B.Lib.I.S.

Departmental Evaluative Report as submitted to NAAC ,2017

1. Name of the Department: Library & Information Sc.

2. Year of Establishment: 2011

3. Names of Programmes / Courses offered (UG, PG, M.Phil., Ph.D., Integrated Masters; Integrated Ph.D., etc.): B.Lib. and Inf. Sc.

4. Names of Interdisciplinary courses and the Departments/units involved:

5. Annual/ semester/choice based credit system (programme wise):Semester

6. Participation of the Department in the courses offered by other Departments:

7. Courses in collaboration with other universities, industries, foreign institutions, etc.:

8. Details of courses/programmes discontinued (if any) with reasons

9. Number of teaching posts:

	Sanctioned	Filled
Professors
Associate Professors
Assistant Professors	Nil	Nil

10. Faculty profile with name, qualification, designation, specialization, (D.Sc./D.Litt./Ph.D. / M. Phil. etc.,):

Name	Qualification	Designation	Specialization	No. of Years of Experience	No. of Ph.D. guided for the last 4 years
Sri A.D.Mishra	M.Lib.	Contractual Lecturer	Academic Library	5 years	Nil
Sri Santosh Kumar	M.Lib.	Contractual Lecturer	Agricultural Information Systems	3 Months	Nil

11. List of senior visiting faculty:

i.         Dr. Ajit Singh (retd. Librarian,central university library,S.K.M.U,Dumka)

ii.         Dr.P.K.Singh ( Assistant Librarian , Central University Library,S.K.M.U,Dumka)

iii.         Prof.Tridib Chatopadhyay, Librarian , St.Paul Cathedral Mission College, Kolkata)

iv.         Prof.Ajitabh Das, (H.O.D, Kalyani University Library, Kalyani)

12. Percentage of lectures delivered and practical classes handled (programme wise) by temporary faculty: 100

13. Student -Teacher Ratio (programme wise):

  2015-16    Sem-1:  35:1

      2015-16;   Sem-2:   10:1

14. Number of academic support staff (technical) and administrative staff; sanctioned and filled: One Office Assistant and one 4^th Grade Staff.

15. Qualifications of teaching faculty with D.Sc/ D.Litt/ Ph.D/ MPhil / PG.

Qualification	D. Sc	D. Lit	Ph. D	M. Phil	PG
No of Faculty	*	*	*	*	2

16. Number of faculty with ongoing projects from a) National b) International funding agencies and grants received: N.A.

17. Departmental projects funded by DST - FIST; UGC, DBT, ICSSR, etc. and total grants received: N.A.

18. Research Centre /facility recognized by the University: N.A.

19. Publications: N.A.

20. Areas of consultancy and income generated: N.A.

21. Faculty as members in a) National committees b) International Committees c) Editorial Boards….: N.A.

22. Student projects

a) Percentage of students who have done in-house projects including inter departmental/programme N.A.

b) Percentage of students placed for projects in organizations outside the institution i.e.in Research laboratories/Industry/ other agencies: 100

23. Awards / Recognitions received by faculty and students: Kumaresh Amarendra, a

   Student of B.Lib.I.Sc received Topper Certificate

24. List of eminent academicians and scientists / visitors to the department: N.A.

25. Seminars/ Conferences/Workshops organized & the source of funding a) National b) International: N.A.

26. Student profile programme/course wise:

Name of the Course/programme (refer question no. 4)	Applications received	Selected	Enrolled		Pass percentage
			M	F
B.Lib.ISc Semester I	41	35	22	13	-
B.Lib.ISc Semester II		10	01	09	100

27. Diversity of Students:

Name of the Course	% of students from the same state	% of students from other States	% of students from abroad
B.Lib.ISc	80	20	Nil

28. How many students have cleared national and state competitive examinations such as NET, SLET, GATE, Civil services, Defense services, etc.?

                          i.             School Library-10

                        ii.            College Library-06

                      iii.             University Library-02

29. Student progression:

Student progression	Against % enrolled
UG to PG	30%
PG to M.Phil.	N.A
PG to Ph.D.	N.A
Ph.D. to Post-Doctoral	N.A
Employed • Campus selection • Other than campus recruitment	N.A
Entrepreneurship/Self-employment	03

30. Details of Infrastructural facilities:

a) Library: 38 Books in Departmental Library

   b)   Internet facilities for Staff & Students - BSNL Wi- Max 

   c)  Class rooms with ICT facility: 1 Smart Classroom, Two Projectors Epson- EB-S03, SONY-VPL ES-7, 10 HP,

   d)  Laboratories – Not Required

31.    Number of students receiving financial assistance from college, university: Each year SC/ST, OBC students receive post-Matric stipend from the Welfare Department, Govt. of Jharkhand under e-kalyan scheme.

32.    Details on student enrichment programmes (special lectures / workshops /seminar) with external expert. 

 

33.    Teaching methods adopted to improve student learning:-

            i.       Class lecture with 2 way method

          ii.       Powerpoint Presentations individually & in groups

        iii.       Class Seminars

        iv.       Quizzes

          v.       Group discussions

34. Participation in Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR) and Extension activities : NSS CAMPS (Swach Bharat Abhiyan, Drug Abuse,Voter’s Awareness Campaign)

35.   SWOC analysis of the department and Future plans

Strength- Qualified and experienced teachers, Tutorial Classes, close interaction between faculty and students, as per the syllabus all topics are covered, Practical Classes in College Library.

Weakness- Catchment areas are economically poor and not aware of the professional courses

Opputunities- High demand for Library Science graduates for schools, Colleges, University, other Educational Institutes, Research Institutes etc.

Challange-   Lack of Positive attitude of Jharkhand Government

Future plans-To begin M.Lib Course

LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE RESOURCES /LINKS  :---

USE AND IMPORTANCE OF BARCODE SYSTEM IN LIBRARIES

Barcodes have found varieties of applications in different fields, including libraries and information centers. In developed countries barcode patterns have become a familiar symbol for general masses due to their appearance in all personal products, books, food and grocery packets, garments, other records, etc. Infact barcode is not a very new technology; it has been in use as early as 1940s. Its first commercial application can be traced back to 1960s as a method for tracking railroad cars. In India bar codes are being used in various courier companies and All India Radio as an automatic method of identification. Many manufacturing industries and companies have been using barcodes for their products, inventory control and shares. 

