This document discusses electronic libraries and their benefits over traditional libraries. It defines an electronic library as a library where collections are stored in electronic formats and accessible through computers and networks. Electronic libraries allow 24/7 access to resources without physical boundaries, support multimedia components, and enable simultaneous access and retrospective searching. However, challenges include copyright issues, high initial costs, and technical problems like computer viruses or bandwidth limitations. Overall, electronic libraries provide convenient online access and searching of resources that save users time compared to print materials.

1. Dr. Gururaj S. Hadagali
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Library and Information Science
Karnatak University, Dharwad
Email: gururajhadagali123@gmail.com
E-library in the 21st Century

2. Agenda
 Dimensions of the Information Storage Media
 Transformation of Libraries from Traditional to
Hybrid Nature
 Difference between Hybrid, Electronic & Virtual
Libraries
 What is Electronic Library?
 Definitions of Electronic Library
 Benefits of Electronic Library
 Challenges / Disadvantages

3. Dimensions of the Information Storage Media in the
Innovative World
5
Optical
Media
1
Paper Media
4
Electronic Media
3
Magnetic
Media
0
Stone Age
2
Film Media
What
Next?
6
Web Media

4. Clay Tablet Parchme
nt
Papyrus Paper

5. Punched
Card
Magnetic Tapes
Optical Media E-Journals

6. Transformation of Libraries from Traditional to Hybrid
Nature
Traditional Library
Automated Library
Idea Centres
Hybrid Library
Virtual Library
Electronic Library
Digital Library
What Next?
TIME
COMPLEXITY

7. Difference between Hybrid, Electronic & Virtual
Libraries
 A library is an organized collection of items of
print (books, magazines, etc.) and non-print (e-
journals, e-magazines, e-books, etc.) along with
the services required to make them available to
a given users or group of users.
 A digital library is a library in which collections
are stored in digital formats (as opposed to
print, microform, or other media) and accessible
by computers.

8.  An electronic library is a library includes electronic
contents and services. Digital materials are those
sources that are stored, processed and transferred
via digital or electronic mediums. Digital services are
services (such as e-reference) that are delivered
digitally over computer networks.
 Virtual library are those library that are not in real
life, it may be a collection of links, data, which are
available on a networks and accessible via internet.
 The library does not exist “in real life”. One of the
best examples of a virtual library is the Networked
Computer Science Technical Reports Library
(NCSTRL).

9. ELECTRONIC LIBRARY
 E-library provides collaborative search of all type of e-
resources/ on-line resources such as e-journals, e-
books, e-database (purchased or open access).
 E-Library is a special library with a focused collection of
digital objects that can include text, visual material, audio
material, video material, stored as electronic media
formats along with means for organizing, storing, and
retrieving the files and media contained in the collection.
 These libraries can vary immensely in size and scope,
and can be maintained by individuals, organizations, or
affiliated with established physical library buildings or
institutions, or with academic institutions.
 It's an electronic or online library where one can have
access to books, journals, novels, articles, or any other

10.  An electronic library is a library in which collections
are stored in electronic formats (magnetic tapes,
microfilm roles, CDs, DVDs, microform, or other
media) and accessible by any medium such as
computer, laptops, I-pads, CD player, DVD player etc.
 The electronic information or material may be stored
in an offline server or online which may be accessed
remotely via computer networks.
 An electronic library provides both online and offline
services which saves user times and helps users in
the searching of their information or book. The term
electronic library was first coined in 1988 in the report
of Corporation for National Research.

11.  Cambridge Dictionary defines e-library as
‘a website that makes books and
other reading materials available to users in e-
form.
What is Electronic Library / E-Library?
 An electronic library allows users, to read or refer
any published items from their residence or office
or college via internet. Users are no need to visit
the library directly for their reference.

12. Features of Electronic libraries
 No physical boundary. ...
 Round the clock availability A major advantage
of digital libraries is that people can gain access
24/7 to the information.
 Multiple access ....
 Preservation and conservation ....
 Space ....
 Easily accessible ....
 Support multimedia components ....
 Provides links to different digital objects.

13. Benefits of Electronic Library
 E-libraries are the best tool for providing online
resources for research which will make easy to its
users.
 Retrospective search is easy and most convenient
than print resource.
 Searching of index is also easy.
 It supports for searching with the combination of
keyword.

14.  Provision for simultaneous access of multiple file.
 Provision for print out and saved the down load
items for future references.
 The distance learners are also searching their
requirement from e-library.
 E-Library provides the benefit to integrated
search to dictionary, encyclopedia, etc. through
the reference desk.
 The simplest functionality like Point-and-click
promotes the users interest.

15. Challenges / Disadvantages
 The computer viruses, disasters, lack of
standardization for digitized information, quick
degrading properties of digitized material, different
display standard of digital product and its associated
problem, health hazard nature of the radiation from
monitor etc. makes electronic libraries at times
handicap.
 1. Copyright
 2. Speed of access
 3. Initial cost is high
 4. Band width
 5. Efficiency
 6. Environment