| HOME | IUIU-KC NEW ARRIVALS | MY BIOGRAPHY | INTERESTING | LIBRARY COLLECTIONS |
Internet has transformed the tradition state of the library to the automated or digital state. The library user now days can easily access his or her information materials of his interest on his desk, that’s in his home or office without physically presented himself in the library as a case in traditional libraries. This and many other developments in the library have come as a result of Internet. The following are the applications of Internet in academic libraries.
- User Education
According to Kwanya (2009) “The Internet has opened new windows for education. Research and communication tools enable the technology to support formal and informal education at all levels. Electronic learning (e-learning), virtual universities, libraries and distance learning are some of the education utilities currently running on the web.”
Kumar (2009) defined user education as a process of activities involved in making the users of the library conscious about tremendous value of information in day to day life to develop interest among the users to seek information as and when they requires
In that case therefore, it’s a clear indication that Internet plays a paramount role in educating the library users too due to its feature of being a global system of interconnected computer networks that allows millions of computers around the world to communicate with each other, the librarians uses this feature therefore to educate their library users, Since it makes it possible to educate the library users even when they are not physically presented in the library. Here, the librarian can post the information concerning with library collections, library services, library policies and among other crucial information which seems to be relevant to their library users on the library web site, thus making the user education convenient and interactive.
The Internet has also opened new windows for education. Research and communication tools enable the technology to support formal and information education at all levels of library users. Electronic learning (e-learning), virtual universities and distance learning are some of the education utilities currently running on the web. They make education much more affordable, accessible, convenient and interactive.
- Selective dissemination of information (SDI)
This is a service designed to meet the identified needs of the users. Selective dissemination of information service is based on the concept of personal service, it is highly personalized service directed to individuals so as to cater for individual requirements. In this case, the library users cannot review regularly and consistently all publications that could be of importance to them, particularly in view of the increased volume of information coming out in every field, unless selective dissemination of information system is created. Thus the library patron could decide to design the dissemination of information system with the help of Internet to deal with the interest of library users by highlighting them their area of interest.
According to Hossain (2008),
“SDI is a current awareness mechanism through which the individual information user can expect to receive regular notification of new literature and data in accordance with his/her statement of interest or profile.”
But this task is very difficult to perform due to accelerated growth of information publications in every moment. The applications of Internet and computerized information system open a number of possibilities with respect to current awareness services. One of the most significant innovations was the SDI program.
- Display of Current Periodicals
Internet plays a paramount role in putting the above library service into consideration. Here, new/ current periodicals such as library newsletters, library magazines, journals are normally displayed by the reference librarian. However, this can be greatly achieved by use of library website which is a feature of Internet. Here, the reference librarian can upload these periodicals on the library web site just to be viewed by the library users.
Beauty beautiful web pages, is in the eye of your user. Watrall (2008) stated that the beautiful websites comprises good planning and knowing the audience of your users.
- Information Retrieval
The Internet is the biggest reservoir of information. It is like a big encyclopedia which has all the information you can imagine classified and stored in a way that you can easily access and use. This is very useful for research. The World Wide Web (WWW), gopher sites and FTP services enable users of the Internet to access, search and retrieve data of interest to them. Internet has also enabled the researchers to exchange ideas, challenges and findings of research projects. This has indeed led to supplementation of tradition libraries, thus easing the work of the librarian.
- Marketing of Library Services and Library Collections
The Internet provides opportunities for librarians to market their library collections. The web has made it possible. Here, the librarian can post the library bibliographies on the library web site just to notify the library users about library collections. According to Watrall (2008) stated that “make sure you’re web designing for your users, not yourself”
- Digitization of the Library
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia “A digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media) and accessible by computers. “
The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks. A digital library is a type of information retrieval system. In fact, without Internet in place, the effectiveness of digital library is questioned. In nutshell, Internet has prayed a wonderful role in changing the face of library from traditional to digital state of it.
