What is a Digital Library and the Types of Digital Libraries?
A digital library is also known as a digital collection or digital repository, is basically an online database of digital objects. Such digital collection includes digital documents, audio, video, still images, text as well as other digital media formats. The objects could be a combination of digitized content which basically comprises of print or photographs and even originally produced digital contents including social media posts or for that matter word processor. These are all regarded as part of digital content.
A Digital library lets you store, search, retrieve and even organize contents available in the collection. So you can very well see the importance of a digital repository. The best part about such libraries is that they could be massive in size and can be maintained by individuals as well as organizations. Owing to the storing capacity, facility of searching contents as well retrieving digital contents, text, video etc this form of libraries are gaining plenty of popularity. They offer immense benefits and the fact that they can be maintained by both individuals as well organization adds more to it, in terms of its use.
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Types of Digital Libraries
1. Institutional Digital Library
Many academic libraries are using this concept owing to the benefits such libraries offer. An institution can preserve books, thesis, digital work as well as academic or research-related papers by means of these repositories. Such libraries are also made available to ordinary people by academic institutions however, certain limitations or conditions might be imposed taking into consideration the goals of open access.
When we talk about the publication of research in commercial journals we see a contrasting and altogether different scenario as, often access right is either not provided or is limited largely. It is important to add the fact, that institutional repository software is designed in a manner that may be used for archiving, searching as well as organizing the contents of the library. It is evident that such a repository is extremely significant in the context of preserving valuable documents pertaining to academic institutions etc
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2. National Digital library
Legal documents are an important piece of information and at times they act as a guide while dealing with legal matters therefore, they must be protected for future use. Legal deposit comes under the purview of copyright legislation and sometimes by laws specific to legal deposit. There is a provision to preserve at least one or more copies and given to the national library or in an institution for the purpose of preserving the same.
Surely, the introduction of a digital library is a great option to preserve legal documents. Since the advent of electronic documents, legislation has had to be amended to cover the new formats, such as the 2016 amendment to the Copyright Act 1968 in Australia. So, we can see digital libraries are being used by various agencies as well as people associated with various fields.
3. Digital Archives
A digital archiving solution helps you to manage your information in a systematic way. It enables you to focus on other areas as it frees you up from CRM or ERP-related activities. It is regarded as beneficial in managing privacy data. It also helps you to come up with a paperless office. One can easily search and access information and you can get rid of legacy applications as well.
So the significance of digital archives seems quite valuable. A digital archive can be an elaborate collection with a multi-tiered storage system or located on a hard drive. So we know now for a fact, why digital archiving is getting so much attention worldwide.
This methodology of preserving documents, contents, video etc is gaining popularity, but does it mean that it has no demerits. Well let's try to figure out the advantages and disadvantages associated with a Digital Library
Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Library
Some Advantages of Digital Library
1. Cost- The cost of maintaining a digital library is far lower in comparison to having a traditional library. In the case of a traditional library, one needs to spend money on staff salary, book maintenance, rent of the property as well as other expenses. These expenses are not required to be incurred while maintaining a digital library.
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2. Space- For a traditional library space always remains a constraint. It takes a huge space, but the same is not regarded as a major issue with digital libraries. In fact, the digital library can store more in comparison to a traditional library.
3. Information Access - Accessing information or finding content is far more easier with a digital library. The same may be time-consuming in a traditional library.
4. Conservation- An exact copy of the same content can be made as many times as needed, keeping the quality intact. This is a major advantage of the digital library.
5. Networking - A particular digital library can let you access the link of another library while searching a particular resource. It makes the resource sharing, simple and seamless.
Disadvantages of Digital Library
1. Bandwidth - For the purpose of transferring multimedia resources, a high bandwidth is a must for a digital library to function smoothly. This seems to be a major weakness with digital libraries.
2. Environment - The kind of feel the readers get in a traditional library is unique and special. This environment cannot be replicated by a
digital library.
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3. Speed - Since more and more computers will be connected with the passage of time in a digital library, therefore, it is likely to reduce the speed and will eventually slow down the process of accessing stuffs in a digital library. Technical up-gradation and a new technological system will have to be introduced in order to take care of this problem. This is surely, a major drawback of a digital library.
4. Initial cost - The initial cost of setting up a digital library is very high, a lot of technical stuffs including hardware, software as well as other technical devices will have to installed to ensure that the process works at its optimum level. So setting up the right infrastructure is a major requirement to ensure that the digital library functions properly and this always proves to be a costly affair.
5. Copyright - Violation or infringement of copyright law is another area that gets encouraged due to digitization. Content of a particular category can be transferred without seeking the necessary approval of the original writer in such a scenario. This is another area of concern as far as digital library is concerned.
Conclusion
This article has neither undermined nor highlighted digital libraries, however, one can get a fair bit of idea about digital libraries by referring to this article. The world is going digital in every field. You talk about business, monetary transactions, placing an order online or any other relevant work, you can see the presence and impact of digitization. so this impact is visible in regards to the digital libraries as well.
As stated above, the digital library offers certain distinct advantages, but at the same time, it suffers from certain weaknesses as well. It is a concept that is getting priority and people are liking it to a great degree. This does not mean that this concept will totally remove the traditional library from the picture. Traditional library still holds significance and offers certain merits over digital library, however, the trend of setting up digital library will remain important in future as well.
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