Avik Roy ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, IN

Abstract

The present paper is an endeavor to put light on the present bandwagon of digital reference service with a glimpse on the background and genesis of traditional reference service. The present online reference services include asynchronous transactions like e-mail, web forms, Ask-A type services and synchronous transactions like live chatting, video conferencing etc. Indisputably, though the method changes, the fundamental purpose of reference service remains and will remain unchanged. The digital reference process marks a line of demarcation for itself from the traditional one. However, there are some technological innovations like mobile apps, social networking, Live Chat with the online readers etc. which could rightly be said as the future of digital reference service which seem to be very beneficial for the people with special needs also.

Keywords

Digital Reference Process, Digital Reference Service, Future of Reference Service, Online Reference Service, People with Special Needs, Readers' Advisory Service, Reference Process, Reference Service.

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Arijit Das ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata - 700032, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Presently total number of universities in the country is 907, (UGC (n.d.)) and these universities vary in terms of number of publications they produce. This study aims to identify the leading research institutions in India. To measure the performance of leading institutions multiple indicators have been applied, such as number of publications, total and average citations received, etc. IISc. Bangalore (15,948) produced most number of papers and BARC (32.21) received highest average citations per paper. BARC, CSIR India and University of Delhi had overall good performance in all the categories taken for the measurement.

Keywords

Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER), H-Index, Higher Education in India, Research Landscape of India, Research Performance, Scopus.

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Arindam Sarkar ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata - 700032, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

With the advent of technology, the tagging has gained popularity. Many researchers believe that social tags, #hashtag may increase the use of library collections. The present study examines the similarities and differences between the Library of Congress’s Subject Headings (LCSH) descriptors and social tags. The study also sought to know whether social tags can be implemented in the library’s database or not. This paper focuses on the comparison between social tags collected from social cataloguing site Library Thing and Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) descriptors collected from Library of Congress online catalogue. For this study more than a hundred book titles in the domain of philosophy were collected from the two selected databases. The results suggest that if the social tags are more subjects oriented, it could improve the subject access to books in libraries; but it cannot substitute the controlled vocabulary like Library of Congress Subject Headings.

Keywords

Controlled Vocabulary, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library Thing, Social Tagging, Social Tags, Spearman’s Correlation.

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Arindam Sarkar ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences, Kolkata – 700150, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata – 700032, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Present study attempts to examine similarities and differences between the expert generated subject headings and social tags. The study focuses on the comparing BibSonomy social tags and MeSH terms. For this purpose hundred articles in the domain of nursing were collected from BibSonomy as well as PuMed. The results show that 92.72% MeSH terms are not available in social tag vocabulary and almost 15% social tags are likely to be accepted by MeSH terms i.e., experts. Jaccard similarity coefficient shows that users and experts use variant terminology. Users use mostly title-based keywords while experts have used mostly topic-based terminologies. It is suggested that while social tags could improve document retrieval. They cannot substitute controlled vocabulary. OPACs must allow users to describe library documents through user-generated social tags along with expert (librarian) generated terms.

Keywords

BibSonomy, Controlled Vocabulary, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), Social Tag, Spearman's Correlation.

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M. Monirul Islam ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ², Tazbir Khan Tonmoy ³

Affiliations
1 Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka − 1215, BD
2 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata − 700032, West Bengal, IN
3 University of Dhaka, Dhaka − 1000, BD

Abstract

The goal of this research is to examine the current state of Open Access (OA) Resources in six private and public universities in Bangladesh. It also seeks to analyze students’ awareness, utilization of, and attitude towards OA resources. Findings: The study found that 60% of the students perceive their universities have enough OA resources whereas the other 40% think their universities do not possess enough. In the meantime, only 50% of them are frequent users while the other 30% know but never used and the rest 20% have no idea about OA resources. However, the awareness of OA Resources amongst students is increasing day by day. The students possess a positive perception of OA Resources. Methodology: The questionnaire, direct interviews, various documentaries, and direct observation are used for the present study. We applied interview and own observation methods as the questionnaire approach had few limitations while collecting the data that is why so that this method was used to collect the required information to supplement the questionnaire methods and to bring more clarity to the data. The questionnaires were distributed personally to the students. Then we tried to understand the knowledge, utilization, and attitude of OA resources. Data Collection: The major step of the study for data collecting was the survey data from selected universities of Bangladesh. Moreover, the discussions were held with the students of these universities to examine awareness, use, and perception of OA Resources. Various journals articles, online sources, like Google, blog sites, Google Scholars, etc. have been used in this research.

Keywords

Awareness, Bangladesh, Open Access Resources, Perception.

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M. Monirul Islam ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Librarian Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka – 1215, BD
2 Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata – 700032, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Libraries and librarians will benefit by acquiring a collection of open access information resources. The OA movement in Bangladesh is being developed to reduce the huge pressure on the library budget for subscriptions to journals. In most developed countries, university libraries view open-access materials as an important part of their collection development strategy. In this study, we examine the current state of OA resources in public university libraries in Bangladesh, collection development policies, the library authority's perspectives, the challenges libraries face in including OA resources in their collection development, and how to overcome those obstacles. Methodology: A survey and a stratified random sample technique were used in this study. A total of 276 students and 268 faculty members were surveyed. The first six public universities (in order of date of establishment) were selected. We sent out questionnaires directly to students, library personnel, librarians, and other library officials. Using library websites, journals, official records, and Google Scholar was another step. Findings: This study indicates that although open access materials may be quite useful in the growth of collections, most academic library authorities seem unconcerned about this. The utilization of open access materials in the overall collection is visible, but it is insignificant.

Keywords

Academic Library, Bangladesh, Collection Development, Open Access Resources.

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Soumen Mondal ¹, Udayan Bhattacharya ²

Affiliations
1 Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata – 700108, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Library and Information Science, Jadavpur University, Kolkata – 700032, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Digital reference service is one of the interactive methods of communication between librarians and users. It is an internetbased library reference or question-answer service that connects users with skilled subject experts or reference librarians. This research is an attempt to study the present scenario of digital reference services provided by different academic libraries and to check the status of Indian academic libraries. The objectives of the study are to test the availability of digital reference services on different academic library websites and make a comparative study. In this research 50 Indian and 50 international academic libraries are selected and a comparative analysis is made using six digital reference service forms including Chat Reference, E-mail Reference, Web Form, Text Reference, Phone Reference and Frequently Asked Questions. The study reveals that the top global academic libraries evaluate digital reference services with a strong positive attitude, better to say, define it as indispensable at the same time, the Indian top academic libraries stand the opposite.

Keywords

Academic Libraries, Digital Reference Service, Virtual Reference Service.

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