Setting up an electronic library: the case of TERI

Headnote

Abstract

Purpose - The paper describes the setting up of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) electronic library in New Delhi, India to provide better services for the researchers to access the structured information from the desk top. The aim of this paper is to share the experience gain and invite comments and suggestion for further improvement.

Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes a case study of TERI and how the electronic library has developed.

Findings - TERI Electronic Library (EL) was created to provide access to online resources, online e-journals, electronic documents and virtual resources. The virtual libraries i.e. internet sources, together, have now crystallized to more or less to a full-fledged EL that can be browsed as well as searched. In TERI, electronic services like Current Awareness and Alerts services apart from establishing a Virtual Information Centre has further supplemented the EL. A physical electronic library has been created to address the access to all the local area network (LAN) connected systems that provide CD-ROM access and journals and books available for download for all time free access to in-house users.

Research limitations/implications - The usage has become handier for the researchers and has helped in saving their valuable time. Library management has also become easier. Any addition to the existing resources is announced by e-mail for user access. The future plan is to make the whole resources dynamic in nature. The future of libraries seems to have no escape from that of becoming the EL.

Originality/value - This paper could be useful for the small and medium special and research libraries who do not have enough funds to start an electronic library in these lines.

Keywords Internet, Digital libraries, Virtual organizations, Electronic books, Electronic journals, India

Paper type Case study

Introduction

During the last two decades there has been a tremendous impact of information technology (IT) on libraries, which has led to drastic changes in the area of the library profession and the provision of information services to the users. We are migrating from paper copies of documents to digital forms of them, permitting users convenient and easy access to the information in the library. Today we are being challenged by the notion of electronic libraries. What is an electronic library? Are...