INNOVATIVE LIBRARY SERVICES AND FUTURE

CHALLENGES

Dr R.B. GaddagimathUniversity Librarian, Gulbarga

University Kalaburagi - 585 106 - Karnataka

E-mail: rbggug@gmail.com URL: www.guglibrary.net

Benchmarks and Parameters

• Education is measured against global benchmarks and international parameters• University/College rankings

are testimony of this globalized benchmarking of higher education

Transition in Higher Education

• Student to Learner• Student to Lifelong Member Learning

Community• Skills directed towards career goals• Interactive, collaborative and

independent Learning• Faculty to Learner Centered

Institution• Teaching, Design and Management of

Learning Experiences• Faculty now act as a Facilitator

Impact of ICT and New Opportunities

• Teaching and Learning• Accessing e-information to Enhance

Quality of EducationInternet and WWW, Preprint Servers, NewsgroupsE-journals, databases, CD-ROMs

• Communication, Storing and Handling of Information

• Learning Resource Centre in Virtual Environment to support Self Learning, Developing Instructional Learning Materials

Paradigm Shift – Libraries• Information Provider to Facilitator

of Information • Print to Electronic Media • ‘Active Users’ than ‘Passive Users’• Emphasis on ‘Access’ instead of

‘Acquisition’ • Team work rather than Individual

Contribution • Solitary Environment to

Networked Environment

INNOVATION AND ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

• The Library world is in the midst of Technological Restructuring• Is the Library Effective? (Able

to Achieve User Satisfaction)• Is the Library Efficient? (Able

to Achieve Objectives with Minimum Resources)

INNOVATIVE PRACTICES – NAAC, AICTE, MCI

• Management of Library and Information Services

• Collection and Services Provided to Users

• Extent of the Use of Services• Best Practices for University/

Autonomous College Libraries

NAAC Best Practices to Support Quality Enhancement

• Computerization of Library using Digital Software

• Inclusion of sufficient Information about the Library in Brochure/Prospectus

• Compiling Student/Teacher Attendance Statistics & Notifying the same on Notice Board

• Displaying Newspaper Clippings on Notice Board

• Career/Employment Information/Services• Internet Facilities to different User Groups

• Information Literacy Programs• Signage Systems• Suggestion Box and Timely Response• Conducting Book Exhibitions• Organizing book talks • Instituting Annual Best User Award for

Students• Organizing Competitions Annually• Conducting User Surveys Periodically• Maintaining Library Website, Public

Relations

FEATURES OF FUTURE LIBRARIES

• Social Space – Comfortable and dynamic space conducive to problem based learning, discussions and interaction between users.

• Library everywhere - Remote access to e-resources

• Outreach activities – Migrating from print to electronic collections and provide e-reference, SMS, RSS feed etc.,

• Digital lives – Repositioning library and information tools, resources, expertise and new skills.

• Research environment - Creating library as learning hub to meet research and learning requirements of Researchers.

• Virtual Research Environment - providing work and data in every detail, offering research tools and social networking to build scientific communities.

• Print values - Digitization, enhancing ILL and Document delivery services.

• Help in Research Assessment and measuring research out put

• World Ranking of Universities and Institutions

ENVISIONING LIBRARY OF THE FUTURE

• Library is seen as a guide to information• Growing number of ‘Maker Spaces’ or

‘Fab Labs’ being created • ‘Academic Commons’ ‘Learning Commons’

to provide new services like

Writing Centers Students Advisory Units Innovative Teaching Centers Collaborative Spaces and Media Creation Centers

Innovation in Library Systems

• Single Catalogues over very large areas (regional and national) using cloud data and software

• Cloud Computing Technology integrated the Online Catalogue of Gulbarga University Library, PG Centers of Raichur, Bidar and Study Center - Sharana Sahitya Library, Basavakalyan

http://libcat-guglib.informindia.co.in/ 

Web OPAC using KOHA under Cloud Computing @ GU Library

Innovations in Funding • New Partnerships, Diversifying Income,

and Seeking Donations to raise Funds• Identify the Donors or Social

Institutions with Novel Ideas • Infosys Foundation, Bangalore

supported Rs.1.00 Crore for establishing Virtual Learning Resource Centre & Digital Library at Gulbarga University (Rs. 3.50 crore) reflecting University’s mission to be a leading “Learning Region”

• HKRDB support

Virtual Learning Resource Centre & Digital Library

Resource Discovery Tools

• Enables Users Simultaneous Search in real time from Multiple Information Resources in a Single Time the -

Library Catalogue E-Journals, E-Books Databases Institutional databases Publishers databases

FedGate @ Gulbarga University Library

http://fedgate.cloudapp.net/muse/servlet/MusePeer

Mobile Library Tools• Special Mobile Applications for Library’s

Bibliographical and Techno-based Alerts/Services

• Dynamic Optimized Library Websites for Mobile Devices

• Library Web App• Indian Law Mobile Library application by

Madras High Court Advocates to access certain Indian Bare Acts from Mobile Phones

• American University Library – Search Journals through Mobile Phones

• University of Cambridge – Library Catalogue from Mobile Device

Research Support

• Library supports to Researchers from Formulation of New Ideas, Assistance with Funding, Research Process, Dissemination of Research Findings

• Ideal to have a Dedicated Library Professional

• Skill Zone on Writing Skills, ICT Skills, Referencing, Plagiarism, Research Skills and Employability Skills

SKILLS - ZONE

• Research Projects Writing• Report Writing• Research Papers Writing• Thesis and Dissertation Writing• Editing and Proof Reading• Reference Citation • ICT Skills and Search Strategies• E-Resources in Learning, Teaching and

Research • Open source e-Journals and Archives

(subjects)• Communication Skills/Public Speaking

• Speed Reading • Study Skills & Examination

Techniques• Note Making and Note-taking • Listening Skills and Memory Skills• Observation Skills• Improving Vocabulary, Spelling,

Punctuation• Behavioral Skills• Career Opportunities• Resume Writing

Ryerson University Library Portal for Research Support

Social Space and Networks for Users

• Social News (Dig, Propeller), Social Bookmarking (Del.lcio.us, Simpy, Blinklist), Social Networking (Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn), Social Photo and Video Sharing (YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr) and Wikis

• Use of these Social Networking Tools for Library Services

Kendriya Vidyalaya Students Social Networking Site

CONCLUSION• Next Gen Librarians have to serve in

capacities that include Leadership Roles in Core Library Functions and to Bring New and Innovative Ideas to the Information Workplace

• Knowledge and Skills to Blog, Start Wikis, Design Web Pages, Create Podcasts, and Produce Videos and Other Technological Oriented Tasks

• More Pro-Active Attitude to Make Library Resources and Services Visible and Effective

• Create ‘Academic Commons’ ‘Learning Commons’ ‘Learning Space’ to support students’ enhanced learning, collaboration and interaction

• User Training, User Education/Library Use Instruction Programs Integrated with Course Work

• Explore and Integrate Bibliographical and Full Text Resources available on Web to Support Quality in Education and Learning

• Address adequate Funding for ICT Infrastructure, e-Resources Collection, Training and Retraining of Library Staff

T H A N X