Application of information communication technology ICT in research and development institutional libraries of Tamilnadu A study

Abstract

At present in the age of information explosion, application of ICT in library services is imperative for efficiency and effective working of the library system. In India, most of the RandD institutions initiated/implemented the ICT based library services. The feasibility study is conducted by the use of questionnaire, observation, and interview schedule with respondents. The present investigative study has chosen to spell out the ideal objectives of the new system or application and show how it proposes to overcome the limitations of the existing system in all RandD libraries in Tamilnadu. The present study aims to analyze the extent of ICT applications in the RandD institutional libraries in Tamilnadu. Primary data were collected from all the 23 RandD institutional libraries through a structured questionnaire method. Secondary data were collected from various national and international journals, various university libraries, books, magazines, news papers, reports, etc. Besides, the websites and internet services of the institutions were also used for the purpose of secondary data collection. The difference in the extent of application of ICT in libraries in Tamilnadu based on State wise, major research area wise, designation wise, nature of software used and the different effective usage of automated systems was focused and analyzed by means of two-way table, percentage, average, range, standard deviation, chi-square, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. However, RandD institutional libraries generally suffer from financial crunch, because of the escalation of prices of both books and journals and the decline of rupee value against the major foreign currencies. Unless the application of ICT immediately, it becomes difficult for RandD institutional libraries to cope up with the technology based library service. Therefore, it is the need of the hour for RandD libraries in Tamilnadu to implement ICT based library services which are the ultimate aim of the study. newline