This document summarizes a study on the awareness of digital libraries among library professionals in Dindigul District, India. It used questionnaires and interviews of 50 library professionals. The study found that 32% of respondents were aged 41-50, 30% had a Master's in library science, and 44% were aware of open source digital library software. Overall, 66% had a favorable opinion of digital libraries and 60% were aware of the concept, with 72% interested in applying digital libraries. The study concluded digital libraries are useful assessment tools that allow for sharing of materials.

1. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIBRARY AND
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH AND
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
DEVELOPMENT (IJLISRD)
ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print)
ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online)
IJLISRD
© PRJ PUBLICATION
Volume 1, Issue 1, January- April (2012), pp. 48-55
© PRJ: www.prjpublication.com/ijlisrd.asp
AWARENESS OF DIGITAL LIBRARY AMONG LIBRARY PROFESSIONAL IN
DINDIGUL DISTRICT – A STUDY
*M.Veerachamy ** Dr .Martin Arokiasamy
Research Scholar Librarian SG
MS University Palayam kottai
St.Xaviar College
ABSTRACT
A digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats (as opposed
to print, other media) and accessible by computers the digital content may be stored
locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks. A digital library is a type of
information retrieval system. DL is an integrated approach to identifying, managing and
sharing all of an organization’s knowledge assets.
OBJECTIVES OF DL
The objectives of DL are:
a. To make sure of an effective Resource sharing of new knowledge and improvement
of existing the information ;
b. To ensure an effective securing of knowledge and make easily accessible to the
organization;
c. To ascertain a specific distribution of new DL and transfer of knowledge to new
employees;
d. To improve the form of DL bearers in relation to the users;
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2. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The author has decided to carry out the survey based on questionnaire and interview as
the instruments to gather the data and information from the samples:
1. Questions concerning the general understanding of DL
2. Questions concerning the existing end-user tools used
3. Questions concerning the current status or condition of DL
This chapter provides the steps involved in the conduct of the research study.
Type of Research
Descriptive type of research is applied. It includes both primary and secondary
data sources.
DATA COLLECTION
Primary Data
Questionnaire method has been adopted to collect the required primary data.
Secondary Data
Secondary data have also been collected through published and unpublished
resources.
Sample Design
Sample Size : 50
Type of Sampling : Convenience
Fifty samples were chosen for the present study. The library professionals were
requested to fill up the questionnaire.
Tools Used
The collected primary data were fed into system by using the Statistical Package
for Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze data and to the generate tables.
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3. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
LIMITATIONS
The study covers the professionals who are working in different types of College
and University Libraries in Dindigul District.
a. Engineering College Library
b. Polytechnic College Library
c. Arts & Science College Library
AREA PROFILE OF THE STUDY
Dindigul district was carved out of the composite Madurai District on 15.9.1985
and the Dindigul District had the names of Dindigul Anna, Quaid-e-Milleth and Mannar
Thirumalai. It is located between 10005” and 100 9” North Latitude and 77030” and
78020” East Longitude. It is spread over on area of 6266.64 Sq. Km. It comprises of 3
Revenue Divisions, 8 Taluks and 14 Panchayat Unions, According to 2001 Census, its
population is 19, 23,014.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
TABLE: 1
AGE WISE CLASSIFICATION
S.No Age No. of Respondents Percentage
1. 20 – 30 14 28
2. 31 – 40 15 30
3. 41 – 50 16 32
4. 51 & above 5 10
Total 50 100
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4. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
It is found that 32% of the professionals belong to the age group of 41–50 and
30% of them are in the age group of 31–40.
FIGURE: 1
AGE WISE CLASSIFICATION
35
30
25
ec n e
Pr e t g
a
20
15
10
5
0
20 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 & above
Age
TABLE: 2
CLASSIFICATION BY QUALIFICATION
S.No. Qualifications No. of Respondents Percentage
1. B.L.I.Sc., 14 28
2. M.L.I.Sc., 16 32
3. Ph.D., 1 2
4. PG & M.L.I.Sc., 15 30
5. M.L.I.Sc., & 4 8
M.Phil.,
Total 50 100
51

5. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
It is observed from the above table that 30% of the respondents are possessing
Postgraduates degrees along with Master degree in Library and Information Science and
32% respondents possess Master degree in Library and Information Science with their
basic qualification.
TABLE: 3
AWARENESS ON DIGITAL LIBRARY
(OS, Dspace & Greenstone)
S.No. Resources No. of Respondents Percentage
1. Open source 22 44
2. Dspace 18 36
3. Greenstone 10 20
Total 50 100
Maximum number of respondents (44%) are knowledge on Open soruce and
36% are knowledge on Dspace and 20% of the respondents are knowledge on Greenstone
52

6. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
TABLE: 4
OPINION ON DIGITAL LIBRARY
S No. Opinion No. of Respondents Percentage
1. Yes 33 66
2. No 17 34
Total 50 100
From the above table, it is found that majority of the respondents (66 % ) has
favourable opinion on Digital library
TABLE: 5
AWARENESS ON DIGITAL LIBRARY
S.No. Opinion No. of Respondents Percentage
1 Yes 30 60
2 No 20 40
Total 50 100
It is observed from the above table that 60 % of the respondents are aware of the
concept of Digital library and 40 % of the respondents are not.
53

7. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
TABLE: 6
OPINION ON APPLICATION OF DIGITAL LIBRARY
S.No Opinion No. of Respondents Percentage
1 Yes 36 72
2 No 14 28
Total 50 100
The above table shows that 72% of respondents are eager to apply the concept
“Digital library” and 28% of the respondents are not willing.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
1. 32 % of the respondents are in the age group of 41 – 50 years and 30 % of them are
in 31 – 40 years.
2. It is identified that 40 % of the professionals have obtained experience in between
1- 5 years.
3. Most of the respondents belong to the category of Assistant Librarian.
4. It is noteworthy to mention that a respondent has Ph.D., and 8 % of them qualified
for M.L.I.Sc., with M.Phil.
5. 26 % of the respondents belong to Arts & Science Colleges.
6. It is time to high light that most of the professionals are well aware of digital
creations like E – Books, E – Journals.
7. It is noteworthy to state that the entire populations of the respondents are having
CD – ROM, Floppy and Audio – Video collections in their
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8. International Journal of Library and Information Science Research and Development
(IJLISRD), ISSN: 2277 – 3541 (Print) ISSN: 2277 – 3673 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 1,
January- April 2012, © PRJ Publication
CONCLUSION
Digital Library are excellent assessment tools, both for teachers and students.
They allow us to collect the best examples of our progress, our work, and our creativity.
DL are real-world in Ways that test score data is not. DL allow us to showcase our best
efforts at what we do DL is one that is compact in size. It can incorporate a wider
selection of materials. A digital (electronic, virtual) Library can easily be duplicated,
shared, and augmented in the field of library
BIBLIOGRAPHY
dindigul.nic.in/
http://journals.tdl.org/jodi/article/view/2068
http://dspace.mit.edu/
www.dspace.org/
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