Cloud Computing Applications: Digital Agenda for Automation and Networking of Libraries in Karnataka

Abstract

This paper envisioned to convey a study of government first grade college libraries that have automated their day-to-day services and activities. The main purpose of the study is to offer a significant view of the proficient practices of the government first grade college librarians in automating their house keeping processes. The study is been carried out using the survey method by collecting the data among 432 Government colleges across Karnataka state using online structured questionnaire and received 345 (79.86 %) responses. Some of the key findings of the study are, among these colleges out of which 68.2 % (295) college libraries were completely automated using e-Granthalaya, KOHA, NewGenlib, Libsoft, SLIM++, Easylib software. Many of these libraries were using cloudapplications as an integrated library management system and for some reasons which various from library to librarysuch as lack of computer facility, economic problems, lack of qualified and skilled professionals and insufficientcollections in the libraries and sufficient infrastructure libraries were not automated. The study was limited to theautomated libraries in Karnataka which gives a standing view of the cloud applications used by diverse librariesand the view of the library professionals about the performance of the software they use. And this paper is anattempt to expose the details involved in cloud computing applications and its advantages in effective applicationsin higher education institutions which is emphasised in this paper. This paper is also been attempt to explore howcloud computing applications can extend library and information services for improved sustainability. It is observedfrom the study that majority of the surveyed colleges i.e., 203 (58.84 %) were using e-Granthalaya 4.0 cloud versionILMS out of 345 libraries. Implication of cloud computing can benefit libraries in streamlining information serviceslike acquisitions, cataloguing, service flow, discovery and retrieval of information. It also helps in augmenting theeconomy of libraries and evades repetition of library acquisitions.