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Abstract
1.) Introduction
Today we are living in the age of information society where information is the main
driving force. Everybody needs information for example, a student needs information
for further studies, scholar needs information for his research work; lawyer needs
information to solve the problem of his clients; Doctor needs information for
practice; businessmen needs information for his business and so on. Information is
playing significant role in the development of society and has become a marketable
commodity. There was a time when books, journals, magazines, research papers
were considered main sources of information and they were preserved in the library.
People refer them in the library. Libraries have been the main source of information
since their inception. The advent of microprocessors, satellite communications and
fiber optics has enabled the global spread of IT. Information technology is receiving
great attention in the hands of politician, planers, administrators, businessmen,
scientists, researchers, and media persons, entertainers and all forward looking
persons in equal measure because of its tremendous importance in national
development. Information technology is not substitute for developmental activities
but it is increasingly being realizes that it is a magnificent mean and it has fully
changed the scenario. Technological enhancements taking place everyday,
information technology equipment gets obsolete in every month if not week or days.
Days are gone when the CD-ROMs, microform, microfiche, slides, projector, audio
and video were considered the main tools in the library. The convergence of IT has
resulted in the Internet.
2) What is Internet?
In simple words we can say that Internet is the network of networks, which are
connected through a common communication protocol where lot of information is
available. The Internet is a network of millions of computers, offering information,
communication, and wealth of online activities. It is a strange network like a ocean
which provides information form A to Z and known as the 'Information
Superhighway' or 'Cyberspace'. Internet may be compared to a library without a
catalogue where books, article, journals, latest and current information are being
moved around all the time. And a carload of new information is dumped at the
entrance of every hour. Everybody wants to get benefit from Internet. .It is hot cake
for everybody and has become the hottest or buzz word in the present society. The
beauty of the net is another world and it is open for all. It is an unstoppable
bandwagon and acts as a global tool without any alternative. It is a global meeting
place for people from diverse countries and cultures, languages and lifestyles,
professions and pursuits, heights and weights. With the emergence of Internet, the
global connectivity of computers has become reality. Internet, E-Mail and World Wide
Web (WWW) has emerged as the core and foundation of information infrastructure.
The users of the Internet are increasing day by day. Huge amount of knowledge is
available on net. The use of 0these information technology techniques is accessing
useful information. It has become the chief determinant of the progress of any
nation. It is breaking all geographical barriers and building new languages through
sharing information and exchange, encompassing the entire gamut of human
activities and knowledge. It is best tool for distance education. It is easy-to-use,
powerful tool for information, transactions, payments, and entertainment on the
move. There are no such remote areas. It has also succeeded in conquering men,
women and children of the world to come closer to each other in a spirit of give and
take. They have become one technically, if not emotionally.
The Internet has changed every thing in the society. It has been changing the
lifestyle of every body. And large group of people are fully dependent on it and has
changed the working style of people. Everybody is running after it. It has also
effected the library and information centre and it could be a strategic tool in
librarian’s hand. It is perhaps one of the very few technologies that have experienced
a high rate of development. On the other hand technological innovation in IT are
taking place at a galloping pace. The web has broken the boundaries. Advanced
countries in library and information centres have made unbelievable progress. Many
libraries are on the net such as American Library Association, Library of Congress.
Internet Public Library etc. User all over the world is using these libraries. It helps
librarian to provide more information at fingertips. Huge libraries are now available
online and directly accessible from anywhere. Internet has provided opportunity to
create own electronic library and to take full advantage of net by proving all
information through net. We can find all types of libraries on net such as special
libraries, public libraries, research libraries etc. It has totally changed the scenario of
library and information centre. Instead of procuring journals in paper form we can go
for the electronic form of journals, which would certainly reduce the cost and also
save the space. One of the best qualities about the Internet is its ability to bring
together picture, sound and text. Resources can be created very quickly and made
available to anyone. It transmits information from one computer to another
computer in zero time. The Internet has great significance in the library and
information centre and it can do miracles
2. User needs
3. Services
4. Cost
5. Access
7. Technical support
Although, these types of Internet connections requires a heavy one time heavy
investment but the advantage of the type is high speed and dedicated line.
Pentium 2.
4. ISDN line: Integrated services digital network is a special telephone line specially
designed for transmission of computer data at very high speed. These lines are
available with the telephone company on payment of an additional cost.
6. Program: Some programs are required to use Internet. Generally the ISP provides
at free cost.
6.2) A to Z information
To day everybody wants to see him on net therefore net has developed huge
collection of information and it has been increasing like an epidemic disease.
6.4) Instant access
6.5) Ubiquity
One of the silent features of the net is ubiquity. At the same time a countless
numbers of users can access from all over the world and can retrieved same
information
Internet facility remains available round the clock. Just connect the Internet
and get the relevant information.
