ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT LIBRARIANS

TRANSFORMING GOVERNMENT AND STATE CORPORATION LIBRARIES

INTO DIGITAL INFORMATION CENTERS OF INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
HUB LIBRARY NETWORKS
13TH NOVEMBER 2013
LAWRENCE .M. NJOROGE
With the invention of Information and Communication Technology, libraries now use various
types of technologies to aid the services they render. Everyday new technological advances
affect the way information is handled in libraries and information centers. The impacts of new
technologies are felt by libraries in every aspect. Computing technology, communication
technology and mass storage technology are some of the areas of continuous development that
reshape the way that libraries access, retrieve, store, manipulate and disseminate information
to users.
With the development of computer network technology, the library information management
system has extended from single unit to computer networks.
The collection, storage, processing and transmission of data is heading for distribution from
integration and system architecture, to an open system instead of closing system.
The new information age has brought about improved knowledge delivery, processing of
information, precision, good time management and improved network system.
Furthermore, information is also called data and databases are created and made accessible
online via the Internet and other machine readable formats.
Search engines are made accessible to the public. In view of this, conventional libraries seem to
be giving way to hybrid and virtual libraries. (otherwise called libraries without walls or
paperless libraries) accessing or developing digital collections alongside print-based collections.
In the past, libraries have existed exclusively as physical spaces, but this is
changing as content moves online and libraries take steps to better meet
users needs. Although the physical structure of the library remain important
places for users to gather, libraries are finding ways to embrace
opportunities in the virtual space. The development of computer networking is one of
the main reasons for the changes that are taking place in libraries. Looking back at how
computers and the way we use them have changed in recent years, we can begin to understand
why computer networking has had such a big impact. Initially computers were stand alone and
were used mainly to manage information in the form of databases. Each and every library is
slowly getting digitized. Comprising a digital collections, services and infrastructure to support
lifelong learning, research, scholarly communication as well as preservation and conservation of
recorded knowledge.

"The library has died," wrote Brian Sullivan, librarian at Alfred University, in an opinion piece
responding to the gloomy tone of a 2011 report on the future of libraries. "One reason for cause
of death is that library buildings were converted into computer labs, study spaces and
headquarters for informational-technology departments."

Physical to Virtual

According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services:

67% of libraries offer access to e-books.

64% are the only source of free Internet access in their communities

169 million people used one of 16,000 public libraries last year; 77
million of them used a library computer

86% of public libraries provide free Wi-Fi

Some of the key enablers for access to knowledge through/by libraries and librarians are (Tise,
2009):

Libraries and librarians must become more user-oriented by bringing libraries and
their resources to the user; empower users through information literacy, social
networking, enabling access to information and facilitating the full participation of all
citizens in societal activities;

Become active in advocacy by actively promoting libraries through effective

communications with stakeholders on library and society matters, facilitating and
supporting open access to all, becoming innovative information agent;

Create partnerships and foster opportunities for convergence with commercial / private
enterprises, cultural institution, societal stakeholders such as health workers, teachers;

Library as a space and place should foster information for all; community knowledge
space; gate-openers to information, safe and trusted public space, content in formats
that appeal to young and other discrete library user groups.

Individual vs Community

Libraries are being urged to look for opportunities to advance solutions to

community problems by providing safe places for gatherings, centers for
community vitality and connecting points to community services.
Collection Library vs Creation Library

No longer are libraries just places to store content, instead they are
becoming places for people of all ages to create and produce content
themselves.

This situation has changed now. There has been a convergence of a number of developments
in computer technology in the last five years which has significantly affected the way
computers can be used to access information. These developments are:

Emergence of CDROMs (Compact Disk Read Only Memories) and now DVDROMs
(Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memories) with very high information storage
capability. One DVDROM can store upto 7.5 Giga bytes ( 7.5 109 bytes) (To store a
typical 500 page book 0.25 Mbytes are needed). The cost of these storage devices is
very low, around ten paise per Megabyte.

Continuous increase in capacity of magnetic disks which can be used for on-line
access. Today (2008) desk top PCs have 160GB disks. Storage capacity of disks is
doubling every twelve months, at constant price

Development in computer network technology which has facilitated interconnecting

computers not only within the country but also across countries leading to a world
wide computer network. Network bandwidths are also doubling almost every 9 months
at constant price.

