Strategic Planning and Policy for Collection Development of E-Resources to Satisfy User Requirements : A Case Study of J R D Tata Memorial Library

Abstract Keywords : E-Resources, Consortia Subscription, Collection Development, Online Access Background Initially, libraries to automate the processing functions of the library i.e. the traditional form of library automation, used information technology. Other applications have since been developed to provide services to and between libraries like bibliographic services, inter-library lending and document delivery. Over the past few years, there has been a visible trend towards using information technology to enhance services to end-users. Issues involved here include increased speed of access and delivery, access to resources not held by the library and remote access by the end-user. The enabling technologies are documents in electronic form and electronic networks for the distribution of such documents/information. Over the past few years, a number of techniques and related standards have been developed which allow documents to be created and distributed in electronic form. Hence, to cope with the present situation, libraries are shifting towards new media -namely electronic resources for their collection development so that the demands of users are better fulfilled. This paper is aimed at the librarian, as a collection developer who is interested in looking at the range of electronic resources available, how they might be evaluated and whole process of purchasing such documents/resources

Strategic planning and policy for collection development of e-resources to satisfy user requirements : a case study of J R D Tata Memorial Library

The library environment is currently undergoing a rapid and dynamic revolution leading to new generation of libraries with an emphasis on e-resources. On one side, there is an increasing demand for good library collection in terms of large amount of data/information and on the other hand, the publishing media is striving hard to support this demand at lightning speed by way of e-publication as well as online access. As a result, a large number of e-resources are published on all subject areas. Therefore, libraries need to adopt electronics media for its collection developments in a better way to fulfill the requirements of users. J R D Tata Memorial Library at the Indian Institute of Science (I.I.Sc), Bangalore with their vision has brought out a policy and adopted a strategic plan for collection development of electronic resources. This paper describes in detail, the steps taken by the library for a comprehensive e-resources access package model so that the researchers at I.I.Sc. Reap the maximum benefits by giving access to reasonable level to meet their information requirements for academic and research activities. This paper also deals with issues like social and Intellectual Property Rights apart from user requirements /satisfaction. Framework and models have been discussed about change in the media of collection development and its management. The success and reality of access to e-resources/ digital information has also been narrated in respect of INDEST consortia and other type of subscriptions