                   The application of barcode technology in circulation system of a library and information center is most successful due to its speed, accuracy and reliability. The Kentish Town branch of CAMDEN Public Library made the pioneering efforts for application of this technology in library and information service in 1972, which used the Plessey Light Pen System. Since then, this technology of automatic identification has been found wide acceptance in the libraries and information centers worldwide. Indian Libraries and information centers are also not far behind. Efforts are being made by various libraries such as B.B.Dixit Library, AIIMS, New Delhi; Space Application Center Library, Ahmedabad; Sri Jaicham Raja College of Engineering Library, Mysore; Anna University Library, Madras; Indian Institute of Technology Library, Mumbai, etc. This system is successfully working in American Center Library, New Delhi; British Council Division Library, New Delhi, etc. 

WHAT IS BARCODE 

                 Barcode can be defined as a self-contained message with information encoded in a series of black bars of varying breadths and white spaces between every two of them. It is a way of representing a series of numbers or letters. There are many kinds of barcodes, but most of them represent each character by a different combination of wide and narrow bars. Another way to think of a barcode is like a font. Some dark shapes on a light background represent each character. Barcodes provides ease of recognition by an optical device. These are read by a scanner, which sends messages to the computer that decodifies the number represented by the barcodes. Computer identifies bars as ‘0’s and ’1’s (zeroes and ones) and white blanks as “off’s” or “on’s”. Thus, a barcode is a series of 0’s and 1’s representing characters or digits in such a form as can be identify by computers only. 

DIFFERENT BARCODE SYMBOLOGIES 

                 A code is combination of characters and numbers that represents an entity. The symbology is the language used to represent the code in a machine-readable form.The set of patterns comprising the total character set for a particular barcode is known as its symbology. In other words the code represented by a combination of bars and spaces of varying width is called the barcode symbology.

                      There are many symbologies for barcodes. At present there are over 60 different coding schemes / systems of barcodes. Committees assigned to choose a corporate standard symbology waste a great deal of time. However, it should be noted that there is no one symbology that is the ‘right one’ for any organization. Each of these available symbologies has different advantages and limitations. Any way a modern scanner can automatically recognize and decode all the common symbologies. The most commonly used symbologies are briefly described. 

A.      Universal Product Code :It is the common code extensively used in retail trade. Its standardization in a form that allows many organizations throughout the world to interpret the same data is its prominent advantages. It also uses the space efficiently to record the data. Its limitation is that it can only record certain length of numbers.  

B.     Interleaved 2 of 5 (I 2 of 5):It is very compact. But it can only record numbers. The code represents the number of even length. It is possible to scan only a part of the barcode and obtain something that looks like a valid result.  

C.     Code 39 (Code 3 of 9):  It is alpha and numeric and can represent even some special characters such as ‘ $ ‘,‘ / ‘, ‘. ‘, ‘: ‘, ‘ + ‘, ‘ – ‘, ‘ % ‘ and can enclose ‘ space ‘. The code can be of any length. It can enclose all the capital letters of the alphabets but lower case letters can’t be enclosed. The code 3 of 9 is always started / ended with an asterisk (*), known as start / stop character. Bars and spaces are used to encode an individual character. 5 bars and 4 spaces, three of which are wide, represent each character and six are narrow.  

                                 Besides, there are European Article Numbering (EAN) and Code Bar Symbologies commonly in use. The EAN is only numeric but Code Bar is having facilities to enclose ‘ $ ‘, ‘ / ‘, ‘. ‘, ‘: ‘, ‘ + ‘, ‘ – ‘, ‘ % ‘ in addition to numerals. Code Bar is used by Geac in library circulation system. Code 48, which include alphabetic characters, are used by many American Libraries. There are two-dimensional barcodes also which can store large quantity of data in a small area.

                                 While choosing a symbology for library applications care is to be taken of developments in computer technologies and requirements of the library. Today, computers are alpha numeric, and as a part of basic computer technology, barcode should also be alpha numeric. Code 3 of 9 is alpha numeric and it encodes characters bi – directionally. This means that whether an operator scans a barcode from left to right or right to left, the reader can interpret the symbol and transmit the data in proper sequence. These features of code 3 of 9 have been the dominant consideration in its adoption by libraries and information centers.   

                                  Before we further proceed to discuss about the application of barcode system in libraries, it is better to have a concise discussion over different scanning devices and printing devices. The success of barcode system in a library, by and large, depends over certain decisions regarding the equipments and procedures adopted.  

DIFFERENT SCANNING DEVICES 

 I        WAND: Out of several scanning devices Wand is most inexpensive and compact. It has the size and shape of a pencil with a lighted bead in the top. While using for scanning the user can hold and draw it across the bar code. The wand makes a small sound when the code is scanned. However, this device has got serious limitations too. It requires manual dexterity and practice .It dose not do well with low quality barcodes and fail to scan barcodes on curved surfaces. Unlike Laser Gun, it should be used in contact with the barcodes for better performance and scanning from long range is not possible. 

II          LASER GUN: The scanning device mostly used in library environment is Laser Gun. To a great extant this device has overcome  the limitations of Wand Device. This looks like a pistol toy and is held in the hand while scanning barcodes. When the user pulls the trigger, a light beam sweeps across the barcode, and the job is done. It is fast and does not require much of manual dexterity and practice like Wand. It performs well even with low quality barcodes and in difficult circumstances such as curved surfaces. Unlike Wand, it is capable of scanning barcodes from long range – even from few inches to few feet, depending on the scanner model and bar code quality. However, it is expensive and more vulnerable because of precision optics and moving parts. 

III        CHARGED COUPLED DEVICE (CCD) SCANNER: This scanning device looks like a vacuum cleaner head. While working you will have to put it down over the barcode as you are going to vacuum it up. It is almost as fast and good as a laser gun, but very inexpensive. It is accurate and requires little manual dexterity and practice. However it is of short range scanning capacity. It is capable of scanning by contact or up to 3 inches distance depending on the scanner model. 

IV        BADGE SCANNER: This device has a shape of small box with a slot through which the user slides a badge or card. It is mainly used in time and attendance control systems of factories and other organizations. This scanner requires little practice and manual dexterity apart from being inexpensive. 

V         IN COUNTER SCANNER: This is mounted on the surface of the counter top, looking at barcodes passing over. It is hand free, fast and accurate. However, it is expensive and provides no mobility or flexibility. In this system possibilities are there for causing repetitive strain injuries. 

VI        ON COUNTER SCANNER: This is mounted on the counter, facing horizontally instead of vertically. It is also hand free, fast and accurate apart from reducing the risk of strain injuries. However, it is expensive and provides no mobility or flexibility.  

