INNOVATIVE LIBRARY SERVICES
AND FUTURE CHALLENGES
Dr R.B. Gaddagimath
University Librarian, Gulbarga University
Kalaburagi - 585 106 - Karnataka
E-mail: rbggug@gmail.com URL: www.guglibrary.net
Benchmarks and Parameters
• Education is measured against
global benchmarks and
international parameters
• University/College rankings are
testimony of this globalized
benchmarking of higher
education
Transition in Higher Education
• Student to Learner
• Student to Lifelong Member Learning
Community
• Skills directed towards career goals
• Interactive, collaborative and independent
Learning
• Faculty to Learner Centered Institution
• Teaching, Design and Management of
Learning Experiences
• Faculty now act as a Facilitator
Impact of ICT and New Opportunities
• Teaching and Learning
• Accessing e-information to Enhance Quality
of Education
Internet and WWW, Preprint Servers,
Newsgroups
E-journals, databases, CD-ROMs
• Communication, Storing and Handling of
Information
• Learning Resource Centre in Virtual
Environment to support Self Learning,
Developing Instructional Learning Materials
Paradigm Shift – Libraries
• Information Provider to Facilitator of
Information
• Print to Electronic Media
• ‘Active Users’ than ‘Passive Users’
• Emphasis on ‘Access’ instead of ‘Acquisition’
• Team work rather than Individual
Contribution
• Solitary Environment to Networked
Environment
INNOVATION AND ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
• The Library world is in the midst of
Technological Restructuring
• Is the Library Effective? (Able to
Achieve User Satisfaction)
• Is the Library Efficient? (Able to
Achieve Objectives with Minimum
Resources)
INNOVATIVE PRACTICES – NAAC, AICTE, MCI
• Management of Library and
Information Services
• Collection and Services Provided to Users
• Extent of the Use of Services
• Best Practices for University/
Autonomous College Libraries
NAAC Best Practices to Support Quality
Enhancement
• Computerization of Library using Digital
Software
• Inclusion of sufficient Information about the
Library in Brochure/Prospectus
• Compiling Student/Teacher Attendance
Statistics & Notifying the same on Notice Board
• Displaying Newspaper Clippings on Notice
Board
• Career/Employment Information/Services
• Internet Facilities to different User Groups
Information Literacy Programs
Signage Systems
Suggestion Box and Timely Response
Conducting Book Exhibitions
Organizing book talks
Instituting Annual Best User Award for
Students
• Organizing Competitions Annually
• Conducting User Surveys Periodically
• Maintaining Library Website, Public
Relations
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FEATURES OF FUTURE LIBRARIES
• Social Space – Comfortable and dynamic space
conducive to problem based learning, discussions
and interaction between users.
• Library everywhere - Remote access to eresources
• Outreach activities – Migrating from print to
electronic collections and provide e-reference, SMS,
RSS feed etc.,
• Digital lives – Repositioning library and
information tools, resources, expertise and new skills.
• Research environment - Creating library as
learning hub to meet research and learning
requirements of Researchers.
• Virtual Research Environment - providing
work and data in every detail, offering research
tools and social networking to build scientific
communities.
• Print values - Digitization, enhancing ILL and
Document delivery services.
