Usage of Library websites in promoting Academic Library

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
[email protected] of Nebraska - Lincoln

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

2019
Usage of Library websites in promoting Academic Library services: A survey with special reference to the selected college Libraries of Upper Assam.
Anurag Borpatra Gohain
[email protected]

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac Part of the Library and Information Science Commons
Borpatra Gohain, Anurag, "Usage of Library websites in promoting Academic Library services: A survey with special reference to the selected college Libraries of Upper Assam." (2019). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 2655. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/2655

Usage of Library websites in promoting Academic Library services: A survey with special reference to the selected college Libraries of Upper Assam.
Anurag Borpatra Gohain, Assistant Professor, CLISS, Dibrugarh University,Assam. [email protected]
Prasanna Kumar Konch, MLIS Student, CLISS, Dibrugarh University,Assam.
ABSTRACT
This paper tries to portrait the usage of library website as a tool for promotion of library services in the selected college libraries affiliated to Dibrugarh University. A pre-structured questionnaire has been used for the collection of primary data under the scope of the study. A total 12 colleges has been selected randomly for the study. This study helps in identifying the current status of library websites & ICT infrastructure as a whole in the colleges of Upper Assam. Keywords : Library Website, ICT, College Library,CMS,OPAC,Web-OPAC.
INTRODUCTION
As the constituents of the information age we are witnessing the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in providing access to information as well as disseminate the information to the user community. The Internet technology is a very effective to access and disseminate information which provides access to an endless variety of information including news, research, healthcare information, crime statistics, multimedia etc. Libraries have prolonged used technology to deliver and improve access to their resources and services. From the earliest automated circulation systems and catalogues, to the rise of web-based resources, libraries have fervently used technology for more effective conveyance of information resources to their clienteles. Since the decade of 90’s libraries have accustomed to the use of the web to deliver content including access to e-resources, information about specific collections and services. Libraries often use the web for services as e-reference via e-mail, chat and instant messaging systems. In this 21st century the development in the field of ICT is very fast and ever increasing. Information and communication technology change the scenario of conventional library to the virtual one. The library has no more the traditional concept of a place where books are stored on the shelves. The current digital revolution especially internet and website technology integrated with

treasure of information has emerged in the past few years, as an indispensable tool for people in pursuit of knowledge and information. The benefits and opportunities, the internet is offering today, have been widely recognised and appreciated by the citizens. Web technology has been used in library field for creation of library home pages or as gateways to facilitate the information about the library. Library home page provides a platform to proliferate various services and facilities to the intellectual community worldwide. The homepages of library used often as an interface for providing information about the web based scholarly resources it holds. As the library professional we observe that the library websites should acts as the mirror of the library, and the information provided in the library to their users. Librarians are to be responsible for the designing the content of the library website.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Kumar (2017) describes the impact of ICT based products and services on the library users with a special reference to academic library. He emphasized the need and advantage of marketing e-resources through library websites, blogs etc. Manjunath (2016) analysed the contents of the websites of eight special libraries based on Bengaluru. Special emphasis is given on library collection, library services, availability of e-resources, domain & display recognition, links, search & retrieval interface. Kaushik (2015) studies on the features of library websites of 28 NITs in India. The study reveals that most of the libraries facilitate conventional services through their websites; failing to incorporate cutting edge technologies like web 2.0 facility, cloud based services. Pareek and Gupta (2012) studies library website as promotional tool for information resources in some selected University libraries of Rajasthan focusing on library services & e-resources. Konnur and Rajani et al (2010) focuses on the currency, accuracy and relevance of the information contents provided in library websites of Bangalore. Kaur and Singh (2010) found that reference services are highly demanded on web platform. Shukla and Tripathi (2010) examined the content status on websites of libraries of Indian academic institutions to measure overall website performance. Performance calculation was done through criteria which would be helpful to the library webmasters to improve their content awareness status of their library websites.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The primary aim of the study was to investigate the usages and effectiveness of the library website to promote the academic library services, especially in the college libraries of Assam. The main objectives of the study are:
1. Examine the usage of Library websites/webpage for providing Library services. 2. Find out the effectiveness of Library website for providing better Library
services. 3. To know about the services provide for promoting academic Library services.

SCOPE AND COVERAGE OF THE STUDY
Library website is like a virtual guide of the physical facilities including collections, services and infrastructure available in the library. Website is the best source for information for the outsider. They are the mirror of the library. The preliminary idea about the library can be achieved from the website. The present study is mainly confined to the usage of library websites in promoting academic library services. Each of the colleges has a library but maximum of the libraries don’t have a separate library website. They have library webpage which is amalgamated to college website. Selected college libraries under the scope of study are as follows:
1. Central Library, Madhabdev College 2. Central Library,Dhakuwakhana College 3. Mohan Chandra Roy Library, Lakhimpur Kendra Mahavidyalaya 4. Rd. B.S. Granthagar, North Lakhimpur College 5. Central Library,Dhakuwakhana College 6. Central Library, Moridhal College 7. Central Library, Debraj Roy College 8. Central Library, Gogamukh College 9. Maskhuwa Degree College Library 10. Central Library, MDKG College 11. Central Library, Dhemaji Commerce College 12. Central Library, Dhemaji College.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION (From the stance of the Librarian from the surveyed colleges)

Sl.No
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Table 1: Daily user statistics

Name of the Library

Total registered user

Central Library, Madhabdev College
Central Library, Dhakuakhana College Central Library, Dhemaji College Mohan Chandra Roy Library, Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidyalaya
Central Library, Moridhal College Central Library, Gogamukh College Central Library, D.R.College
Maskhowa Degree College Library Central Library ,Dhemaji Commerce College Central Library, MDKG College Central Library, Dibru College
Dr.B.S.Granthagar, N.L.College

675 1100 1200 927
1253 1200 1300 1300 1590 1800 1600 4200

Frequency

No of daily user 150
80 100 150

% 22.22
7.27 8.33 16.18

89

7.10

60

5.00

165

12.69

50

3.84

60

3.77

60

3.33

70

4.37

150

3.57

Daily footfalls: Table 1 shows the daily user statistics of the surveyed college library. The figure shows that number of daily user in the library of Madhabdev College is highest (22.22%) followed by Library of Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidyalaya (16.18%). But in some colleges very less number of users visited to the library.
During the survey period some facts reveals that several users are mainly accustomed to the issue and return the books, reading the magazines and newspaper but they were not aware about the library website and the effectiveness of the library website.

