Using Digital and Traditional Libraries in Developing Countries

Given the existing challenges in accessing print-based publications in developing countries, digital libraries are seen as a good alternative. Thus, it is important to understand how such libraries are used in these contexts, especially when compared with the usage of traditional libraries. This paper analyzes and compares the usage of the digital and traditional libraries of the University Jean Piaget of Cape Verde, aiming at understanding the way they are used, and the relation between the access to the existing information resources in these two libraries.http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-642-34752-8_55.pd

DIGITAL LIBRARIES IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Digital libraries (DL) are seen as a hope to developing countries in their struggle for accessing bibliographic resources, especially in a context where the traditional distribution mechanisms failed tragically. Several difficulties are however faced by these countries to build and use digital libraries, due mainly to its high development costs and to the poor existing ICT resources in these countries. This paper discusses the importance of digital libraries for developing countries and introduces the main challenges they face in building and using such libraries. The current alternatives and major initiatives for making digital information accessible to developing countries are also addressed.The Online Digital Libraries have the great advantage of making bibliographic resources, including the most recent publications, accessible anytime and anywhere as far as a computer with Internet access is available. This fact is considerably important for developing countries where the traditional mechanism for distribution such resources failed tragically (Witten, 2004). These libraries are therefore a very good alternative especially for regions and countries where there are difficulties in accessing bibliographic resources. Institutions and researchers in the developing countries frequently have no access to the research literature published in the developed countries due mainly to the high costs and inadequacy of the distributions mechanisms (Arunachalam, 2003). A study conducted in 2003 concluded that 56% of the institutions in the countries with less then US$1000 GDP per capita, have had no international journal subscription for the last 5 years and that 21are however high. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of money has been invested in such projects around the world. For example the Library of Congress invested initially US$60 million in the development of the American National Digital Library!1 US 24 million were awarded in the ambit of the First Digital Library Initiative and over US 50 million2 in the Second. The high building costs might hinder the construction of digital libraries in developing countries since the decision makers prefer to put their scarce resources in addressing the existing basic needs such as drinking water, health, sanitation, nutrition etc

Enabling mobile access to digital libraries in digital divide contexts

Digital libraries (DL) have had a tremendous impact on improving the accessibility of scientific and academic publications. In developing countries, they seem to be the great hope, due to the serious existing problems with the traditional publishing and distribution mechanisms and to the potential they have on enabling access to a great panoply of publications. Moreover, accessing digital libraries over mobile devices has the potential of reaching a broader community of users and on helping to bridge the digital divide, since there are very reduced computer and Internet penetration rates in these countries, along with a higher mobile phone usage. For developed countries, accessing digital libraries on the go might also bring important added value. This paper features an analysis of the major issues related to making digital libraries accessible over mobile devices. A specific study on the possibility of using mobile digital libraries in a developing country context is also presented along with a proposal for making DSpace based digital libraries accessible over mobile phones.http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6263193&isnumber=626305

Myths and realities of digital reference services : Perspectives of libraries from developing countries / Ahmad Bakeri Abu Bakar

With the increasing availability of electronic information services and the emergence of the Web the notion of traditional reference services has been altered. Libraries in the US have begun to offer Web–based reference services which are termed ―digital‖ or ―virtual‖ reference services and those in other countries such as UK are following suit. This paper aims to determine whether developing countries in Asia and Pacific region have caught up yet with the realities of offering digital reference services in real time with a 24/7 operating mode. To what extent has this phenomenal change affecting reference services gripped the libraries of developing countries? Do developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region are implementing the digital reference services in their libraries like what is happening in the developed countries? In order to address this issue a survey of the current practices related to reference services in libraries of developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region was studied. Data for this study were gathered from selected academic libraries websites located in the region. The levels of reference services are judged using a scale that measures their maturity. A library that operates traditional services where a user is provided with answers through personal contact, normal mail, or telephone is treated as having zero maturity. A score of 1 is assigned to a country when libraries have begun providing email reference. An email link on the library website is an indicator of this level of virtual reference service. A score of 2 is assigned to a country in which libraries are providing email reference together with a web form, while a score of 3 is assigned to a country when libraries are using a web form together with online chat. When libraries have a web form, online chat and other mode of online communication designed solely for reference service, a score of 4 is assigned. A score of 5 is assigned to a country where their libraries offer digital reference services in real time with 24/7 operating mode. The findings showed that not a single country in the Asia and Pacific region was able to offer virtual reference services in real time on a 24/7 basis. Some of the academic libraries offering virtual reference services have online chat but for a limited time only as shown in the case of academic libraries of the Philippines. Keywords: digital reference services; developing countries; traditional reference services; digital libraries; evaluation

General guidelines for designing bilingual low cost digital library services suitable for special library users in developing countries and the Arabic speaking world