PRINTING DEVICES 

                             For generating barcodes various printing technologies are available such as – Dot Matrix, Direct Thermal, Thermal Transfer, Inkjet and Laser. Out of these technologies, Dot Matrix printers are capable of printing fairly low cost symbols. However, barcode symbols printed by Dot Matrix are of lower quality. Besides, they are not abrasion resistant. On the other hand, Laser printers are capable of printing high quality labels that tolerate reasonably rough treatment. But, this type of printing is quite expensive, particularly when one or two labels are required. Fairly good quality labels can be printed through this technology at a cheaper cost.  

APPLICATION OF BARCODE SYSTEM IN LIBRARIES     

                                  Automation and networking of libraries are being done with a view to provide effective and efficient services to its clienteles. A library is not fully automated, if this automatic method of identification is not included. The application of barcode system is principally quite suitable for circulation job of library. Besides, the job of library inventory and periodical control can also be effectively carried with the help of barcode technology.  

BASIC REQUIREMENTS         

                                    For implementing barcodes in library applications following hardware and software are required: 

              1.   Personal computers, (PCs);

2        Barcode Scanner;

3        Decoder;

4        Printer;

5        Printing Software;

6        Communication Software;

7        Database of Library Holdings;

8        Library Software; and

9         Membership Database; 

CIRCULATION SYSTEM 

                             While a library exists, in modern age, to get the books used by readers, it is only two sections of the library that normally comes in contact with the readers, viz the Reference Section and Circulation Section. The reference section is in charge of academic side of bringing readers and books together. The circulation section, on the other hand, is in complete charge of the mechanics of use of  books by the readers. In this respect, it is the performance and attitude of the circulation section that largely makes or mars the reputation of the library.  

                                       Well, before the details of barcode based circulation system is discussed, it is necessary to point out the pre-requisites of a good circulation system and study the difficulties experienced in the manual and computer based circulation systems. It is also necessary to fully appreciate the usefulness of barcode based circulation system.  

PRE-REQUISITES OF A GOOD CIRCULATION SYSTEM 

                              Lightning speed and absolute accuracy should characterize the work, especially the issue work, of the circulation section.  Speed is imposed by the forth law of library science, ‘Save the Time of Readers ‘. A good circulation system should answer most of the following questions: 

         I.  Whether a certain book has been issued or not? If so,

(a)    To whom it has been issued?

(b)    When it is due? 

         II. Which books have not been returned in time?      

         III. Statistics of the issued books. 

         IV. Statistics of the returned books.  

READERS RECORDS        

         I. To whom a certain book is issued? 

         II. Identification of a particular reader.  

         III. How many books can a reader borrow?  

         IV. How many books are issued to a particular reader? 

TIME RECORDS 

        I. For how many days a particular reader can keep a book?  

         II. For how many days a particular book has been issued? 

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS  

I. How much over due charges is due from a particular reader? 

II. How much fine has been collected on a particular day? 

III. Which reader has reserved a particular book?

IV. How many books have been got reserved by the readers? 

                In nutshell a good circulation system should have enough speed especially in charging and discharging of books; should economize the staff, time, money and stationary. 

MANUAL SYSTEM  

             Manual circulation system in libraries has been in the vogue, since the libraries conceived the concept of issuing library documents to their clienteles. Manual system has under gone drastic changes but still they are not capable to cope up with the emerging trends. Some of the major difficulties of manual system are:  

I.    It is difficult to know the status of a particular book. 

II.   Providing reservation for books is a tedious job. 

III.   It is cumbersome to ascertain that to whom a particular book has been issued. 

IV. To provide a clearance certificate to a particular reader is quite difficult since the counter assistant will have to verify borrower’s record and other documents to ascertain whether a particular book is pending against the borrower or not. 

V.                  Difficult to ascertain the status of a book. 

VI.            Charging and discharging of books are time consuming, as stamping of due / return date and the work of making other entries are to be carried out. 

                           Over coming the above-mentioned flaws and various other difficulties, far better, efficient and fast operation of circulation system has been possible with help of computer. With their speed and huge data storage capability computers are able to provide efficient and effective circulation work. 

           COMPUTERISED CIRCULATION SYSTEM AND APPLICATION OF BARCODE 

                    In a computerized circulation system, there is no need to maintain and issue multiple borrowers’ cards. Each member needs only a single card with unique identification number (such as library membership number) to be used by the software to access member database and the multiple borrowing facilities is controlled by the software. In computerized circulation system the borrower presents before the counter assistant his library card and the book(s) to be borrowed. The circulation assistant inputs the identity number of the borrower through keyboard and activates his database record. Depending upon permissibility the document’s accession number is entered in the computer and the book is issued to the borrower. It is the computer software, which computes the due date for return, fine and makes reservations against books. In a manual system it is difficult to ascertain whether a particular book is issued or not and hence reserving a book becomes a cumbersome job. Such problems do not exist with the computers. The database is always ready for any query. Thus, with ease, the entire operation can take place without any loss of information and control. However, even in computerized circulation system, there is a need for circulation staff to input data like member code, accession number, etc. into the machine. This often slows down the entire process. Further, there may be data entry errors, which reduces the efficiency of the system.  

                               Technology never stands still. It always advances. To overcome the problems faced in inputting data through keyboards in computerized circulation systems and achieve maximum efficiency, there is a need to further improve the automation of circulation system. This can be done through automation of data entry. The technology, which can automate the process of data entry and in reach of library profession, is barcode. 

                                        PRE REQUISITE 

                        Before the introduction of bar code system in circulation control of a library following pre-requisites are essential. 

I.                     Complete database of library holdings and library members is to be created. 

II.                   The holding of library (complete database) is to be converted in barcodes. The barcodes for documents can be generated in house and should be pasted on each documents. 

III.                  The member identification number (reader tickets) is also to be converted in barcodes. Library membership cards should be printed and barcodes should be pasted on them. Then the membership cards should be laminated. 

IV.                It is necessary to educate the users with the need to care for the barcode labels on the books.  

V.                  The system should first be tested before final application in various functions.  

                                 The automation in libraries requires that the barcode be incorporated on each reader’s tickets. A borrowers file giving full details is to be prepared using the automation package. The barcode number is to be incorporated in the borrower’s records by scanning. Similarly a file of all documents in the library is to be prepared. Each item in the bibliographic file has its own unique barcode number. The barcode label is stuck in a convenient place such as opposite the due date label. 

WORKING OF BARCODE SYSTEM  

                                  Barcode system works in much the same way a keyboard does . As pressing a key sends a signal containing a character code to the computer, reading a barcode results in the same kind of signals being sent to the processor. The barcode, in effect, acts as a unique control number, which is associated with a record giving appropriate details of individual items. While scanning, the light is reflected from the barcode and the pick up optical device receives less light from the dark bars than from the spaces between them. The signals received through this process are than converted into a form, which can be recognized by the computer.  

