Chapter – 6

Conclusion

6.Conclusion

With the continuous growth in higher education, especially in the field of science and technology, the expansion in various disciplines, new innovation in the subject areas, evolution of new subjects, inter-disciplinary subjects and multi-disciplinary subjects have been noticed which resulted simultaneous growth in serials publications. Serials constitute the updated and in-depth information having strong potentiality in higher studies and research and thus the increasing demand for serials from the academic communities have created substantial challenge to libraries attached to the institutes of higher learning and technical education. It is extremely important for the leading libraries of the country, like IIT libraries, to make best efforts to enrich the libraries with collection development of serials or increase in the access range of serials resources. It is also very essential to adopt best practices of serials management and provide value added service to the intellectual users to boost up their knowledge base and to achieve best academic performance which will lead to the growth and development of the country in the entire sphere.

Automation has been treated as the most essential ingredients in all the processing activities of the leading academic, special or research libraries since late 1990’s in India. Despite this, automation of serials control process perhapsthe last module developed in most of the library management systems and implemented in the respective libraries. The possible combined factors are the difficulties of processing, complexities or serials format, frequency, subscription, processing and other relevant activates.

Regarding selection of new system for automation or migration to a new system, some important points are necessary to be considered seriously. They are – (i) focus on the institutional context, (ii) choosing long-term facilities over short term benefits, and (iii) involvement of concerned officers and staffs to pin point the specific requirements and so on.

Before selecting a new library management system for first time automation or migration to a new system, it is worthwhile to identify the total steps of work in each unit of the library and then to cross check each with the features and coverage of the available commercial systems in the market or submit the requirements of the library to the system designer/ programmer to develop a conducive library management system. General wisdom concerning the expected life span of a computerized library system is that the system should be replaced after four to seven years. But in most cases, the ideal life cycle for systems is extended for budgetary constrains or lack of proper evaluation / initiative for years beyond the recommended time. The computing world is always in a state of change which applies to infrastructure and overall system design for libraries to make the processing work more systematic and to provide efficient services to the users. This change or up-gradation seem to be occurring at a more rapid pace from the end of 20thcentury. Moreover, with the development of new international standards, advent of information technology, transition to the new format of publication and increasing expectations of library users constrained, the libraries twill have to undertake a time-honoured review of the existing system Thus, the library procuring a new library management system should take care of the long term benefits and accordingly sign a memorandum of understanding with the software vendor incorporating continuous updating and upgrading provisions.

From the above study, it may be concluded that the IIT libraries who came in to existence in the middle of 20th century and implemented automation in late 1980s accepted mostly developed software for automated serials control. At the initial stage, they only tried to mechanize minimum routine activities of serials control with the help of the systems. After gaining confidence on computerized system , the libraries decided to move forward to adopt a system which can support the total system process chain. Libraries attached to the IITs at Kharagpur, Delhi and Guwahati implemented new library management system at the end of 20th century and the libraries in other IITs at Madras, Bombay and Kanpur at the being of 21st century but the library at IIT Roorkee is traditionally proceeding with the same library management system. A long time has elapsed, the Central Libraries except IIT Madras are continuing with the same system with backdated features which needs through evaluation based on the outcome of the study.

6.1Major Findings

The major findings in course of the research are presented below :