Wireless technology also rapidly developed. This allows anywhere any time access to
information even when a person is mobile.

Method of digitizing, compressing and storing text, audio, graphics and video data
have continuously improved. Standards have emerged for audio compression, e.g.MP3
format, graphics (JPEG) and video data compression(MPEG4). Standards allow easy
interchange of these data

Advent of very powerful processors which can process multimedia information very
fast. Processing speeds have been doubling every 18 months at constant price.

Availability of high resolution video terminals which can display information on

multiple windows. Revolutionary developments in display technologies to facilitate
easy reading has matured leading to devices such as Kindle of Amazon and Sony book
reader which use e-ink technology and are battery driven.

Factors of change to digital libraries

The limited buying power of libraries, complex nature of recent document, storage problem etc
are some of the common factor which are influencing to change to digital mode, some other
factors are1. Information explosion
2. Searching problem in traditional libraries

3. Low cost of technology: When we consider the storage capacity of digital document and
its maintained then it can be easily realize that the cost of techonologies is much more
less than that of traditional libraries.
4. Environmental factor: the use of digital libraries is the cleanest technologies to fulfill the
slogan Burn a CD-ROM save a tree
5. New generation needs

Advantages of the Digital Library

A digital library is not confined to a particular location or so called building it is virtually
distributed all over the world. The user can get his/ her information on his own computer screen
by using the Internet. Actually it is a network of multimedia system, which provides fingertip
access. The spoken words or the graphical display of a digital library is again having a different
impact from the words that are printed. In the new environment owing a document will not be
problem for the library because the user will pay for its uses.

[edit] Disadvantages of the Digital Library

The computer viruses, lack of standardization for digitized information, quick degrading
properties of digitized material, different display standard of digital product and its associated
problem, health hazard nature of the radiation from monitor etc. makes digital libraries at times
handicap.
1. Copyright: - Digitization violates the copy right law as the thought content of one author
can be freely transfer by other without his acknowledgement. So One difficulty to
overcome for digital libraries is the way to distribute information. How does a digital
library distribute information at will while protecting the copyright of the author?
2. Speed of access: - As more and more computer are connected to the Internet its speed of
access reasonably decreasing. If new technology will not evolve to solve the problem
then in near future Internet will be full of error messages.
3. Initial cost is high: - The infrastructure cost of digital library i.e. the cost of hardware,
software; leasing communication circuit is generally very high.
4. Band width: - Digital library will need high band for transfer of multimedia resources
but the band width is decreasing day by day due to its over utilization.
5. Efficiency: - With the much larger volume of digital information, finding the right
material for a specific task becomes increasingly difficult.

6. Environment: - Digital libraries cannot reproduce the environment of a traditional

library. Many people also find reading printed material to be easier than reading material
on a computer screen.
7. Preservation: - Due to technological developments, a digital library can rapidly become
out-of-date and its data may become inaccessible.
Need of the Networking:
8. Network based services are very cost effective and offer many opportunities for providing useful
services to the member library users which are not possible manually. Some of the important needs for
network based services are given below :
9. Library Network offers great potential and new areas of sharing information among different
engineering college libraries.
10. Online access and dissemination of information is possible without physical presence in library.
11. e-journals can be accessed by many users at a time in a networked environment.
12. Sharing of on-line e-journals can be made among many users at a time among member library users
in the networked environment.

Networking in Libraries
Networking is the linkage of working procedures for the exchange of information resources.
Presently, the term computer network is used in place of resource sharing or cooperative
systems. Resource sharing or networking is defined as a mode of operation, whereby information
resources are shared by a number of participants having the same objectives in mind. Thus the
user of one library can have his requirements fulfilled by another library if the local library fails
to serve his needs. Some of the essential prerequisites for effective resource sharing include

Possession of shareable resources by the participating libraries;

Willingness to share the resources;

A planned mechanism of sharing;

Precise understanding of the use and information potential of their respective collections;
and,

Common bibliographic access to the collections of the participating libraries.