                                   The signals can enter the computer in one of the two ways: The barcode scanner can be directly plugged into one of the ‘slots’ in the back of the system box and special software controls the process or the barcode signals can enter through the keyboard connection to the computer. 

ADVANTAGES OF BARCODE SYSTEM   

                                 Application of barcode technology is made in the libraries with a view to automate the data entry process of circulation system. It has got the following advantages:

1. INCREASED ACCURACY: Accurate data entry is possible with barcode. Studies have shown that with manually collected data the error rate is 01 in 300 characters whereas in automated data capturing system, the error rate is almost nil; 

2. HIGH SPEED: Data entry is very fast; typically, key entry personnel can enter data at a rate of two or three characters per second. Barcode data entry rates are often 30 characters per second; 

3. MORE TIMELY INFORMATION: Information must be timely to be valuable. The storage and retrieval process by scanning the barcodes is instantaneous. Information can be updated and kept current all the times; 

4. LOWER LABOUR COST: Automated data collection eliminates time-consuming manual data entry work. Provides greater accuracy and saves from the trouble of deciphering erroneously entered data and reduces administrative time wasted in correcting the errors. 

5. BETTER SERVICES: With faster process and timely information, better services could be provided to the users.  

OTHER BARCODE APPLICATIONS IN THE LIBRARIES 

                           Apart from accuracy, reliability and speed in circulation, there are many other applications of barcodes, which has been mentioned earlier. Once the system becomes functional the technology can be effectively applied in the work of stock verification, generating user statistics, periodical control, transfer of stack from reference to lending and vice versa, weeding out the collection and updating the records, providing location codes such as departmental library etc. 

STOCK TAKING 

                                There are various methods available for stock taking or stock verification. The manual methods consume more time and more staff members are to be involved. Besides chances of error is very much and some time’s libraries are closed partially, if not fully. As a compelling need computers replaced the manual methods. But even with computerized stock verification the accession numbers are to be keyed into the computers. This approach has the same limitations as of circulation system. When barcodes are used for this purpose, the data entry is automatic, errorless, and saving in time is ensured.

                                For barcode application in library stock verification the database of library holding should be completely updated. The already pasted barcodes inside the books should be scanned starting from the first stack to the last. After scanning the list of books not scanned should be obtained with the help of software. The list should than be matched with the issue record, binding etc. and a final list of books found missing should be prepared. 

PERIODICAL CONTROL 

                For application of barcodes in periodical control system, the primary task is to develop a database of periodical holdings like database of books, an assign code numbers for each periodicals being subscribed in the library. As in the Kardex System each periodical record should contain information such as title, price, volume, issue no., publisher, year of publication, source and frequency. The database should be updated periodically. For each periodical barcode should be created based on the code number and pasted on the lower card maintained for each periodical in the Kardex System. 

                                When a particular issue is received, its respective barcode is scanned for months and issue numbers. Reminders for the various issues not received in the library are essential. With the help of software, a print out list of issues of various journals not received should be prepared and reminders generated should be sent.

                                 Besides, the barcodes can also effectively be applied for generating user’s statistics. For this purpose member cards containing the barcodes may be scanned preferably with off line scanner and statistics may be generated. 

                                 Barcode Technology, no doubt, is a boon for library and information profession. Its application, however, in a particular library should be well planned and thought of. The cost factor and other issues such as-is it comfortable and convenient to use? should be considered seriously. Considerations for label as -Are the hard wearing? Can they be prepared in house? Are they secure from tempering? Are the bars sharp enough to be captured by the scanner? Should be made.  Reliability, servicing and maintenance for the scanners should be well judge.

PERFORMANCE OF WORLD WIDE WEB SEARCH ENGINES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, Internet has emerged as the most powerful medium for storage and retrieval of information.  It works round the clock and connects every nook and corner of the globe.  “With an unprecedented growth in the quantum of knowledge worldwide and the easy accessibility, Internet has become an unavoidable necessity for every institution of higher learning and research [1]”. It is a million of computers interconnected through the worldwide telecommunication system.  All the computers are able to share information with each other because they use common communication protocols.  Internet protocols allow many different network technologies form local area networks to wide area networks to be interconnected for information communication and its application.  It supports audio and video clips as well as the text and images [2].  Thus the Internet is at once a world-wide broadcasting capability, a mechanism for information dissemination, and a medium for collaboration and interaction between individuals and their computers without regard for geographic location.

WORLD WIDE WEB

The World Wide Web abbreviated as WWW or referred simply as the Web is a system of Internet servers that supports hypertext to access several Internet protocols on a single interface. Because of its features, and because of the Web's ability to work with multimedia and advanced programming languages, the Web is the fastest-growing component of the Internet. It is, thus a collection of millions of files stored on thousands of computers (called servers) all over the world.

            The World Wide Web has revolutionized the way the people access information, and has opened up new possibilities in areas such as digital libraries, information dissemination and retrieval, education, commerce, entertainment, government and health care. “The amount of publicly available information on the web is increasing consistently at an unbelievable rate [3]”. “It is a gigantic digital library, a searchable 15 billion-word encyclopedia [4]”. It has stimulated research and development in information retrieval and dissemination.

WWW SEARCH ENGINES

One of the key aspects of the World Wide Web that makes it a valuable information resource is that the full text of document can be searched using web search engines. It is one of the many available ways to obtain information from the Internet. Search engines are mechanisms that aid user to search the entire Internet for relevant information. They use the automatic process to update, modify and maintain the references to web sites and web pages. They index all the information floating on the net; categorize them into various heads and than present for searching by the users.

They provide key word searching capability, based on the indexing of text contained within a document and deliver a list of WWW link (URL’s) that contain the key word entered in the search statement. According to Alan Poulter, “A www search engine is defined as retrieval service, consisting of a database(s) describing mainly resources available on the www, search software and a user interface also available via www[5]”.

All the Crawler-based web search engines mainly consist of three major parts. The first is the Spiders, also referred to as robots, crawlers or worms. The task of Spiders is to crawl the web, to roam and move to the Internet periodically. And their goal is to find the content and information to add to the search engine’s database. Everything the spider finds goes into the second part of the search engine, the index. It is some times also referred as catalogue. It is a huge repository like a giant book. It contains a copy of every web page that the spiders find. The Index is updated for any change in the web pages. Search engine software is the third part of a search engine. This is the program that sifts through the millions of pages recorded in the index to find matches to a search and rank them in order of what it believes is most relevant.