It is very easy and simple to use. User can download, retrieve, browse wide
range of databases and easily get information just by clicking and clicking the
words that are highlighted on the screen
Information is available in all form like text, animation, graphics, sound and
can be find in any form, separately or may be in combined form according to
needs of user.
Internet is a very fast medium to get information. Data travels at 2/3 the
speed of light on net.
Space is a big problem in the developing countries like India. Internet can
help librarians in saving the space of the library.
Any user, anywhere in the world, can access the Internet for cost of a local
phone
6.20) Entertainment
Some user goes to library for entertainment. They can read latest books,
magazines about their subject. They can watch movie, listen songs, and Live
chatting, on line game.
Research scholars need information for their thesis. They can get bulk of
information from net. It is a resource full tool for the research scholars. They
can easily download bibliographical data and other relevant information from
different sites.
Lot of search engines are available on Internet which make it very useful to search
relevant subjects in a few time. These engines are as follow:
• Yahoo: http://www.yahoo.com
• Alta Vista : http://www.altavista.com
• Google : http://www.google.com
• Hotbot : http://www.hotbot.com
• Lycos: http://www.lycos.com
• Excite : http://www.excite.com
• Ask.com http://www.ask.com
33. E-Mail
Serial management
D. List of different journals can be retrieved from net with brief detail
Here user can meet on net with people having similar interest. He can ask a
question, discuss, reply and read interesting articles related to h their interest.
Online resources: Today, Libraries are providing access to a large number of online
resources to its clienteles and Internet connectivity is the main force, which made it
possible.
Followings are the online resource, which are used in the library with the help of
Internet: -
The advent of ICT has given boost to the publication industry. Large number of
books/e-books is being published today. Again, Internet connectivity has made the
difficult work of publisher easy. All most every publisher is online today . Besides it,
some publisher has been providing online resources of their popular titles at site.
With this feature, a faculty can get the online access of the relevant resources with
filling up a form.
Blogs
Online Training, Orientation & publicity of the Library & Information Centre
Management can train library professional through Internet. Lot of online training
programmes, conferences, discussion, are available on net which would help in
professional development of library staff,
Disadvantages
Internet Security
Statistics says that on an average, every hour that you are connected to the net, a
villainous hacker, a virus a Trojan tries to attack the system. Singapore " I Love You"
virus in one of the example of virus attack. Which can spoils your data within
second? All though, options are available to protect but cost of these softwares is a
big problem.
At the time of procurement on net the credit card account someone else can steal
number or the login and password.
Library & Information Centres are loosing the attention of research scholars
Unorganized Information
Availability of the huge Information on net is widely scattered and not organized
according to any standards. Although, library and computer professionals are
working together to sort out this problem by developing indexing tools.
No doubt, Internet has played vital role in providing latest and updated and
unlimited information. But it has certainly reduced the reading habits of users.
1.9) Conclusion
The wide spread access of Internet has produced the society more democratic,
egalitarian, and richly diverse . This will take a long time to change Indian situations.
The impact of the global happening has changed the scene of libraries all over the
world. Hence it is essential that we should appreciate and follow carefully the
development in around the world in our field. The Information professional should be
well aware about the latest development in technology otherwise they could be
thrown out or outdated. and they should be called as Information scientist.
In India, limited numbers of libraries have Internet connection and general users are
not using them. The facilities are limited. It was assumed that the potential benefits
of information Internet will remain limited . to the highly skilled urban, population,
with the little relevance to the common man, especially in the rural areas but this
perception is not valid. Internet has the potential to benefit the large numbers of
ordinary people, including those in rural areas. Every library cannot afford the
expenses of Internet facilities. It will remain limited because of the economic
condition of the country. It is suggested that government may provide infrastructure
to set up Internet in the libraries. Or may provide free Internet connection or give
discount to a wide range of libraries. The ability to access information form all over
the world will lead to substantial improvements in the quality of library services.
The Government has set-up a new Ministry of Information Technology on 15
October, 1999 and that has accelerate the Internet revolution in India.
Many libraries cannot afford the expenses of Internet facilities because of the poor
resource lease. It is suggested that government may provide infrastructure to set up
Internet in the Libraries. It may provide Internet connectivity to all libraries as either
free or at discount rates. The ability to access information from all over the world will
lead to substantial improvements in the quality of library services, and provide
tremendous information lease for research and development – so essential for
getting to the cutting edge in a global economy and the wide spread access of
Internet would produce a society which will be more democratic, egalitarian, and
richly diverse.
The overall scenario, the Internet has emerged as a single most important tools in
the library professionals’ hand in the 21st century and has become indispensable for
Library Professionals and they need to pay heed to the Internet. No, doubt that
Internet , has overcome all traditional constraints of space and time, has made its
significant impact on library services, budget, efficiency, and the scholarly
communication among users and other libraries.
References