Even libraries with good budgets or collections cannot have enough resources to be self
sufficient. In fact, interdependence has now become a way of life. In recent years we have
witnessed the establishment of a great number of networks around the globe through which
technology is utilized to facilitate a vast flow of information. This ultimately will enable and
support applications which influence peoples daily lives. The major factors which have created
the need for networking include the rise in the cost of publications, a lack of funds and adequate
manpower, and the geographical dislocations of libraries, i.e., the fact that libraries are now
located in remote and farflung areas.
The ultimate aim of networking is to achieve maximum results with minimum input. This is
clearly consonant with the nature of our economy, in which capital is scarce. Networking is
inevitable in all types of libraries, for it enables users to have access to the resources of many
other libraries, in addition to their own. The benefits which accrue from resource sharing are the
following:

Preparation of union catalogues;

Preparation of the cataloguing data/catalogue cards for publications available in network

libraries;

Provision of bibliographies;

Optimum utilization of rare collections;

Cooperative exchange and distribution and storage of documents;

Savings - of both technical work and collections;

Reduction in the cost of library services, in the long run; and,

Above all, the provision of more materials at low cost and in less time.

Against all odds, India has made rapid strides in recent decades in the field of
telecommunications via satellite and microwave links. Networking systems have been
developing fast at local, state, national, regional, and international levels all over the world since
the 1980s. In order to keep pace with the world, the Indian government is developing its own
networking systems via NICNET. Surprisingly, the government does not consider libraries to
have a high priority. Thus, libraries have to plan their acquisitions keeping in mind the resources
available in other libraries in the area, so that they can get the maximum number of books and
publications which are not available in their vicinity. In the past few years, considerable progress
has taken place in the planning and building of library and information networks. As a result,
four major networks INFLIBNET, DELNET, CALIBNET, BONET have started
functioning in libraries.
Identifying the applications that you intend to use: Computer networking may be required
diverse environments such as Enterprise Resource Management (ERM), Internet telephony,
Instant Messaging (IM), eMail and others.These in turn are used for estimating the software,
hardware, and traffic requirements.
2. Traffic Requirements: Computing traffic requirements include several factors. A few point to
consider includeIdentification and documentation of major traffic sources.
Categorization of traffic as local, distributed, client/server, peer-to-peer, terminal/host or
server/server.
Estimation of bandwidth requirements for each application.
Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for each application
Reliability requirements.
3. Scalability Requirements:Scalability refers to the extent of network growth that should be
supported.Provision must be made to add users,applications, additional sites,& external network
connections.
4. Geographical considerations:Consider the LAN and WAN links that may be required.Offices
that are separated by large distance can be linked together by a WAN(Wide Area Network).
Similarly, building complexes with a compound can be linked by a LAN(Local Area Network)
link. Typically, the LAN links are high band width (100Mbps) and WAN links are of lower
bandwidth (64 Kbps - 2Mbps). The LANs fall within the premises of a Company whereas WANs
are typically leased and maintained by the Telecom. Hence, WANs are costly and need to be
planned and designed with utmost care to minimize resource consumption.
5. Availability:The availability of a Network need to be given careful consideration while
designing a network.It is the amount of time a network is available to users over a period of time
and is often a critical design parameter. Availability has direct relation with amount of
redundancy required.The factor considered while computing availability is the business loss to

the Company due to unavailability of the network for a given amount of time.A right balance
needs to be arrived at such that profitability is maintained.
6. Security and Accessibility:A security plan needs to be devised that meets the required security
specifications. You must specify:
a list of network services that will be provided such as FTP, Web, e-mail, etc.
Who will be administering the security of these services
How the people be trained on security policies and procedures
Recovery plan, in case a security breach does take place.
7. Cost considerations: For LANs, the tendency is to minimize the equipment cost. That is
minimizing the cable cost, minimizing the per port cost, and the labour cost. For WANs the
primary goal is to maximize the usage of the bandwidth. This is because, the recurring costs for
bandwidth are normally much higher than the equipment or labour cost. Therefore more
weightage is given to reliable equipment, and efficient utilization of bandwidth. Some factors
that influence cost are:
Improve efficiency on WAN circuits by using features such as compression, Voice Activity
Detection etc.
Use technologies such as ATM that dynamically allocate WAN bandwidth.
Integrate both voice and data circuits
Optimize or eliminate under utilized circuits.

Network virtualization:Network virtualization delivers increased application performance by dynamically maximizing

network asset utilization while reducing operational requirements. There are many aspects of
network virtualization such as virtualized dual backbones, virtualized networks, network service
virtualization, virtual service orchestration, network I/O virtualization and network hosted
storage virtualization. Network virtualization represents a new way to design library networks
and allocate resources within them.