Challenges for Research and Reference Libraries in Digital Age: A Study of Dr. Ganda Singh Punjabi Reference Library, Patiala Kalra Harinder Pal Singh1,*, Singh Gian2 1Associate Professor and Head, Department of Library and Information Science, Punjabi University, Patiala, 147002, Punjab, India. 2Assistant Librarian, Punjabi University, Patiala, 147002, Punjab, India. *Email id: hpskalra@gmail.com
Abstract Digital age or information society has not only brought several opportunities before us, but also several challenges. From users’ point of view, consulting a multitude of sources, libraries, systems and networks across disciplines for required information is a formidable task in the digital age, particularly in social sciences and humanities. Users are going to the Internet in the myth that everything is available there, instead of using the rich collections that many libraries, including research and reference ones, have built over the years and most of the materials available in these collections are not available on the Internet. Part of the problem is that many if not most users are unaware of the rich collections available only in the printed form. The traditional library, by adding digital resources to its collection, is going to be the hybrid or polymedia library of the future with provision for accessing the resources across space and time limitations. As the diffusion of the Internet is taking place deep across urban and rural areas in the country and even through mobile phones, all libraries in India general, and reference and research libraries, in particular, need to redefine their role to be in-sync with the tech-savvy generation to make their collections and services reach users across space and time limitations. This paper presents a study of Dr. Ganda Singh Punjabi Reference Library (PRL), Patiala. PRL is a specialised research and reference library, located in Punjabi University campus, Patiala and is a major centre for study in Indian history and culture in general, and that of Punjab in particular, besides being a repository of materials on Punjabi language and literature and on Punjab history and culture. The back bone of the library is its Special collection section that contains special collections. These special collections are 54 in number, which contain more than 70,000 documents-including books, manuscripts, diaries, memoirs, rare books, maps, old journals and newspapers, religious scriptures etc. - from the personal collections of literary luminaries and scholars. These collections have contributed significantly in building up a strong collection on Indian and Punjab history and culture, and on Punjabi language and literature. In spite of several initiatives such as MIP project for preservation, DELNET database project for access, merging of special collections and reclassification of some special collections, automation and digitisation initiatives etc., the services of the library have not kept pace with the developments in technology to cater to the needs of those users who cannot visit the library. This is typical of an Indian research and reference library primarily on social sciences and humanities. The paper also gives some suggestions for managing special collections of the library so that these could be made available to users worldwide. It is imperative for PRL, which has preserved the graphic records of the Greater Punjab region, to meet the information needs of scholars, researchers and others located anywhere in the world and interested in India in general; and on any aspect of the greater Punjab region in particular. The challenge before PRL is huge but not insurmountable given the fact that basic ICT infrastructure is already available in the library and in Punjabi University, where the library is located. By doing so, PRL can set benchmarks for other reference and research libraries in the country. Top Keywords Digical age, GSPRL, Patiala. Top |