- Enhancing Communication and Co-Ordination
The Internet has become an important instrument for co-ordination of activities by global libraries. Such libraries have set up internal web sites to keep their library users informed about library developments. Through the web, library users are able to see a library new arrivals, library calendar, library policies, library users policy manual and among other relevant information
Internet communication capabilities include E-mail, Usenet, Newsgroups Chatting and Telnet he further said that the Internet has become the most important E-mail system in the World because it connects so many people from all over the World. Writers and scientists uses it to collaborate on their work, sales staff use it to keep in touch with their home offices and corporations use it to communicate with each other and keep in touch with remote sites. (Saleemi, 2009)
- Universal Access
The Internet provides giving the same influential capabilities to everyone who has access to the network irrespectively of any geographical location. The Internet is based on a common standard, the TCP/IP which means Transmission control protocol/ Internet protocol is a suite or family of protocols that govern the way data is transmitted across networks. TCP/IP protocols work together to break the data into small pieces that can be efficiently. This provides all computers with access to the network with the same technical interface and capabilities, thus application of Internet in academic libraries.
- The Internet’s Digital Advantage
Here, media of computer networks, by virtue of their design and the enabling technology upon which they ride, are fundamentally different from the now dominant mass media of television, radio, newspapers and magazines. Digital communications media are inherently capable of being more interactive, more participatory, more decentralized, and less hierarchical. The Internet, like all computer systems, is based on digital data, so that information never changes or becomes distorted over time or in transmission between sites. Thus Internet preserves information materials on behave of information users.
- Freedom of Speak
Indeed Internet plays a significant role to provide communication without interference of any one and the information can be accessed by the thousands of people connected to Internet. This kind of freedom can be possible through Internet features like e-mail, Chat and instant messaging, Internet telephone and among others. Thus the disseminated information to the user can be accessed at any time at any place unlike the tradition libraries which have opening and closing hours. This limits the library users to acquire information materials.
- Provision of File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
FTP is an option that allows users to transfer files from thousands of host computers on the Internet to their person computer account. In this case, the library patrons may use this Internet feature to transfer files that may include the interests of their library users. FTP sites contain books, articles, software, games, images, sounds, multimedia, course work, date sets and more. FTP transfers can be performed on the World Wide Web without the need for special software. (Saleemi, 2009)
- Information Transfer and Information Sharing
The ability to share information quickly and inexpensively has proven to be one of the most popular uses of networking technology. It has been reported that E-mail is by far the number-one activity of people who uses the Internet. Many libraries have invested in Internet to allow the sharing of information to library users. Thus simplifying time and costs on both sides. That’s the librarians and the library users. Information materials like electronic information materials that are e-book, e-journals and among information are all shared, thus application of Internet in academic libraries.
- Speed
The Internet operates at a high speed. In this case, information can be retrieved within the second. Digital information such as Internet packets travel at 2/3 of the speed of light on copper wire and on fiber optic cables. Since light speed is about 300,000 kilometers a second, this means digital communications travel at about 200,000 kilometers a second, slowing down only because copper and fiber optic materials are about one-third thicker than a vacuum, thus application of Internet in academic libraries.
Because most of Internet technology and functions are relatively immature, the Internet presents many problems to the library users. Bowden (1990) states that electronic documents have considerable factors affecting them like viruses, which have devastating effects on the systems. Apart from the obvious hazards of training cables there is a growing concern about the ill effects of visual units and continuous keyboard activity. Actors such as lightening and sealing should be accounted for to ensure that computer users are able to take regular breaks, and retain a degree of control over their work.