Status of library website

Library Website: Table 2: From the survey it is clearly shows that 67% (8 Libraries) of surveyed college library has a separate Library webpage or website. In the website they provides the basic information about the library services, timing, staff details, collections, functions and short description about the library. 33% (4 Libraries) of colleges don’t have library website due to the lack of proper ICT infrastructure to develop a website. But some colleges are taking initiative to develop library website.

Table 2: Status of Library Website

Sl. No

Name of the College

Website

Yes

No

1

Madhabdev College

✓

×

2

Dhakuakhana College

✓

×

3

Dhemaji College

4

Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidayalaya

×

✓

×

✓

5

Moridhal College

✓

×

6

Gogamukh College

×

✓

7

Debraj Roy College

✓

×

8

Maskhowa Degree College

×

✓

9

Dhemaji Commerce College

✓

×

10

M.D.K.G. College

✓

×

11

Dibru College

✓

×

12

North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous)

✓

×

Web OPAC for Information Retrieval
Web-OPAC: Table 3 is an illustration of the college libraries using Web-OPAC as a library resource retrieval tool. In some colleges it is found that they use library Web-OPAC as an alternative to library website. It provides the structured webpage to access the WebOPAC as well as the library services and information. It provide library timing, library

description, e-resource link, Location, membership, Institutional Repository, library facilities and Virtual tour of library etc.

Table 3: Use of Web-OPAC

Sl. No

Name of the College

Use of Web-OPAC

1

Madhabdev College

Yes

No

✔

2

Dhakuakhana College

✔

3

Dhemaji College

✔

4

Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidayalaya

✔

5

Moridhal College

✔

6

Gogamukh College

✔

7

Debraj Roy College

✔

8

Maskhowa Degree College

✔

9

Dhemaji Commerce College

✔

10

M.D.K.G. College

✔

11

Dibru College

✔

12

North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous)

✔

Figure 1 display the libraries provide the

online catalogue search facility in library

website. Online catalogue is providing

through the Web-OPAC service. The

Yes

No

50%

50%

survey reveals that 50% (6) colleges have

provided online catalogue service to the

user in website. 50% (6) numbers of college

could not provide online library catalogue

No Yes

they only provide OPAC service in library

campus.

Figure 1: Use of Web OPAC

server which is accessible from outside the campus.

Figure 2 is an example of

Web-OPAC developed

through integrated library

management

software

KOHA. It is hosted in cloud

Figure 2: Krishna Kanta Handiqui Central Library Web-OPAC (Source: http://jbcollege-opac.kohacloud.in/)

Sl.

Name of the College

No

1

Madhabdev College

2

Dhakuakhana College

3

Dhemaji College

4

Lakhimpur Kendriya

Mahavidayalaya

5

Moridhal College

6

Gogamukh College

7

Debraj Roy College

8

Maskhowa Degree College

9

Dhemaji Commerce College

10 M.D.K.G. College

11 Dibru College

12 North Lakhimpur College

Table 4: Usage of CMS

Usage of CMS

Joomla

Drupal

Wordpress

Blogspot

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

×

Wix Other

×

×

✓

×

✓

×

✓

×

✓

×

✓

×

✓

×

×

×

✓

✓

×

×

✓

×

✓

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
CMS

Other Wix Blogspot Drupal
Joomla

0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7

Figure 3: Usage of Content Management System

CMS: Table 4 & Figure 3 shows the number of college library who used to develop the website using Content Management System (CMS). A content management system (CMS) is a software application or set of related programs that are used to create and manage digital content. A content management system (CMS) manages the creation and modification of digital content. It typically supports multiple users in a collaborative environment. CMS include Web based publishing, format management, history editing and version control, indexing search, and retrieval. Wix is a cloud-based web development platform. It allows users to create HTML5 websites and mobile sites through the use of online drag and drop tools. One college use Blogspot and one is use Wix to develop the library website both are the cloud hosting website. It is very easy to develop and update the information.

Table 5: Access to digital library and Institutional repository

Sl. No

Libraries of the Colleges

Digital Library and Institutional Repository

1

Madhabdev College

Yes

No

✔

2

Dhakuakhana College

✔

3

Dhemaji College

✔

4

Lakhimpur Kendriya Mahavidayalaya

✔

5

Moridhal College

✔

6

Gogamukh College

✔

7

Debraj Roy College

✔

8

Maskhowa Degree College

✔

9

Dhemaji Commerce College

✔

10

M.D.K.G. College

✔

11

Dibru College

✔

12

North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous)

✔

Digital Library/ IR : Figure 4 shows

the 58% of college library website

provide the link of their website or

webpage to access the resources that in
No

42%

digital library or Institutional

repository. User can access the digital

Yes

library and institutional repository

58%

through the library website. Libraries

provide a user name and password to

access the digital library and it can be

accessed only from college campus.

Figure 4: Access to digital library/ Institutional repository