All crawler-based search engines have the basic parts described above, but there are differences in how these parts are tuned. That is why the same search on different search engines often produces different results.(6)

NEED AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The WWW, although a latecomer in the Internet family, has rapidly gained popularity and become the second most widely used application of the Internet [7]. The publicity WWW has gained is so great that many people naively equate WWW with the Internet. The freewheeling nature of publishing on the Web is a blessing for the flow of ideas. As a result, the web has become a sea of all kinds of data, making any query into the huge information reservoir extremely difficult. However, “finding information on the Web is a matter of luck; often it is like one puts a hand in the heap of garbage to find a gold coin [8]”. 

Search engines are among the most popular tools for resource discovery on the WWW. Obviously all search engines follow different algorithms to index information on the web and to output results to a user's query. In order to be effective on the web, it is important to utilize the search engine most suited to one’s subject domain.

With the advent of huge search engines like Google & AltaVista, containing up to millions of homepages, measuring the number of hits is no longer an effective measure. The question of the quality of the hits rather than their quantity is becoming more important.

The freewheeling nature of publishing on the Web is a blessing for the flow of ideas, but it has also complicated the process of retrieving relevant information. In contrast to traditional IR, there are no consistent indexing and classification principles for organizing materials on the Web. Nor are there any filtering practices at hand to ensure the quality and credibility of the documents.

In order to overcome all these difficulty in retrieving information from WWW, a plethora or search engines have become available recently. However, since there are usually only one or two search aids for other Internet applications (e.g., Archie for FTP, and Veronica for Gopher), why have various search engines been developed for the Web so far? The sheer number invites research. For instance, what features do various Web search engines offer? How do they differ from one another in performance? Is there a single Web search engine that out-performs all others in information retrieval? The current study attempts to seek answers to those questions. Besides, the main objective of the current study is to evaluate the performance of selected search engines to locate information from www in terms of the following:

(a)                            Which search engine provides most exhaustive search of www.

(b)                           Which search engine provides more relevant search results as compared to other selected search engines?

(c)                            Which of these selected search engines is discipline supported. i. e. whether they are strong for searches in a specific subject.

(d)                           Which selected search engine is providing more current results?

(e)                            Which selected search engine is providing more non workable links? 

The reported findings of the earlier studies obviously do not appear to agree with one another. The methodologies and evaluation criteria used by those studies differed as well. Can a feasible methodology be developed to help Web users select a search engine, out of the great number of choices, which is most appropriate to their specific search needs? The researcher of this study is trying to do so by evaluating the searching capabilities and performance of selected Web search engines.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITIRATURE

The review of literature shows that in the realm of search engine studies, many studies comparing relevance have been conducted. However, I have chosen this field for present study because many previous studies have arrived at conflicting conclusions as to which services are better at delivering superior precision and because most of those studies have either had small test suites or have not reported how the study was conducted.

Most published precision studies have had test suites that were too small for statistical usefulness. Leighton's study (Leighton, 1995) [9] only had eight queries, and there have been a host of minor studies that purport to judge precision based on three, two or even one measly query. Westera (1996) [10] only used five queries, all dealing with wine. Ding and Marchionini (1996), [11] the best modeled study to date, studied first twenty precision, but used only five queries.

Gauch and Wang (1996) [12] had twelve queries, studied almost all of the major search services (and even the major metasearch services) and reported first twenty precision, but did not test for significance in the differences reported. Chu and Rosenthal (1996) [13] tested first ten precision, had enough queries for statistical comparisons, recorded crucial information about how the searching was conducted, and performed some statistical tests. However, they only studied three search services, and they did not subject their mean precision figures to any test for significance. Tomaiuolo and Packer (1996) [14] studied first ten precision on two hundred queries. They did list the query topics that they searched, but they used structured search expressions (using operators) and did not list the exact expression entered for each service. They reported the mean precision, but again did not test for significance in the differences. They often did not visit the link to see if it was in fact active. Nor did they define the criteria for relevance. Despite the shortcomings, it is an impressive, huge study.

Studies reported in popular journals were often vague about how many or exactly what queries were searched. Scoville (1996) [15] used first ten precision and gave exact mean scores, but explained neither how many queries were used, nor whether the differences in mean were significant. Munro and Lidsky (1996) [16] also used first ten precision in a hefty fifty query by ten search engine study, but did not list the queries or the statistical analysis. From their description, it is clear that their range of types of queries was much wider than that used in this study. They reported their results as a scale of four stars, indicating that more exact numbers would be easily misleading (probably because of issues with statistical significance). Venditto (1996) [17] used first twenty-five precision, but did not report how many queries were used nor what the exact statistics were.

None of the studies in the related literature indicate for any attempt made to blind the service of origin of the links evaluated. Unless this step is taken, there must always be the question of bias, conscious or unconscious, on the part of the evaluator.

This work attempts to compare the precision of selected search engines namely Google, Alta Vista, Teoma, and Alltheweb in an objective and fair manner with regard to general subject queries that may be posed in the academic setting.

Methodology

Analysis of related literature shows that various search engine evaluative studies and researches have employed different methods and procedures, causing both appraisal and criticism.  In the present study all efforts have been made to employ a thoroughly comprehended and well-planned methodology to evaluate the performance of search engines under study. It is hoped that all sort of biases and lacunas associated with several previous studies will remain far off form the present study. The methodology employed in the present study is described below under three distinct headings i.e.

1.                  The test suite development,

2.                  Search method, and

3.                  Evaluation method

1.       The Test Suite Development

The test suite development includes two steps: step one is the selection of the topics/queries to be searched for and then, step second, decide exactly what search expression to be submitted. As far as the selection of query is concerned it is the general subject inquiry in an academic setting, the queries are ones actually asked at VSAT- Facility, Central Library, Dr. RML Avadh University, Faizabad. During December 2005, the researcher recorded the topic of every reference question that was asked in which the users specifically requested that the Internet be used as a source of information. These queries were neither invented nor selected by someone who knew the abilities of the various services. Discipline wise first five received queries were selected.

The selection of exactly what search expression to enter is perhaps the single weakest point in the design of this study. However, these selected queries are usually narrowly defined academic topics and used multiple words and hence used as search expression without any modification.

As far as the search expression is concerned while conducting preliminary queries, I became uneasy and it was difficult to know for each of the selected services and for each query exactly what expression would be optimal. Furthermore, as Magellan's Voyeur (Magellan, 1997) indicates, most users do not use operators in their searching. Finally, unstructured queries force the search service to do more of the work, ranking results by its own algorithm rather than the constraints specified by the operators. Because of all of these factors, I chose the natural language as the preferred expression, and only modified the topics when the topic was too easily open to multiple interpretations. Whether I made optimal, or even adequate, choices, is an issue for criticism.