Pike (1995) states that, “The moment you connect to the Internet or to any large Network for that matter, you open yourself up to numerous risks. The amount of risk you will face depends upon a number of factors, one of the most important being the amount of attention you draw to yourself”
Saleemi (1991, rep.2009) stated the following challenges of Internet.- Lack of Security
Lack of security is one of the reasons why the net, while being widely used to facilities transactions, is still only in limited use to consummate transactions. When large amounts of data are stored in electronic form, they are vulnerable to more kinds of threats than when they exist in manual form. Advances in telecommunication and computer software have magnified these vulnerabilities. Through data communication networks, information systems in different locations on the Internet nodes are interconnected. The potential for unauthorized access, abuse or fraud is not limited to a single location but can occur at any access point in the Internet. Internet hackers have found ways to steal passwords as they pass through one site and use them to break into computer system at other sites all over the world. (Saleemi, 2009)
- Technology Problems
To begin with, the Internet still lacks standards for accessing the net, and sending E-mail. A number of incompatible ways exist to access the net, allowing specific users to perform certain functions but not others. He lack of standards also affects the ability of library organization to establish a stable link to the Internet. As the traffic on the Internet becomes more complex and can present problems without good technical support. Because many people and organizations are sending so much data through the net, much of it band width-hungry graphics, telecommunications links are already overloaded. Often users are unable to access the net, while those who do and use the graphics-based web frequently find connecting to the desired server interminably slow or even virtually impossible during busy times. (Saleemi, 2009)
Another technical problem arises out of the fact that there is no comprehensive method of locating and keeping track of the pages in the World Wide Web, seekers often spend larger amounts of time in futile searches. Despite the many new tools and planned indexes to the web, this problem is far from solved. There is not good enough technology to filter out extraneous information while allowing people to access the specific information they need.
- Hackers
As long as there have been computers, there have been people who wanted to use those machines and gain unauthorized access to the data contained within. In the past, most break-ins occurred so people could get free or unsupervised access to compilers or other system resources. As time progressed, the act of breaking into a computer system seemed to develop into a sport for some people, and the number of systems broken into mattered more than the actual information or applications on those systems. (Pike, 1995)
- Digital Divide
Kwanya (2009) stated that the term “digital divide” emerged in the 1990s to describe the perceived growing gap between those who have access to and the skills to use Information communication technology (ICT) and Internet and those who, for socio-economic and / or geographical reasons, have limited or no access. In this case, the library users may be disadvantaged by their culture, age, geographic location, economic status and among others factors that may hinder the effective application of Internet in academic libraries.
- Language Barriers
Given that the Internet is global, it is essentially a “Tower of Babel” with so many languages spoken and understood by different people in different geographical locations of academic libraries. It is not easy to communicate and conduct research in all these languages this indeed may hinder the effective application of Internet in Islamic University in Uganda Kampala campus library.
- Information Overload
Although the Internet is an endless reservoir of information, it can also be very misleading since many documents have not been carefully checked or certified and the author of these files are not responsible for what they put online. As easy as it is to find information on the Internet it is also extremely easy to put information on the Internet. Anyone can do it and unfortunately many does it carelessly because they are not reliable for their action of the consequences that may result from their misleading information. For example, terrorists and reactionaries, for political purposes, make use
- Pornography
This is a very serious issue concerning the Internet, especially when it comes to young children. There are thousands of pornographic sites on the Internet that can be easily found and can be a detriment to letting children use the Internet Pornography is widespread over the Internet making it inappropriate to be used by the children below certain age so as to prevent the psychological damage from the early days. These sites are easily accessible and attractive for the teenagers and young kids.
- Spamming
This refers to sending unsolicited e-mails in bulk, which serve no purpose and unnecessarily clog up the entire system. People will fill your mailbox with advertisement, forwarded messages, product details, business offers, and all sorts of unwanted junk. Separating the messages you really want from the hundreds of unwanted mails is a daunting task. This makes many Internet users to hate E-mail thus hindering the effectiveness of Internet application in academic libraries. (Leon, 1999)
- Computer viruses
One of the most destructive examples of crime involves the creation of computer viruses or worms as a result of Internet. Virus is the more popular term but, technically, a virus is a program code that cannot work without being inserted into another program. A worm is a distinct program that can run unaided. In either case, these programs copy annoying or destructive routines into the networked computer systems of anyone who accesses computers infected with the virus or who uses copies of magnetic disks taken from infected computers. Thus, a computer virus or worm can spread destruction among many users. Though they sometimes display only humorous messages, they more often destroy the contents of memory, hard disks and other storage devices. This indeed hinders the effectiveness of Internet application in academic libraries, Islamic University in Uganda Kampala campus library in particular. (O’Brien, 2003)
- Software Piracy
Computer programs are valuable property and thus are the subject of theft from computer systems. However, unauthorized copying of software, or software piracy, is also a major form of software theft. Unauthorized copying is illegal because software is intellectual property that is protected by copyright law and user licensing agreements. ((O’Brien, 2003)
No comments:
Post a Comment