• Help in Research Assessment and measuring
research out put
• World Ranking of Universities and Institutions
ENVISIONING LIBRARY OF THE FUTURE
• Library is seen as a guide to information
• Growing number of ‘Maker Spaces’ or
‘Fab Labs’ being created
• ‘Academic Commons’ ‘Learning Commons’
to provide new services like
Writing Centers
 Students Advisory Units
 Innovative Teaching Centers
 Collaborative Spaces and Media Creation
Centers
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Innovation in Library Systems
• Single Catalogues over very large
areas (regional and national) using
cloud data and software
• Cloud Computing Technology
integrated the Online Catalogue of
Gulbarga University Library, PG
Centers of Raichur, Bidar and Study
Center - Sharana Sahitya Library,
Basavakalyan
http://libcat-guglib.informindia.co.in/
Web OPAC using KOHA under Cloud Computing @ GU Library
Innovations in Funding
• New Partnerships, Diversifying Income, and
Seeking Donations to raise Funds
• Identify the Donors or Social Institutions
with Novel Ideas
• Infosys Foundation, Bangalore supported
Rs.1.00 Crore for establishing Virtual
Learning Resource Centre & Digital Library
at Gulbarga University (Rs. 3.50 crore)
reflecting University’s mission to be a
leading “Learning Region”
• HKRDB support
Virtual Learning Resource Centre & Digital Library
Resource Discovery Tools
• Enables Users Simultaneous Search in
real time from Multiple Information
Resources in a Single Time the 
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Library Catalogue
E-Journals, E-Books
Databases
Institutional databases
Publishers databases
FedGate @ Gulbarga University Library
http://fedgate.cloudapp.net/muse/servlet/MusePeer
Mobile Library Tools
• Special Mobile Applications for Library’s
Bibliographical and Techno-based Alerts/Services
• Dynamic Optimized Library Websites for Mobile
Devices
• Library Web App
• Indian Law Mobile Library application by
Madras High Court Advocates to access certain
Indian Bare Acts from Mobile Phones
• American University Library – Search Journals
through Mobile Phones
• University of Cambridge – Library Catalogue
from Mobile Device
Research Support
• Library supports to Researchers from
Formulation of New Ideas, Assistance with
Funding, Research Process, Dissemination
of Research Findings
• Ideal to have a Dedicated Library
Professional
• Skill Zone on Writing Skills, ICT Skills,
Referencing, Plagiarism, Research Skills
and Employability Skills
SKILLS - ZONE
Career Planning
Research Support
e-Journals and
Databases
Referencing and
Plagiarism
Study Skills
SKILLS
ZONE
ICT Support
Academic
Commons
Information
Literacy
Employability
Skills
Info-Skills
Research Projects Writing
Report Writing
Research Papers Writing
Thesis and Dissertation Writing
Editing and Proof Reading
Reference Citation
ICT Skills and Search Strategies
E-Resources in Learning, Teaching and
Research
• Open source e-Journals and Archives (subjects)
• Communication Skills/Public Speaking
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Speed Reading
Study Skills & Examination Techniques
Note Making and Note-taking
Listening Skills and Memory Skills
Observation Skills
Improving Vocabulary, Spelling,
Punctuation
• Behavioral Skills
• Career Opportunities
• Resume Writing
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Ryerson University Library Portal for Research Support
Social Space and Networks for Users
• Social News (Dig, Propeller), Social
Bookmarking (Del.lcio.us, Simpy,
Blinklist), Social Networking
(Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn), Social
Photo and Video Sharing (YouTube,
Vimeo, Flickr) and Wikis
• Use of these Social Networking Tools
for Library Services
Kendriya Vidyalaya Students Social
Networking Site
CONCLUSION
• Next Gen Librarians have to serve in
capacities that include Leadership Roles in
Core Library Functions and to Bring New
and Innovative Ideas to the Information
Workplace
• Knowledge and Skills to Blog, Start Wikis,
Design Web Pages, Create Podcasts, and
Produce Videos and Other Technological
Oriented Tasks
• More Pro-Active Attitude to Make
Library Resources and Services Visible
and Effective
• Create ‘Academic Commons’ ‘Learning
Commons’ ‘Learning Space’ to support
students’ enhanced learning,
collaboration and interaction
• User Training, User Education/Library
Use Instruction Programs Integrated
with Course Work
• Explore and Integrate Bibliographical
and Full Text Resources available on
Web to Support Quality in Education
and Learning
• Address adequate Funding for ICT
Infrastructure, e-Resources Collection,
Training and Retraining of Library
Staff
THANX