2        Search Method

The close time proximity of the searching is essential for objectivity in search engine evaluative studies. It is better that a query is searched on the different services closer in time. Ideally, a query should be executed on all search services at the same time. It is because if a relevant page were to be made available between the time one engine was searched and the time a second was searched, the second would have the unfair advantage of being able to index and retrieve the new page. In the present study, all of the search engines were searched, for a given query, at the same time. For a given query all selected search engines were opened in different windows, the search expression was given to each engine, and then within seconds the search was executed on all the search engines. Only in cases when a particular engine could not execute the search, second or third attempt was made. And in such cases also the time gap was not more than two minutes.

Another way to achieve close time proximity of searching is to check the pages that were cited in the results from the search services as quickly as possible after the results are obtained. The longer one waits after the results are obtained, the more likely it is that some pages which were truly active at the time of the search have been removed from the Web and are erroneously judged to be inactive by the researcher. In the present study, Netscape web browser was used to obtain all the pages. All results of each query were retrieved at the same time and stored in labeled files. One more corresponding record was also created in MS-word file, where web links and the titles of the retrieved documents was copied and stored. This was done on the same day, and at the same time, the searches were conducted. The subject experts then evaluated the stored pages over a period of from a day to a week.

3        Evaluation Method

Concerned subject experts, all faculty members at Dr. RML Avadh University, Faizabad, were invited to evaluate the contents of all retrieved and stored pages. Initially to judge all possible biases various pretests were conducted. In these pretests it was noticed that evaluators were developing biases and judgments about the various search services. To prevent these biases from clouding the judgment in categorizing individual pages returned by the services, a method of blinding the pages was developed so that for any given page, no one could know ahead of time which service had returned it as a result.

The evaluators were asked to call up each stored and labeled page, inspected it and assigned it to one of these categories: Relevant, Partially Relevant, Distant Relevant, Irrelevant, or Page Not Found. Certain unique features (such as the title & web link addresses) were noted so that a match could be established at the later stage of evaluation for similar result pages. In this way, even if the evaluation was not evenly or fairly done in other respects, at least the same page would have received the same score throughout the evaluation of a query.

Both in the method the queries were chosen and the method in which the resulting pages were evaluated, all attempts were made to prevent personal natural biases from affecting the study.

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In this study, relevancy comparison of four world wide webs search services, which are commonly called “search engines” have been made.  These selected search engines are-Google, Altavista, Teoma and Alltheweb. The set of one dozen search statement is used from three subject fields.  The relevancy was measured on the basis of first ten search results provided by each of the search engine.

For the ease of analysis and interpretation the collected data have first been divided into two categories viz: The First Five Output (FFO) and the Last Five Output (LFO) and have been measured in terms of Relevant (R), Partially Relevant (PR), Distant Relevant (DR) and Irrelevant (IR). In all cases, when the web page could not be opened, due to any reason, it has been categorized as Page Not Found (PNF).  In this way all search output has been calculated, analyzed and results are drawn.

With a view to measure the currency of collected data all output provided have also been analyzed.  While collecting data the date of posting the web page and its data of update has been noted.  To decide the currency of web pages the positing date of web page or the date when web page has been updated has formed the basis. In all cases when the date of update is not available the date of posting the web page has been chosen.  But where revision date is given, it is selected as the currency of web page. For the ease of calculation and analysis the currency period has been categorized into four groups viz: 2006-2005, 2004-2003, 2002-2001 and 2000- Earlier. However, while analyzing the collected data it has been found that a large number of web pages are neither having the date of positing nor the date of revision or update.  All such cases have been categorized as Currency Not Available (CNA). This has created five categories of currency of web pages.

1.         It is important to note that all search engines boast to arrange the search results on the basis of their relevancy to the search statement, and it is commonly accepted that search engines with big size Index provides higher number of total results and their relevancy is also higher in comparison to others. Present study has found these assumptions false. Search engines with smaller index have provided more current and relevant results than the search engines with bigger index.

2.         In Library and Information Science (LIS) subject field Google has provided the maximum output of 45,177,500 results, followed by Altavista with output of 2,346,500 results and Alltheweb with 2,148,000 results. Teoma has provided the minimum output of 448,650 average results. As far as relevancy is concerned Google has provided 30%R, 27.5%PR, 22.5%DR, 17.5%IR and 2.5%PNF results.  Altavista has provided 35%R, 12.5%PR, 20%DR and 32.5%IR results.  Teoma has provided 32.5%R, 17.5%PR, 15%DR, 27.5%IR and 5%PNF results.  Alltheweb has provided 42.5%R, 15%PR, 15%DR and 27.5%IR results.  Thus it can be easily said that search engine Alltheweb provides the maximum of 42.5% relevant results.  A close analysis shows that for relevant web pages one should use Alltheweb, particularly in the field of LIS. 

3.         All three search engines except Google have provided more relevant results in first five output where as Google has provided equal relevant results in first five output and the last five output. 

4.         In terms of average currency in LIS Teoma has provided the maximum of 30% current results posted/updated in the year 2005-2006, followed by Alltheweb with 27.5% and Altavista with 25%. Google has provided the minimum of 20% current results posted/updated in the year 2005-2006 on average. 

5.         Similarly, in terms of pages where date of posting/update is not available Google on an average has provided the maximum of 37.5% results, followed by Altavista with 35% results, Alltheweb with 30% results and Teoma with minimum of 27.5% results in LIS.

6.         In Environmental Science Google has provided the maximum output of 1,720,500 results, followed by Altavista with total output of 595,250 results and Alltheweb with total output of 539,250 results. Teoma has provided the minimum total output of 89,150 results. In terms of relevancy Google has provided 40%R results, 25%PR results, 17.5%DR results, 15%IR results and only 2.5%PNF results.  Altavista has provided 42.5%R results, 32.5%PR results, 10%DR results, 12.5%IR results and 2.5%PNF results.  Teoma has provided 37.5%R results, 32.5%PR results, 7.5%DR results, and 22.5%IR results.  Alltheweb has provided 42.5%R results, 32.5%PR results, 10%DR results, 12.5%IR results and 2.5%PNF results. Thus it is clear that Alltheweb and Altavista both have provided not only equal 42.5%R results but have also provided equal results in all other category of relevancy.   A close analysis shows that to find relevant information in environmental science one should use either Altavista or Alltheweb. 

7.         Except Teoma all other three search engines have provided more relevant results in first five outputs whereas Teoma has provided more relevant results in last five outputs. 

8.         As far as currency of web pages are concerned in Environmental Science Google has provided the maximum of 32.5% output posted/updated in the year 2005-2006, followed by Teoma with 30%, output and both Altavista and Alltheweb have provided only 25% output.

