7 - Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

Digital Libraries and Changing Role of Information Managers
Sanjay Gupta 1 , Birmohan Singh 2 and Anukampa Negi 3
Abstract
The information technology explosion and its applications in every aspect of life have
changed the entire scenario of the present world. The IT revolution and information
explosion has led to the emergence of electronic information era. These days, the users
are not satisfied with the printed available material, they require that printed information
be supplemented with more dynamic multimedia documents. Thus digital libraries are
becoming an important element in the era of information technology and it seems that
the digital library concept should be considered a dynamic and essential component of
an organization/institute.
To keep pace in the rapidly changing environment, infrastructure and service facilities
should be made available according to the needs so as to compete and survive in the era
of competitiveness. Major changes in the information environment have transformed the
role of librarians into those of information managers. An attempt has been made in the
paper to give an outlines of Digital Library and changing role of information managers.
1. Introduction
In ancient days, the libraries were considered as storehouse of books and other reading
material whereas the librarians were considered merely as the custodian of these
documents. With the passage of time and rapid advancements in electronic information
technology, the new means of communication have altered the way in which information
is handled, stored and exchanged across the world. These advancements have transformed
libraries from a mere static storehouse of documents to a dynamic powerhouse of
information, serving all professional and non professionals in utilizing useful and need
based collection of documents. The medium of information storage has changed from clay
tablets, palm leaves, papyrus to papers and now to electronic and optical media. This has
brought a revolutionary change in the way libraries adapt and function, shifting from print
to electronic dissemination centre. All these desired the library professionals to switch
over from traditional library system to digital library concept.
The Digital Library in a broad sense is a computerized system that allows users to obtain a
coherent means of access to an organized, electronically stored repository of information
and data. The term Digital Library may be used to describe any of the following
- Collection of electronic journals and books
- On-line educational portal
- Repository of multimedia files
- Archives of information created from local knowledge
- Electronic version of libraries
- The entire Internet
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1 Librarian, Sant Longowal Institute of Engg. & Tech., Longowal
2
Sr. Lect., Deptt. Computer Sc. & Engg, S.L.I.E.T., Longowal
3 B.Lib.I.Sc. Student
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