Digital library plays a vital role in enhancing knowledge.

1. “Application of digital library in learning at Central
University of Karnataka”
by
Sushma N Jogan* Dr.Hoovinbhavi B L**
Junior Research Fellow* Professor & Dean**
Dept. of Studies in Research & Education
Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi-585106

2. Introduction
• Information and Communication Technology has
revolutionized the concept of libraries.
• Each and every library is slowly getting digitized.
• Application of information technology has provided wider
opportunities in accessing knowledge .
• As a result libraries face new challenges, demands and
expectations.
• Informative seekers are no longer satisfied with only printed
materials.

3. Cont……………..
• They want to supplement information with e-resources.
• Digital libraries will start gaining ground in India in the
present century.
• We are heading towards an environment in information may
substitute print-based information.
• Over the last decade there have been significant efforts to
develop digital libraries.
• These efforts however largely focused on the building of the
technology that enable digital libraries to function
technically.

4. Need and Significance of the study
 The majority of the holding of a digital library is in the
computer readable form and also acts as a point of access.
 Creating, capturing and deploying a learning experience are
all activities that can be conducted in the digital domain.
 These drive fundamental requirements for the application of
digital libraries in education.
 Moving from educational computing to digital libraries in
education requires new strategies and rethinking the role of
technology.

5. Operational terms defined
• Digital library: A digital library is a collection of documents in
organized electronic form, available on the Internet or on CD-
ROM (compact-disk read-only memory) disks. Depending on the
specific library, a user may be able to access magazine articles,
books, papers, images, sound files, and videos.
• Search engines: program that searches for and identifies items in
a database that correspond to keywords or characters specified by
the user, used especially for finding particular sites on the World
Wide Web.
• e-resources: An electronic resource is any information source that
the library provides access to in an electronic format.
• Learning: the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study,
experience, or being taught.

6. Objectives of the study:
• To understand the importance of digital libraries in
learning.
• To identify the students’ level of learning through digital
library.
• To find out it’s accessibility, availability and functionality.
• To know the level of exposure.
• To find out the reasons for the use of ICT resources.
• To study the purpose of seeking information.
• To understand the application and use of ICT.

7. Research Methodology:
 Sampling technique: For the present study researcher has
used random sampling technique.
 Size of the sample: Sample of 50 post graduate students
were selected from different streams of Central University of
Karnataka.
 Methodology & Tool: The study is based on Survey
method. Standardized questionnaire has used for the present
study.
 Analysis & Interpretation of data: The collected data has
analyzed by percentage analysis.

8. Data interpretation:
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 Well known 16 32 %
2 Known 23 46 %
3 Some what known 07 14 %
4 Don’t know 02 4 %
5 Don’t use it 02 4 %
50 100 %
Table 1: the level of exposure in digital library and open access journals
It is to observe that 46% of students were known to access digital library and open
access journals, 32% students were well known to access the same,14% somewhat
known and 4% respectively for not using it.

9. Table 2: reasons for the use of ICT resources
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 Acquire information 21 42%
2 Process information 16 32%
3 Store information 08 16%
4 Retrieve information 05 10%
5 Dissemination information 00 00
50 100%
The table shows that 42% students acquire information through using e-resources,
32% process information, 16% store information, 10% retrieve information. Thus
the table reveals that students are making use of resources for acquiring
information.

10. Table 3: the browsing software available in your
library
The above table reveals that 60% of students browse for chrome,
34% Mozilla fire fox, 4% safari and 2% others. It is to observe
that chrome is the software browsed by the students.
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 IE 00 00
2 Chrome 30 60%
3 Mozilla fire fox 17 34%
4 Safari 02 4%
5 Others 01 2%
50 100%

11. Table 4: Library have separate website
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 Yes 39 78%
2 No 11 22%
3 50 100%
The table shows that 78% of the students say yes that library have separate website and
22% says no. Thus it is to conclude that students receive information regarding separate
website.

12. Table 5: the library website is part of your
university website
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 Yes 40 80%
2 No 10 20%
50 100%
The above table reveals that 80% of them say yes for the given statement
and 20% says no. Therefore it is to observe that students are aware of
library website

13. Table 6: is there any separate digital library?
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 Yes 30 60%
2 No 20 40%
50 100%
The table reveals that 60% of the students say yes for separate digital library and 40%
say no. Therefore essential information must be given to all the students to know about
separate digital library in universities.

14. Table 7: the services provided in digital library
Sl no Options Frequencies Percentage
1 e-database 20 40%
2 Full text e-journals 09 18%
3 e-body 01 2%
4 Online news 10 20%
5 CD ROM database 05 10%
6 Publication database 05 10%
50 100%
The above table shows that 40% students goes with e-database, 20% online news, 18%
Full text e-journals, 10% CD ROM database and Publication database, 2% e-body. Thus
students has to make proper use of services provided in the university.

15. Suggestion and conclusion:
 It is to suggest that students have to provide necessary skills to be familiar
with digital library.
 The staff must be digitized with the accessibility and functionality of digital
library.
 Students must be provided essential facilities to make use of these resources like
networks, usage timings etc.
 To conclude we can say that libraries have long served a crucial role in learning.
A library is a fundamentally an organized set of resources, which include human
services as well as the entire spectrum of media.
 Digital libraries are evolving to meet the needs of teaching and learning and
identify issues for continued development. These are universally accessible.
 It is nearly unlimited storage space at a much lower cost.
 Hence the use of digital library made everyone to be familiar with the e-
resources which is definitely a new step for the development of the country.