 9.        Similarly, in terms of pages where date of posting/update is not available again Google has provided the maximum of 35% output, followed by both Altavista and Alltheweb with 30% output and Teoma with minimum of 25% output. Google, Altavista and Alltheweb have provided 17.5% output posted/updated in 2003-2004 whereas Teoma has provided only 12.5% output for the same period. However, Google, Altavista and Alltheweb have provided 7.5% output posted/updated in 2001-2002 whereas Teoma has provided 17.5% output for the same period.

10.       In Social Sciences also Google has provided the maximum output of 15,200,000 results, followed by Altavista with total output of 7,896,250 results, and Alltheweb with total output of 6,760,500 results.  Search engine Teoma has again, provided the minimum total output of 1,232,600 results.

11.       In terms of relevancy Google has provided 45%R results, 25%PR results, 15%DR results and 15%IR results. Altavista has provided 30%R results, 25%PR results, 35%DR results and 10%IR results. Search engine Teoma has provided only 15%R results, 32.5%PR results, 32.5%DR results, and 15%IR results.  Alltheweb has provided 32. 5%R results, 22.5%PR results, 30%DR results and 15%IR results.  Thus a close analysis shows that to find relevant and current information in Social Science one should use either Google or Alltheweb.

12.       Google has not provided any www link which is not working. Altavista and Alltheweb have also not provided any www link which is not working. Teoma is the only search engine which has provided 5% such www links which is not working.

13.       Except Google rest three search engines on average have provided more relevant results in the last five outputs. Goggle has provided more relevant results in first five outputs. 

14.       As far as the currency of web pages are concerned in Social Sciences, Teoma has provided the maximum 40% output posted/updated in the year 2005-2006, followed by Google with 37.5% output and both Altavista and Alltheweb with 25% output of the same period.

15.       In terms of web pages where date of posting /update is not available three search engines namely Google, Altavista and Alltheweb has provided equal 32.5% output.  Teoma has provided the minimum 20% output of such web pages.  

References

1.        Ali, Amjad. Internet and the University Libraries: University News.Vol.39, (17), 2001, pp 6-10.

2.        Mahajan, Preti. Internet in the Changing Educational Scenario. University News.Vol.40, (29), 2001, pp11-13.

3.        Lawrence, S & Giles, C.L. (1998). “Searching the World Wide Web”, Science.Vol. 280, (5360),pp 98-100.

4.        Barrier, J. & Presti, D. (1996), “The World Wide Web as an Instructional Tool”, Science. Vol. 274, pp 371-372.

5.        Poulter, Alan. The Design of World Wide Web Search Engines: a critical review. Program.Vol. 31, (2), 1997, pp 131-45.

6.        http://searchenginewatch.com/webmasters/article.php/2168031 [accessed on 27-10-2005].

7.        Courtois, Martin P., Baer, William M., and Stark, Marcella. (November/December 1995). Cool tools for searching the Web: A performance evaluation. Online, 19(6), 14-32.

8.       Tripathi, Aditya. Resource Description Framework (RDF) for organised searching on Internet. DESIDOC Bulletin of Information Technology. Vol.21 (4-5), July & September 2001, p3.

9.        Leighton, H. Vernon. (1995). Performance of four World Wide Web (WWW) index services: Infoseek, Lycos, WebCrawler, and WWWWorm. [online]. Available: http://www.winona.edu/library/webind.htm [Accessed on 1 January 2006].

10.     Westera, Gillian. (1996). Search Engine Comparison: Testing Retrieval and Accuracy. [online] Available: http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/library/staffpages/gwpersonal/senginestudy/results.htm [Accessed on 7 January 2006].

11.      Ding, Wei and Gary Marchionini. (1996). "A comparative study of web search service performance," ASIS 1996 Annual Conference Proceedings, Baltimore, MD, October 19-24, 1996, pp 136-142.

12.     Gauch, Susan and Guijun Wang (1996). "Information Fusion with ProFusion," Webnet 96 Conference, San Francisco, CA, October 15-19, 1996. [online]. Available: http://www.csbs.utsa.edu/info/webnet96/html/155.htm[Accessed on 22 February 1997].

13.     Chu, Heting and Marilyn Rosenthal. (1996). "Search engines for the World Wide Web: A comparative study and evaluation methodology," ASIS 1996 Annual Conference Proceedings, Baltimore, MD, October 19-24, 1996, pp 127-135.

14.     Tomaiuolo, Nicholas G. and Joan G. Packer. (1996). “ An analysis of Internet Search Engines: assessment of over 200 search queries”. Computers in Libraries. Vol.16 (6) (June 1996), pp58.

15.     Scoville, Richard. (1996). "Special Report: Find it on the Net!" PC World, Vol.14, (1), (January 1996), pp. 125 .

16.     Munro, Jay and David Lidsky. (1996). "Web search sites," PC Magazine, Vol.15, (21), (December 3, 1996), pp. 232.

17.     Venditto, Gus. (1996). "Search Engine Showdown." Internet World, Vol.7, (5), (May 1, 1996), pp.78-86.

Information Literacy: A Review of Literature

Analyses the definitions of Information Literacy and describes the various aspects of it. Deliberates on the attributes of a information literate person. Shows the need and importance of Information Literacy in Library and Information Centers in changing information environment. Reviews the available literature on Information Literacy and related areas.

From leaf to clay tablets, from manuscripts to microfilms, from printed documents to CD-ROMS and online electronic resources, Libraries and Information Centers have always been in the business of facilitating information to its diversified categories of users.  Since the time immemorial the profession has always been in fore front in devising, developing and using various tools and technologies to facilitate content-based information to its end users.  In this context Information Communication Technology (ICT) has made its effective presence in Libraries and Information Centers.   ICT has drastically transformed the way for collection, processing, storage, retrieval and communication of information.  Particularly the Internet has completely transformed the traditional method of processing information from collection to communication.

What is Information Literacy?

Information Literacy can be defined in terms of a set of competencies that an informed citizen of an information society ought to posses to participate actively and intelligently in that society.

According to Jeremy Shapiro and Shelly Hughes Information Literacy is “a new liberal art that extends form knowing how to use computers and access information to critical reflection on the nature of information itself, its technical infrastructure and its social, cultural, and philosophical context and impact”(1).  Thus Information Literacy is not only knowing how to use computers and access information but also evaluating the nature and impact of information in relation to its technical infrastructure and its social, cultural and philosophical context.