  • The independent India inherited a system of higher education which was started from 3rd century. Different Higher Education Commissions were appointed from time to time to have strategic planning based on valuable suggestions/ recommendations to improve as well as stream line the higher education system in the country.
  • To compete in the trend of globalization, the requirement of highly trained professional were felt. The quality and standardized higher vis-à-vis technical education used to play a dominating role to build up the potentials capable to fulfill the requirements of the country in the present era.
  • The IITs, the premier institutions of India, are recognized all over the world as centres of excellence in higher learning in the field of science and technology. The Central Library of IITs, with their impressive collection of print and on-line resources are dedicated to enrich the knowledge base for assisting the academic communities of the institutes to achieve excellence in academic, research and development activities.
  • Among the various sources of information and knowledge, the serials constitute the single most important vehicle for scholarly resources to the students, research scholars, scientists and faculty members. Central Library of IITs recognize the importance of serials to the educational and research programs of the institutions.
  • As all the categories of users in IIT libraries, like students (UG & PG), research scholars and faculty members, are using serials to gain knowledge in their respective field of study and research or subject of interest and thus,a substantial and growing financial commitments from library in respect to serials collection entail.
  • With the growing needs and demands of the users, the growth in collection development of serials in all the IIT libraries has been noticed. In light of serials price escalation, change in publication format from print to on-line, new options of subscription packages for serials in print / on-line/ both print and on-line formats, consortia purchase etc, the IIT libraries are committed to explore the suitable alternatives which are appropriate as well as economical to arrange adequate supply of serials resources to provide maximum support in education and research of the institutions.
  • The collection development of serials in IIT libraries comprises of print, on-line and both (print and on-line) formats. Increasing trend in print subscription was noticed in all the IITs till 2006-07 but the trend in transition to on-line and rapid increase in the access to on-line serials (through subscription and INDEST resources) resulted curtailment in the subscription of print titles in the subsequent years.
  • Increasing trends in usage of serials in all the IITs are noticed from the usage statistics generated from publishers’ site. With the rapid increase in the subscription or access to serials, the research performance are improving as well as increasing in all the IITs which leads to increase in research publication.
  • To deal with the huge number of serials, standard automated serials control system is very much essential to manage all the functions of serials control processes. The serial control activities of all the IIT libraries are automated with different library management system but the functional features of all the library systems are not capable to support the total serials control process chain being followed in the Central Library of IITs.

6.2Testing of Hypotheses

Hypothesis 1

The hypothesis that “ IIT Libraries utilize lion’s share of the library budget for the subscription of serials because the major portion of the users from all the categories -students (UG & PG), Research Scholars and faculty members, use serials,the vital source of scholarly resources, for their education and research in (7 old) IITs” has come true, as evident from the responses of the users of IITs which are displayed and analyzed in 7 Tables ( IIT KGP – 88.89%, IIT BOM – 88.81%, IIT MAD – 90.12% IIT KNP – 90.37%, IIT DEL – 89.24%, IIT GUH – 87.27%, IIT Roorkee – 89.67%).

Hypothesis 2

The hypotheses that “Major portion of the users from different categories - Students, Research Scholars and faculty members in IIT libraries prefer reading or use serials both in print and on-line formats” has also come true, as evident from the responses of the users of IITs which are displayed and analyzed in 7 Tables ( IIT KGP – 77.66%, IIT BOM – 76.89%, IIT MAD – 79.46% IIT KNP –79.88%, IIT DEL – 78.58%, IIT GUH – 75%, IIT Roorkee – 79.06%).

Hypothesis 3

The hypothesis that “Collection Development / Access to serials in IIT libraries accelerate the academic output of the IITs, the Premier Institutes in India” has also come true as evident from the data displayed and analyzed in 7 Tables ( Table – 5.33 to 5.39).

Hypothesis 4

The hypothesis that “Different library software are having different salient features of Serials Control System to monitor and to deal with the serials management, both in print as well as digital format but not fully supporting all the functional attributes of the recommended theoretical model structured to support the serials control process chain and to maintain integrity among IIT libraries as well” has come true as evident from the Table – 5.42 which highlights that the Automated Serials Control with Library Management Software - Virtua is having most comprehensive capabilities as it has supported 81% of the list out attributes of the theoretical model framed, LibSys and Toordon have scored 51% and 30% respectively but they are not fulfilling all the functional requirements as per the theoretical model framed to support the total serials control process chain followed in the (7 old) IIT libraries.

6.3Constraints Encountered

No researcher is free from constraints. In the process of investigation, some hurdles though unwarranted are bound to occur. To collect data from different IITs, which are in different corners of the country, are really difficult. The respondents of IITs were not ready to send the replies of the questionnaire in time and replied after a repeated reminders. The library personnel were not ready to provide the researcher the specific data on personal visit which were essential to generate an authenticated result. Most of the information highlighted in their respective web-sites lack clarity, undated and lack of specificity which contravenes the provisions given under section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

6.4Suggestions

The IIT libraries are functioning as a focal point of teaching, learning and research as well as an access point for information resources. Among the various information resources, serials are treated as the most vital media not only to acquire information and to gain knowledge out of it, but to create a scope to navigate the original research output of the intellectuals in a wide spectrum of subjects. The IIT libraries having fleeting-acquaintance with the acquisition control and management of huge serials collection must aware of the complex and time-consuming procedures required handling these most valuable but complicated type of library materials. The benefit of the application of automation, in almost all the areas of library operations, is quite well established which is a challenge before the 21st century Serials Librarian to implement the automated serials control system that is most appropriate considering the unique requirements of a particular type of library or particular types of libraries having support of upgraded technology, international standards and relevant functional facilities. The outcome of the above study, therefore, gives rise to the following key suggestions:

