U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahbad
Paper explored the real
situation of electronic resources in special library. It defines the world
“Electronic Resources” on the basis of ISBD(ER).It provides a complete factual
position of the collection of JNMC Library Aligarh. It gives the shape of
electronic resource and services in tabular form
KEY WORDS: Electronic Resources; ISBD(ER); MEDLARS; Medline; E-CAS; E-SDI
1. Definition-Electronic resources(ER) are products of a volatile
technology that continuous generate changes at a very rapid
pace. Appendix c of international standard bibliographic description
(Electronic Research) defined the world electronic research as follows; ”Material
(data and/or progress is) encoded for manipulation by computer. Includes
material that requires the use of a peripheral (e.g. a CD-Rom player) attached
to a computer and online service (e.g. bulletin boards, discussion
groups/lists, world wide, and website)”. For cataloguing purpose, electronic resources are
treated in the ISBD(ER) in two ways depending on weather access is local or
remote. Local access is understood to mean that physical carrier can be
described. remote access is understood to mean that no physical carrier can be
handled by the user-typically,access can only be provided by use of an input,
output device(e.g. a terminal)either connected to a computer system or by use
of resources stored in a hard disk or
other storage.
2. JNMC Library
Aligarh Muslim University-J.N.M.C. library is located in the blue beautiful
and gracious dooms of the medical college building which is opened 18 hours
daily irrespective of Sundays and other holidays. The following table is shown
the factual condition of this medical field renowned library.
Area covered (library) : 14038.64
squire feet
Reading Room Capacity
:
350 people
Study Hall : 03(with cc TV camera
facilities
Library Time
:
8A.M.-2A.M. (8AM-8PM on holidays)
Collection
: 48000 books on medical sciences 5000
books in reference section, 150
journals are being subscribe
Registered user : 1760
3. Survey and
Data collection-To make a comprehensive study or uses of electronic
information sources ,the questionnaires were given to all type of users of the
library .a sample of 10% of the total
users were selected and 176 questionnaires were distributed to know the real
utility of information available in various electronic format like. the
response was very nice and 160 users replied the questionnaires,140 users
(87.5%)are absolutely aware with electronic resources available in the library
and 12.5% users are not acquainted with non traditional formats of information.
inferences may be drawn on the basis that nature of this special library is
really serious and pragmatic towards various formats of information sources.
otherwise the we cannot expect 90.9%responce of questionnaires and 87.5%
awareness from a public library users sample. but it should also be remarkable
that only 68.75%(110) users are regularly using the e-resources such as reading
e-journals available through consortia et. Till date 31.25%users prefer the
traditional books, patents, conference proceedings, technical reports and
indexing resources such as biological abstract in print form instead of digital
environment. This indicates that searching and ultimately retrieving
information from digital world is till the date not the first choice of even
highly research oriented or educationally specialized field professional.
4. Users profile through data
analysis- Here, the various
electronic references and the percentage or their use is brief depicted through
this table which provides crystal clear picture of usefulness and real user
satisfaction through digitized world documents which are absolutely different
in personalization
|
Libraries
|
Formats
|
No of resources
|
Percentage
|
|
|
JNMC Library AMU Aligarh
(Total sample works=160)
|
E-Documents
|
CD-ROM
|
60
|
37.50
|
|
DVD’S
|
50
|
31.50
|
||
|
E-Encyclopedia
|
70
|
43.75
|
||
|
E-Dictionaries
|
55
|
34.37
|
||
|
E-Journals
|
55
|
34.37
|
||
|
E-Books
|
80
|
50.00
|
||
|
E-Theses
|
35
|
21.87
|
||
|
E-Conferences
|
15
|
9.37
|
||
|
E-Stander
|
10
|
06.25
|
||
|
E-Services
|
E-Current Awareness
|
05
|
03.12
|
|
|
E-Selective
|
05
|
03.12
|
||
|
MEDLARS(MEDLINE)
|
70
|
43.75
|
||
|
CCRIS TOXLINE
|
00
|
00.00
|
||
|
Web Services
|
60
|
37.50
|
||
The above table is showing the trained medical
literature search and retrieval in non conventional process of JNMC library the
data is also pointing out that highly skilled Users also prefer the traditional
sources like books and journals in e-format for because of well versed with
their presentation mode perhaps less use of standard, proceedings etc. is also
depicting that maximum users are emphasizing upon the syllabus based teaching
learning process in lieu of research activities. It's not surprising in case of
this type of Bachelor/Master Degree awarding institutions. Popularity of
MEDLARS services this library in very vivid. The maximum use of web services
indicating the trend of at random search in lieu of definite known search. Its
very common in case of conventional document searching for where maximum user
know the subject or the document in place of author, title, services,
collaborator, etc or the document.
Conclusion-For this study a premier institution of
northern India in field of imparting medical education has been selected. The
purpose or the study was to know the paradigm shift in the formats or documents
in the libraries and their impact on the nature of use by professionals. At end
we may come to this conclusion that electronic resources have been well
accepted among this medical library although hundred percent successes have not
been achieved. Users are utilizing the information available on this format frequently
and perhaps finding this easier and more time saving. This expected that within
a decade dependency upon this paperless digitized environment will in case
geometric progression.
References:
1-http://indmed.nic.in
2-http://www.amu.ac.in/jnmc.htm
3-ISBD(ER): International Standard
Bibliographic Description for electronic resources/ recommended by ISBD(CF)
Revised Group-Muenchen:K.G.Saur,1997.-(UBCIM Publication vol-17).
