Virtual and Digital Libraries

Today, we are living in the age of Information Technology (IT). The storage and retrieval
of information has taken various forms and formats like on-line databases, microfilm /
fische, telecommunications facilities, videotext etc. Now, a modern library has to provide
a package of many related services with the help of computer networking which enable
the interlinking of libraries and information centers to pool resources and services
irrespective of their physical location (SUNIL KUMAR, 2001).

Library operations today are also entirely different from what we have experienced in the
past and we can expect a tremendous change in the future. These changes may affect
almost all the fields of library organization and library management. The librarian and the
library users must be ready to accept and adopt the new technologies; otherwise they
will be pushed aside. Electronic library or digital library is the product of the technological
development which enriched the field of library and information science and the
accessories we use in these libraries are CD-ROM, DVD, floppy disks, multimedia
computers etc. and now the Internet.

The information explosion can be faced only by the application of IT and networks in
libraries. We see traffic jam sometimes on the networks because of user explosion. Data
Traffic will be more than Voice Traffic on the telecommunication infrastructure. Now Chat
Services or Video Conferencing is possible sitting in several countries. IT has an
important role in library management (JAINAMMA, 2000). Further, we live in an era of
technological revolution. New tools and instruments are designed and marketed in the
field of communications and mass media. Library profession should use these technical
aids such as telecommunications, computers and information technology in the provision
of library service to convey useful information to the people in the Third World Societies
(SARADA, 2000).

If IT is not required, then the society becomes handicapped because the socio-economic
development of a nation depends upon the availability of adequate infrastructure to
access the modern information (comprehensive, worldwide and up-to-date), which is an
essential ingredient for day-to-day decision-making process. A democracy survives only
on the Oxygen of Information (KANAKACHARY, 1995).

Keeping this in mind, the remaining of this paper attempts to describe one of the
emerging types of libraries Virtual Library.

The characteristics that make interactive multimedia attractive for teaching purposes and
reference tools are also what help to make them accessible and easy to use by a variety
of users. Virtual libraries rely on interactivity to allow patrons to explore sites and to use
resources. While the terms Virtual library and Digital library are used interchangeably,
they are in fact not the same thing. A digital library consists of a networked collection of
multimedia information typically available in one location, while a virtual library
comprises a set of links to various resources on the Internet, such as documents,
software or databases. The links in a virtual library are transparent to users and it
provides them with one interface to information. (KAWATRA, 2000)
Features of a VL:

• Provides speedy and wide access to updated information in a global manner.

• It has changed the traditional library system of cataloguing only book materials.
Cataloguing of NBM (Non Book Materials) includes not only databases but also
websites.
• Greater emphasis is on access and not on collection.
• Time saving
• It results in a creation of digital divide because only developed countries with
strong funds for automation and fulfilling infrastructural requirements for VL can
afford to support VL services. (CHIWEZA, 2006)

A brief listing of some of the Virtual libraries has also been given for reference. This list is
only indicative.

Virtual library (http://vlib.org)

Agriculture http://vlib.org/Agriculture
The Arts http://vlib.org/Art
Business and Economics http://vlib.org/BusinessEconomics
Communications and Media http://vlib.org/Communication
Computing and Computer Science http://vlib.org/Computing
Education http://vlib.org/Education
Engineering http://vlib.org/Engineering
Humanities and Humanistic Studies http://vlib.org/Humanities
Information and Libraries http://vlib.org/InformationManagement
International Affairs http://vlib.org/InternationalAffairs
Law http://vlib.org/Law
Natural Sciences and Mathematics http://vlib.org/Science
Recreation http://vlib.org/Recreation
Regional Studies http://vlib.org/Regional
Social & Behavioral Sciences http://vlib.org/SocialSciences
Society http://vlib.org/Society

Intute (http://www.intute.ac.uk): Intute is a free online service providing resources

on Science & Technology, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and Health & Life Sciences).
Formerly it was EEVL (Internet Guide to Engineering, Mathematics and Computing
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/)

National Institute of Science & Technology (NIST) Virtual library

(http://nvl.nist.gov/index.cfm): The database offers General Research and Search
by Subject features. . NIST's Engineering areas of research include: chemical,
manufacturing, electrical, and civil engineering.

Thailand WWW Virtual Library (www.nectec.or.th/WWW-VL-Thailand.html):

This World Wide Web Virtual Library is sponsored by the National Electronics and
Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) of the Royal Thai Government. It includes links
to resources on Education, Health Care, Social Sciences, Economy, Science and
Technology.
The Virtual Library of Resources About Engineering

(http://ace-mentor-dc.org/VirtualLibrary): the Virtual Library of Resources about

Engineering contains a wealth of Internet links to resources of interest to engineering
students. The resources are divided into the following categories:

• Organizational Resources
• Diversity/Minorities/Women Resources
• Federal Government Resources
• Educational Organizations and University Resources and Courses

Digital Book Index (http://www.digitalbookindex.org/about.htm): Digital Book

Index provides links to more than 130,000 title records from more than 1800 commercial
and non-commercial publishers, universities, and various private sites. About 90,000 of
these books, texts, and documents are available free, while many others are available at
very modest cost.

