Digital library

DIGITAL LIBRARY

Digital library is a managed collection of information with associated services where the information is stored in digital format and accessible over the network. It is an organized collection of digitalized material or it is holding in the digital form which can be accessible by a computer on the network by using TCP/IP or other protocol.

The internet and World Wide Web (WWW) provide technological environment for the development and operation of a digital library. In order to have digital library there are some things that are required such as; audio visual, computer, network, printer, scanner, storage devices and software.

There are different factors of change to digital libraries such as; information explosion, searching problem in traditional libraries, low cost of technology where by cost of technologies is less than traditional libraries. Also there is environmental factor; whereby the use of digital libraries is he cleanest technologies to fulfill the slogan ‘burn a CD-ROM save a tree’ and new generation needs. Digital library is not confined to a particular location or so called building it is virtually distributed all over the world. However, the user can get his or her information on his or her own computer screen by using the internet whereby, it is a network of multimedia system which provides fingertip access.

Advantages of digital library

1.      No physical boundary; the user of a digital library need not to go to the library physically, people from all over the world could gain access to the same information as long as internet connection is available.

2.      Round the clock availability; digital libraries can be accessed at any time, 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year.

3.      Multiple accesses; the same resource can be used at the same time by the number of users.

4.      Structure approach; digital library provides access to  much richer content in a more structured manner.

5.      Information retrieval; the user is able to use any search term bellowing to the word or phrase of the entire collection. Digital library will provide very user friendly interfaces, giving click able access to its resources.

6.      Preservation and conservation; an exact copy of the original can be made any number of times without any degradation in quality.

7.      Space; in traditional libraries are limited by storage space, digital libraries have the potential to store much more information, simply because digital information requires very little physical space to contain them. When the library had no space for extension digitization is the only solution.

8.      Network; digital library can provide the link to any other resources of other digital library very easily thus a seamlessly integrated resource sharing can be achieved

9.      Cost; the cost of maintaining a digital library is much lower than that of a traditional library. Traditional library must spend large amount of money paying staff, book maintains, rent and additional books.

Generally; digital libraries are not going to replace the existence of traditional libraries but are there to meet the present demand of other users who are digitalized. A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life by Henry Word Beecher.

BY: KIYABO NELLY

       BAPRM-42587