1)It is evident that the major portion of the users of IIT libraries read or access serials as the most valuable information resource ( Table – 5.3, Table – 5.5, Table – 5.7, Table – 5.9, Table – 5.11, Table – 5.13 and Table – 5.15). The apex bodies of IIT libraries should, therefore, pay more attention on the selection of appropriate serials titles so as to cover all the relevant fields of study and research of their respective parent institutions so as to make their serials collections more user-centric.

2)As the increasing trend of journal prices are noticed (Table 2.27 and Table 2.28), the institute authorities vis-à-vis library authorities should proportionately increase budgetary allocations for continuity of the existing and most extensively used serials as well as to subscribe more needed titles on demand to fulfill the demands of the users.

3)Access to on-line serials are cost effective than the print subscriptions (Table 2.29). The IIT libraries should have updated technological infrastructure, sophisticated machines and other facilities to access on-line serials, down-load desired articles and have print-outs conveniently so as to make the users habituated, acquainted or accustomed with the on-line serials which will create a scenario of total transitioning of collection development to on-line format, may not be at one-go, but in phases. Thus, the libraries will get scope to access some more valuable serials to cater the needs of the intellectual users and researchers.

4)The present study also identifies that the existing automated serials control is not fully supporting the total serials control process chain being followed in the IIT libraries (Table 5.42). The remaining works are managed deploying extra manpower. Thus, all the activities related to the serials control in the IIT libraries must be automated to run the serials unit with minimum manpower and in a systematic way as well.

5)The IIT libraries should consider the functional attributes of the Eight-Layer Theoretical Model (Table 5.41) proposed as an outcome of the present research to support the total serials control process chain followed in the IIT libraries and take prompt initiative to migrate to a new automated serials control system floating quotations / RFP (Request for Proposal) from the LMS vendors or customize the existing systems as per the guidelines proposed.

6)As serials contain most nascent thought contents besides being the most valuable and expensive resource, all the existing IIT libraries in India should establish their ‘intranet’ to share their serial resources not only for optimal utilization, but also to avoid duplication in acquisition of serials titles and to make the serials service most cost effective and meaningful.

7)The Head of the Serials Division of the IIT Libraries should conduct survey of their users periodically (at least once in every six months) to understand their users’ perceptions and to unfold the magnitude of their use as relevance of their contents, with specific reference to aims and objectives, existing courses, on-going research projects, as well as the research priorities of the parent institutions in mind.

8)To keep the users abreast of the latest developments and research in their respective fields of interest and to ensure the optimal utilization of such costly and valuable resource, the Serials Librarians of IITs in India should constantly circulate the content pages of newly arrived serials to their users immediately after their arrival to their libraries.

6.5Area of Further Research

At present there are 15 IITs in India and the new IITs have started functioning just a few years ago. The new IITs are functioning under the mentorship of old 7 IIT and their infrastructural developments are in progress. Thus the present research work has been carried out on seven old IITs only. The research work on “Automated Serials Control in all the 15 IITs” may be undertaken in near future when infrastructural development of all the new IITs will be over and Central Library of all new IITs will be operational at their own campus so as to make the generalization more accurate and effective for evaluation of their serials resources and services.

6.6Documents for Further Study

The following books may be proposed for further study to gain theoretical knowledge in the relevant area of research in library and information science.

1)Serials Management : a Practical Guide by Chiou-sen Dora Chen, (Published by American Library Association, Chicago).

2)Introduction to serials work for library technicians by Scott Millard (Published by: Routledge).

3)Serials Management in Academic Libraries : A Guide to Issues and Practices by Jean Walter Farrington (Published by Green Wood Press).

4)Automated Library Serials by P K Paliwal and Shyama Balakrishnan (Published by Global Media Publication).

5)Serials Librarianship in transition : Issues and Development, Ed. by Peter Gellatly (Published by Haworth Press).

6)Periodical Acquisitions and the Internet, Ed by Nancy Slight Gibney (Published by Haworth Press).

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