Historical Text Archive (http://historicaltextarchive.com) provides access to

quality articles, books, essays, documents, historical photos and links on a broad range
of historical subjects.

The Online Books Page (http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/): The Online

Books Page is a website that facilitates access to books that are freely readable over the
Internet. It also aims to encourage the development of such online books, for the benefit
and edification of all.

Major parts of the site include:

• An index of thousands of online books freely readable on the Internet

• Pointers to significant directories and archives of online texts
• Special exhibits of particularly interesting classes of online books
• Information on how readers can help support the growth of online books

Virtual Computer Library (https://webcms.utexas.edu/vcl/index.html): It gives

links to resources on Computers and Information Technology.

Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/): It contains directories of online

texts, newspapers, magazines, and other reference materials.

KnowGenesis (http://www.knowgenesis.org.tc): It is an online library for technical

communications and research writings.

Project Gutenberg (http://www.projectgutenberg.org): Project Gutenberg is the

first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart,
founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and continues to inspire the
creation of eBooks and related technologies today.

The Free Library (http://www.thefreelibrary.com/): It has a good collection of

books by well known authors. It also provides a short write up on the importance of a
particular day in history.

Free Management Library (http://www.managementhelp.org): It has grown to be

one of the world’s largest well organized collections of resources on leadership and other
management issues.
Virtual Information Centre (http://www.vic-ikp.info/vic_new/index.asp): ICICI
Knowledge Park, Bangalore has set up a VIC to provide access to digital resources of
member partners. K-Library is a part of VIC. It covers four domains namely
Biotechnology, Networking and Telecommunication, Pharmaceutical Sciences and
Material Science. Resource coverage includes Electronic Journals and Newsletters, Books,
Discussion Forum, Conferences, Portals, Preprints and e-prints, Science and Research
News etc.

SunSite India (http://sunsite.serc.iisc.ernet.in/virlib) : The SunSITE India is a

joint initiative of the Indian Institute of Science and Sun Microsystems. A large public
software archive is maintained on SunSITE India server.

e-Gate (http://www.drdo.org/egate/index.html): It is a part of Defense Research

and Development Organization, a Government of India undertaking. The e-Gate provides
links on resources for Aerospace, Chemistry, Computers, Electronics, Academic, Defense,
Research and General. It also has a listing of various search engines, newspapers and
patents.

IUCAA (http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~library/): IUCAA library is one of the most

advanced modern libraries specializing in Astronomy and Astrophysics in India.

References:

Chiweza, Diston Store (2006). The potential for Virtual library services to promote
teaching and research and reduce the digital divide: a case study of the University of
Malawi. Retrieved on 17/10/2006 from
http://www.ascleiden.nl/pdf/elecpublconfchiweza.pdf

Jainamma, K. A.; Paul, Lalitha. (2000). Growth of Information Technology: Its Impact on
Library Services. In: Bavakutty, M.; Parmeswaran, M. (Eds.). Management of Libraries in
the 21st. Century. New Delhi: Ess Ess Publications. 81-89.

Kanakachary, M. (1995). Information Technology Vis-a-Vis the Libraries. In: Raju, A. A.

N.; Ramaiah, L. S.; Laxman Rao, N.; Chandra, Prafulla T. V. (Eds.) New Vistas in Library
and Information Science: Papers in Honour of Professor G. V. S. L. Narasimha Raju. New
Delhi: Vikas Publishing House. 423-432

Kawatra, P.S. (2000). Textbook of Information Science. New Delhi: A.P.H. (Chapter 13:
The Universal Library 275-304)

Kumar, Sunil. (2001). Academic Library Automation: An Immediate Need. Library Herald.
39(1-2): 50-55.

http://nvl.nist.gov/index.cfm

http://www.nectec.or.th/WWW-VL-Thailand.html

http://ace-mentor-dc.org/VirtualLibrary/

http://www.digitalbookindex.org/about.htm

http://historicaltextarchive.com
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

https://webcms.utexas.edu/vcl/index.html

http://www.ipl.org/

http://www.knowgenesis.org.tc

http://www.projectgutenberg.org

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/

http://www.managementhelp.org

http://sunsite.serc.iisc.ernet.in/virlib/

http://www.drdo.org/egate/index.html

http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~library/

http://www.vic-ikp.info/vic_new/index.asp