Digital Libraries in Bangladesh

2. Introduction
 The emergence of Internet has added a new dimension to information
technology which gave birth to the new concepts of Digital Libraries (DLs). The term
digital library has become one of the most frequently used terms in the library and
information science arena. Digital libraries are complex with diverse aspects and
cannot be captured by a simple definition. The term Digital library is currently used
to refer to systems that are very heterogeneous in scope and provide different
functions. These systems range from digital objects and metadata repositories,
reference-linking systems, archives, and content administration systems to complex
systems that integrate advanced digital library services.

3. Digital Library
The Digital Libraries are electronic libraries where the information is acquired,
stored and retrieved in digital form. Digital Libraries are the group-interlinked
workstations connected to the high-speed networks.
“Digital libraries are a set of electronic resources and associated technical
capabilities for creating, searching and using information. In this sense , they
are an extension and enhancement of information storage and retrieval
systems that manipulate digital data in any medium (text, images, sounds,
static or dynamic images) and exist in distributed networks.”
--(Borgman et al,1996)

4. Common Digital Library Software
 DSpace repository software--http://www.dspace.org
 Green Stone Digital Library Software--http://greenstone.org
 GNU E-Prints Archiving Software --http://www.eprints.org
 Ganesha Digital Library Software--http://gdl.itb.ac.id/download
 Libraonix Digital Library System--http://www.logos.com/products.
 Fedora Digital Library software--http://www.fedorarepository.org

5. Other Digital Library Software
 Alfresco (software)
 Biblical software
 Digital Commons
 EFiction
 EXo Platform
 Expanded Books
 Hydra (digital repository)
 Imagen Ltd
 IntraText
 Invenio Islandora
 Logos Bible Software
 MyCoRe
 Olive Tree Bible Software
 Omeka
 OPUS (software)
 SABDA
 SimpleDL
 SobekCM

6. History
 The Digitization of libraries in Bangladesh, however , is not widespread. Some
efforts have been made to create digital libraries.
 In Bangladesh, the computer was first introduced in 1964, with the
installation of an IBM 1620 computer at the Atomic Energy Commission
(BASIS, 2005).
 The 1980s are considered the beginning of the automation era for libraries
and information centers in Bangladesh. The International Centre for
Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) Library and Agricultural
Information Centre (AIC) were pioneers in creating bibliographic databases on
specialized fields using microcomputers (Khan, 1989)

7. History
 The Internet arrived in Bangladesh with UUCP e-mail in 1993 and IP
connectivity in 1996. In mid-June 1996, the Very Small Aperture Terminal
(VSAT) base data circuit was commissioned for the first time in the
country. Thereafter, Internet connectivity was established and made
available to the public.
 A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2006 between the
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) and International Network for the
Availability of the Scientific Publications (INASP) that granted Bangladesh
membership to this network.
 In January 2007, Bangladesh started subscribing to INASP electronic
resources (BAS, 2009)

8. Benefits of the digital library
Numerous benefits are associated with digital libraries (FAO& UNESCO,2005), Including:
 No physical boundary
 Access 24/7
 Library access from anywhere
 Multiple access
 Information sharing
 Enhanced information retrieval.
 More current information
 Less time and labor
 Improved preservation
 Nearly unlimited storage space at a much lower cost
 Added value
.

9. Digital Libraries : Current State in Bangladesh
• Many libraries initiated digitization projects, which led to full-fledged digital
libraries. Regarding the use of software for building digital libraries
/institutional repositories, most libraries opt for free, open source (OS)
software.
• Since Bangladesh is a developing country and its libraries face a shortage of
funds, open source, free digital library software provides an inexpensive way
to build digital libraries.
• Based on the responses, it was found that East West University Library,
Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, Eastern
University Library, Bangladesh, and Bangladesh National Museum created
digital libraries using Greenstone software, an open source program.
• On the other hand, ICDDR,B, BRAC University, Independent University, and
Bangladesh Agricultural University successfully created institutional
repositories using Dspace.
• Except for the National Library of Bangladesh, all of the libraries surveyed offer
Internet service.

10. Digital Libraries : Current State in Bangladesh
• Public university libraries and libraries affiliated with government organizations are
still unable to build a full-fledged digital library system.
• For instance, the Dhaka University Library, one of the largest and oldest public
university libraries in Bangladesh, is unable to build a digital library system.
• It is the public expectation that Dhaka University Library will lead the digital library
movement in Bangladesh.
• Additionally, libraries like the Rajshahi University Library have printed materials on
very important research that should be digitized and available for use throughout
the country.
• Both Dhaka University Library and Rajshahi University Library submitted projects
on building digital libraries to the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project
(HEQEP) of University Grants Commission.

11. Digital Libraries : Current State in Bangladesh
 Public libraries of Bangladesh should play an important role in providing
electronic resources services to users; however, even in the age of ICT, it is
trying to establish an ICT division and offer ICT-based services to its users.
 The status of other public universities libraries is almost the same.
Jahangirnagar, Chittagong University, Jagannath University, etc. are still
trying to establish a digital library system. In comparison, some private
university libraries, e.g. BRAC University, East West University,
Independent University and North South University, are in a better
position than the public university libraries and offer time befitting
services to its users. Additionally, Ayesha Abed Library, BRAC University
recently introduced library services through mobile technology.

12. Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
As part of the government’s vision to build Digital Bangladesh by 2021,
several initiatives have been taken. Brief descriptions of the some of the
projects/initiatives are provided which relates to digitization, digital
information, online portals, and funding digital library projects.
• The National Web Portal of Bangladesh aims to provide up-to-date
information about government services through a one-stop online portal.
• The Bangladesh government as part of its e-citizen service introduced a
portal to download government forms.

13. Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
• The Support to Digital Bangladesh (Access to Information) Project at the Prime
Minister’s Office built an online knowledge bank, Jatiyo e-Tathyakosh. This is a
national e-content repository with the largest pool of livelihood contents in Bengali
delivered through audio-visual, text, and animation formats.
• The District Web Portal offers information on socio-economic development,
history, and culture of each district of the country.
• ICT Facilitated Education, part of the A2I project, intends to make teaching and
learning more effective and enjoyable for both students and teachers using ICT.

14. Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
• Primary and secondary level text books published by the National
Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) have been converted to e-books
and are available online for immediate download by the students with the
technical assistance of Access to Information (A2I) of the Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO).
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, on behalf of the
Ministry of Education (MoE), is currently implementing the Bangladesh
Research and Education Network (BdREN) under HEQEP with assistance
from World Bank.
• The Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) is an
undertaking by the government’s Ministry of Education with the
assistance of the World Bank.

15. Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
Building digital library involves various activities, and Fig. 1
highlights the major steps involved in developing a digital library
that might be relevant to the task force in their planning:

16. Test system
Open Digital Library
Maintenance and Updates
Continuous Feedback
Design Digital Library system(content, layout, software, metadata standard Protocol)
Initiate a digital library development Program
Assess current strengths and weakness (Funds, staff, ICT infrastructure, etc).
Determine organization’s need for a digital library
Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
Figure 1: Steps involved in digital library development.

17. Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
• As Fig. 1 indicates, digital library development starts with determining the
organization’s vision and reasons for implementing a digital library.
• The next step involves an assessment of organizational strengths and
weaknesses and how it will develop its digital library. If these preliminary
steps are successfully achieved, then the initiation of the development
begins.
• The design and plans for content, layout, software, metadata standards,
protocol, copyright, etc. are considered next. This step is one of the most
important steps as the digital library system’s performance.
• The layout of the digital library must be user-friendly and users may be
involved during the design process. Digital library development software is
an important issue.

18. Need to establish Digital Library in Bangladesh
• After the successful design of the digital library system, the organization should
test their new service.
• This can be accomplished by system testing experts or a pre-defined user group.
• When the digital library system works seamlessly, it’s ready for its intended users.
• Regular maintenance and updates of the new system are crucial to the survival of
the digital library.
• Finally, continuous feedback from users is imperative to sustaining an effective
and user-friendly digital library system.

19. Problems of Digital Library Development
 Lack of sufficient funds
 Lack of ICT knowledge and skills
 Bureaucratic complexity
 Inadequate salaries for library professionals
 Lack of government concentration on building a digital library system
 Lack of digital library coursework in LIS curriculum of Bangladesh
 Lack of preservation of a fixed copy (for the record and for duplicating
scientific research)
 Lack of preservation of “best in class”
 Difficulty in knowing and locating everything that is available, and
differentiating valuable from useless information.
 Job loss for traditional publishers and librarians

20. Prospects of Digital Library Development

21. Recommendations of Digital Library development
 Unless the government improves the national ICT infrastructure, building
an effective digital library system nationwide is not possible. At this time,
in order to establish a digital library system nationwide, the formation of a
National Digital Library Development Task force is necessary.
 Practical digital library development courses should be integrated into the
LIS Curriculum At different levels of education.
 Library and Information Science institutions should introduce different
types of training programs for unskilled library professionals.

22. Recommendations of Digital Library development
 The Library Association of Bangladesh(LAB) and Bangladesh Association of
Librarians, Information Scientists and Documentalists (BALID) should
Organize seminars, workshops, and training programs to Create awareness
among librarians.
 International cooperation is a must in the library field, and international
agencies like UNDP, UNESCO, and World Bank should offer funds for
developing countrywide Digital library system.

23. Recommendations of Digital Library development
 International LIS associations like The International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions (IFLA) should also help organize training/
workshops on building digital libraries in Bangladesh.
 The government should involve LIS faculty members And professionals in
all information development activities of the country. At least one LIS
faculty member should work on each and every digital library projects/
program Undertaken by the government to ensure the successful
establishment of a digital library system.

24. Conclusion
The Government of Bangladesh pledged to build Digital Bangladesh by 2021
by offering technological facilities at a mass level and incorporating ICT in
every aspect of government operations. Unfortunately, the government is not
yet able to develop a nationwide library development programmes to digitize
Traditional libraries and coordinate initiatives to ensure library-based learning
nationwide. Initiatives to build a digital library system nationwide to ensure
equal access to electronic resources for all public and private universities and
developing government libraries are crucial if the Government aims to realize
its goal of a Digital Bangladesh by 2021.

25. References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Digital_library_softwary
- https://www.slideshare.net/mksinha2013/digital-library-initiatives-in-india-mks
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.iilr.2012.07.002
- www.inasp.info/uploads/filer.../digital_library_initiatives_at_brac_university_1.pdf
- op.niscair.res.in/index.php/ALIS/article/viewFile/7650/414