The World is witnessing a considerable transformation from print based-formats to elec-tronic-based formats thanks to advanced computing technology, which has a profound impact on the dissemination of nearly all previous formats of publications into digital formats on computer networks. Text, still and moving images, sound tracks, music, and almost all known formats can be stored and retrieved on computer magnetic disk. Over the last two decades, a number of special libraries and information centres in the Arab world have introduced electronic resources into their library services. Very few have implemented automated and integrated systems. Despite the im-portance of designing digital libraries not merely for accessing to or retrieval of information but rather for the provision of electronic services, hardly any special library has started the design of digital library services. Managers of special libraries and information centres in developing countries in general and in the Arab world in particular should start building their local digital libraries, as the benefit of establishing such electronic services is considerably massive and well known for expansion of re-search activities and for delivering services that satisfy the needs of targeted end-users. The aim of this paper is to provide general guideline for design of special low cost digital library providing ser-vices that are most frequently required by various categories of special library users in developing countries. This paper also aims at illustrating strategies and method approaches that can be adopted for building such projects. Seeing the importance of designing an inexpensive digital li-brary as basic principle for the design accordingly, the utilisation of today's ICTs and freely avail-able open sources software is the right path for accomplishing such goal. The paper intends to de-scribe the phases and stages required for building such projects from scratch. It also aims at high-lighting the barriers and obstacles facing Arabic content and how could such problems overcome

Supporting Research in Area Studies: a guide for academic libraries

The study of other countries or regions of the world often crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries in the humanities and social sciences. Supporting Research in Area Studies is a comprehensive guide for academic libraries supporting these communities of researchers. This book explores the specialist requirements of these researchers in information resources, resource discovery tools, and information skills, and the challenges of working with materials in multiple languages. It makes the case that by adapting their systems and procedures to meet these needs, academic libraries find themselves better placed to support their institution's�� international agenda more widely. The first four chapters cover the academic landscape and its history, area studies librarianship and acquisitions. Subsequent chapters discuss collections management, digital products, and the digital humanities, and their role in academic projects. The final chapter explores information skills and the various disciplinary skills that facilitate the needs of researchers during their careers

Developing information services for special library users by designing a low cost digital library : the experiment of NOC-Digital Library

This research originates from a belief that special libraries in developing countries need to modernise and implement their ICT infrastructure and articulate information policies that will facilitate the exploitation of information resources to the optimum to increase national productivity. Special libraries and information centres in developing countries in general and in the Arab world in particular should start building their local digital libraries, as the benefit of establishing such electronic services is considerably massive and well known for expansion of research activities and for delivering services that satisfy the needs of targeted users. The aim of this paper is to provide general guideline for design a low cost digital library providing services that are most frequently required by various categories of special library users in developing countries. This paper also aims at illustrating strategies and method approaches that can be adopted for building such projects. The paper intends to describe the phases and stages implemented for building a low cost digital library services for the NOC. It also aims at highlighting the barriers and obstacles facing Arabic content in the digitization stage

Open Access Publishing: A Literature Review

Within the context of the Centre for Copyright and New Business Models in the Creative Economy (CREATe) research scope, this literature review investigates the current trends, advantages, disadvantages, problems and solutions, opportunities and barriers in Open Access Publishing (OAP), and in particular Open Access (OA) academic publishing. This study is intended to scope and evaluate current theory and practice concerning models for OAP and engage with intellectual, legal and economic perspectives on OAP. It is also aimed at mapping the field of academic publishing in the UK and abroad, drawing specifically upon the experiences of CREATe industry partners as well as other initiatives such as SSRN, open source software, and Creative Commons. As a final critical goal, this scoping study will identify any meaningful gaps in the relevant literature with a view to developing further research questions. The results of this scoping exercise will then be presented to relevant industry and academic partners at a workshop intended to assist in further developing the critical research questions pertinent to OAP

Digital libraries for creative communities

Digital library technologies have a great deal to offer to creative, design communities. They can enable large collections of text, images, music, video and other information objects to be organised and accessed in interesting and diverse ways. Ordinary people—people not traditionally viewed as 'creators' or 'designers'—can now conceive, assemble, build, and disseminate new information collections. This paper explores the development rationale behind the Greenstone digital library technology. We also examine three examples of creative new techniques for accessing and presenting information in digital libraries and stress the importance of tailoring information access to support the requirements of the users and application area

The Development and Usage of the Greenstone Digital Library Software

The Greenstone software has helped spread the practical impact of digital library technology throughout the world-particularly in developing countries. This article reviews the project’s origins, usage, and the development of support mechanisms for Greenstone users. We begin with a brief summary of salient aspects of this open source software package and its user population. Next we describe how its international, humanitarian focus arose. We then review the special requirements imposed by the conditions that prevail in developing courtiers. Finally we discuss efforts to establish regional support organizations for Greenstone in India and Africa