7 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

2.Justification of the Project
The changing information environment with increasing availability of electronic sources,
particularly in the medical field, and the increasing information demand from the medical
fraternity warrants the existing medical libraries to redefine its objectives, scope and
services to suit the current trend. Hence, the need for a Virtual Medical Library to
facilitate access to all types of electronic sources in the field. TANMMU being the mother
medical university holds the responsibility to initiate requisite action to establish a virtual
library for the benefit of its user community. TANMMU has already received adequate
funds from the State and Central Governments plus its own funds to initiate this project.
As a first step towards this, is the preparation of the proposal document placed before the
Committee for its approval. It has been approved and implemented from January 2005.
3.Objective of the Paper
This paper intends to:
1. highlight the features of the proposed project; and
2. present the progress of the Virtual Library project at The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R.
Medical University, Chennai.
4.Features Of The Project
4.1. Project Objectives
The focus of the proposed project is to digitalize the TANMMU – Housekeeping
functions, Infrastructure, Resources and Services.
4.2. Scope
The project attempts to network at two levels.
1. Phase-1 - Campus Network (LAN)
Local Area Network (LAN) plans to link all the departments in the Dr. M.G.R. Medical
University campus, Guindy, Chennai.
2. Phase-II - Regional Network (WAN)
Regional Network plans to link all the 209 institutions in Tamil Nadu affiliated to
TANMMU (Appendix-1).
4.3. Duration
The total period of the proposed project is set for two years.
Phase-1—January, 2005 – December, 2005
Phase-2--- January, 2006 – December, 2006
4.4. Requisites
4.4.1. Manpower
The staff structure involved in the project is as presented in the following chart:
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