it is subscribing to 110 National /International print journals. In addition to print journals, online journals like IEEE’s IEL,J.Gate ,Elsevier’s Science Direct,Emrald,ASTM Digital Library,ASCE ,McGraw-Hill e-resources etc.have also been subscribed
a) Budget allocation
Budget allocated to library during various financial years is shown in table-1 below:-
Table 1: Budget Allocation in Library
Financial Year / Budget allocation(Rs.)2008-2009 / 15.00 Lac
2009-2010 / 14.3 Lac
2010-2011 / 16.2 Lac
2011-2012 / 18.5 Lac
2012-2013 / 20.00Lac
b) Membership and Loan Entitlement
Membership is open to all students, teaching & non-teaching staff of the Institute. Total membership of library is 1895 . Lending services to different categories of users are shown in table-2 below:-
Table 2:Loan Entitlements
A. Student Category / Entitlement / DurationPG Students / 5 books / 15 days
Degree Students / 4 books / 15 days
B. Staff Category
Teaching Faculty / 10 books / 6 months
Non-teaching Faculty / --do-- / --do--
Non Technical and Technical Staff Staff / 5 books / 15 days
Facility of overnight issue of Reference books is being availed by library users.On an average 450 users are visiting the library per day and 150 books are issued/returned per day.Central Library remains open whole year except public holidays from 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
c) Manpower Resources
Library has sufficient number of staff to cater to the informational needs of clientele. Library Staff strength and their qualifications are given in table- 3 below:-
Table 3: Staff Strength and Qualifications
Designation / No. of staff Member(s) / QualificationsLibrarian / 1 / M.A.;M.Lib.Sc.;M.Phil.(LIS)
Asstt.Librarian / 1 / M.Lib.Sc.
Library Asstt. / 1 / Diploma in Lib.Sc.
Restorer / 2 / 10+2
Library Attendant / 1 / Matriculate
d) Readers’ Services
Library is offering various readers’ services as enumerated in table 4 below:-
Table 4: Readers’ Services
Sr.No. / Name of Service1. / Orientation Service/Programme
2. / Photocopy
3. / Lending of Documents
4. / Online access of full text articles
5. / Press clipping
6. / DDS
7. / CAS(Computerised)
8. / SDI(Computerised)
9. / Web Opac
e) IT Application
Library has following IT infrastructure shown in table-5 below:-
Table 5: Hardware and Software Infrastructure
Sr.No. / Hardware / Software1. / 15 computers / Libsys
2. / 3 Printers / Windows 7 Professional
3. / ------ / Windows NT,WindowsXP
Three computers for housekeeping activities of library and twelve for computer section to access e-resources have been provided in Library. Library is member of DELNET and library users are surfing its databases for their higher study and research work.Library is in the quest of excellence for its user community and it has introduced many quality services
1. Library Automation
Automation of Library was started with the purchase of Libtech Software in 2004 and at that time database of 4000 books was developed by using this software. Presently Libsys software package is in operation for automation work. All books have been bar coded. And housekeeping activities have been made fully computerised.
2. New Developments and Future Plans
Smart card system has been implemented in the institute which is used as Browne system of issue and return of document in library. It has been planned to purchase e-books during the financial year 2012-2013. An amount worth Rs.20 Lac has been earmarked for collection development during this current financial year. Also
ISSN: 0975 –6701| NOV 11 TO OCT 12 | Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 90
JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
library is planning to launch document reservation service in near future.
IV: CONCLUSION
This era of rapid technological advancement is very big challenge before college or Institute libraries because these libraries have various hurdles like lack of adequate finance, trained manpower, technical unawareness, users education, and, traditional attitude of library staff towards automation of library etc. . But technical college or institute libraries are moving ahead by refreshing staff skills, changing attitude of staff or by exploring information seeking behaviour of user community and changing attitude of management. Although it is very difficult to convert old traditional library into automated, digital or electronic information centre. But AIET library is struggling to achieve in this direction and there is no doubt that, in future, this institute library will be a information disseminating centre in true sense.
REFERENCES
[1] “IT Application and Automation Scenario of University Library in the Era of Globalization: A Study of Maharishi Dayanand University Library, Rohtak (Haryana)”, “ SIS -2003”, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee , April 9-11, [2003].
[2] “Digital Library and Digitisation: Some Challenges”, “ SIS -2003” ,Indian Institute of Technology,Roorkee,April 9-11,[ 2003].
[3] Wilson Barbara, ‘‘Information Technology: The Basics’’, 2nd Revised Edition, Thomson,[2002].
[4] Singh,Prithvi, “Use of Information and Communication Technology in Library Services: A Comparative Study”, Journal ofInformation Technology and Management
Research, Vol 3 July-December,[2011].
[5] http://www.aiet.in/ accessed on 28 December, [2012].
ISSN: 0975 –6701| NOV 11 TO OCT 12 | Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 90