The American Library Association’s (ALA) Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, final Report defines Information Literacy, as, a “set of abilities requiring individuals to recognise when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information”(2).  In other words information literacy is a set of skills, which enables the individuals to recognise his/her information need.  In addition it also enables to locate, evaluate and use the needed information effectively.

A close analysis of the above definitions and a review of the related literature reveal the following aspects of information literacy, which should be kept in mind while planning any information literacy programme.  These aspects may be termed as components of an information literacy programme.                                                                                                                                               

v     The very important aspect of information literacy is tool literacy.  It is the ability to understand and use the practical and conceptual tools of current information technology relevant to education and the areas of work and professional life that the individual expects to inhabit.

v     Resource literacy is another important aspect.  It is an important aspect for conducting information literacy programmes in academic institutions.  It is the ability to understand the form, format, location and access methods of information resources.

v     Research Literacy is another aspect.  It is the ability to understand and use the IT based tools relevant to the work of today’s scholars and researchers.

v     The other aspect of Information Literacy is Critical Literacy.  It is the ability to evaluate critically the intellectual, human and social strengths and weaknesses, potentials and limits, benefits and costs of information technologies.

v     Last but not the least aspect of information Literacy is regarding emerging technology.  Technology never stands still, it always advances.  This is the ability to adapt, understand, and evaluate the emerging technologies and make use of the continually emerging innovations in IT so as to make intelligent decisions about the adoption of new technology. 

The history of information literacy can be traced in various library instructions programmes, such as Bibliographic Instruction, Library Initiation, Library Orientation, User Education, etc. Thus, from Bibliographic Instruction to information literacy, the desire to name the library's educational programme mirrors our desire to name and rename in other spheres. Some of the terms used in describing educational programmes or goals have specific connotations related to institution-specific objectives. In defining these programmes or goals, one can see how they mimic one another with minor variation. Information Literacy is basically a library instruction programme.  It focuses on content, communication, analysis, information searching and evaluation.  In view of the contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources Information Literacy in libraries have become increasingly important.  It “forms the basis for life long learning”(3) by enabling the learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning.

Information Literate Person

 Information Literacy Competency is the ability to identify information needs, seek out resources to meet those needs, and then analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate the resulting knowledge. It is a core instructional pedagogy in higher education. Today, information is available in abundance from many sources and in many formats, such as printed text, television, videos, library databases, web sites, and more. To be "information literate" one needs to know why, when, and how to use all of these tools and think critically about the information they provide. One can’t become information literate overnight. His abilities will improve over time as he gains expertise in the topics he chooses to investigate and as he practice searching for, selecting, and evaluating the information and ideas he encounter. In nutshell Information literate person is supposed to:

·        Be competent, independent learner;

·        Actively engage in the world of ideas;

·        Confidently solve problems;

·        Know what is relevant information;

·        Use technological tools to access information and communicate;

·        Operate comfortably in situations where there are multiple answers or no answers;

·        Have high standards for his work and use information ethically;

·        Create quality products; 

Need of Information Literacy 

Today libraries are functioning in hybrid environment.  Most of the libraries are providing traditional as well as ICT based services.  Indeed, libraries have been conducting instruction programmes with various nomenclatures to describe their resources, various services, marking and parking patterns, library use ethics etc.  However, the changing library environment requires the libraries to play more important role through information literacy programmes. The abundance of information available through the Internet in public domain in the form of subject gateways, e-books, e-journals, subject and subject concept based web pages, etc., as well as the information available through different subscription based databases made available by various hosts and aggregators, is bound to play a very important role in teaching, learning and research, particularly in higher education and R&D institutions.

Keeping in view the huge amount of information available through the Internet, today, again library and information profession is at a crossroad.  The LIS profession is striving to find out the ways and means to organise and make accessible this huge information available through the Internet.  For maximum utilisation of these resources in teaching learning and research, the Information Literacy programme (ILP) is the need of the hour.  It makes the end users competent enough for retrieving precise and relevant information as per their need.  Thus is addition to the traditional library resources and services, today, information literacy is essential to educate the users as to how to determine his/her information need; what are the different information sources, their coverage and features; how to find out relevant and precise information from various electronic information sources; what are the web searching techniques; how to evaluate and establish the authenticity and reliability of information retrieved from public domain; what are the ethics and legalities in using electronic information sources; how to make proper bibliographic citations etc.

LITERATURE REVIEW 

There are many studies and reports on information literacy, lists of competencies, and descriptions of information literacy programmes and courses. However, there is a paucity of actual assessment tools that measure student competencies rather than evaluate library instruction. 

Betsy Barefoot (4) discusses the perception of first year college students that campus libraries are largely irrelevant to their lives. Suggests ways to make library instruction an integral part of courses. Karen Brodsky (5) describes a model designed to facilitate integration of information competence into the curriculum of a freshman seminar. The model focuses on collaboration among librarians, faculty, peer mentors and students. Mary Ann Fitzgerald (6) summarizes three studies about information literacy skills of first-year college students.

 

As far as information literacy teaching and learning is concerned Sonia Bodi (7) suggests several guiding questions for students to ask during their research, e.g. what are the parts of my topic? What examples and evidence do I need? How can I contribute something meaningful and new? Linda Carder et. Al. (8) describes using focused mini-cases to allow students to demonstrate their abilities and to guide them in identifying their information needs. Myron H Dembo (9) discusses reasons why some students resist changing their academic behaviours, the dichotomy between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Ameet Doshi (10) advocates integrating a gaming element into library skills instruction as a way to improve learning and portray libraries in a less boring light. Helen Foster’s (11) study focuses on the embedded tasks of information retrieval and how instructors can use reflection, pre-selected sources, and internet-connected classrooms to support teaching these tasks. In a study of Debra Gilchrist (12) students in English, History, and Education classes apply an inquiry-based approach to better understand the research process. Jill D Jenson (13) points to teachers' assumptions about their students' "computer literacy," as well as to the students' lack of hands-on experience in an actual library, as potential sources of the problem. Provides suggestions for overcoming these obstacles. Thomas P Mackey (14) introduces three scalable models for teaching information literacy that work in general education as well as upper level courses: the art of annotation, research and composition, and writing for the web. Susan E Metros (15) examines the need for teaching a basic visual design vocabulary, providing the resources needed for becoming visual producers, and developing constructive critics of visual information. Barbara Quarton (16) describes teaching strategies faculty in any discipline can use to guide their undergraduate students through the basic library research necessary for writing a solid research paper. Ariel Rodriguez (17) discusses why and how to teach students evaluate research. Argues that the ability to evaluate research could be more important than the ability to conduct research. Jerilyn Veldof and Karen Beavers (18) discusses how students' mental models affect the way they interact with and learn from online systems. Identifies ways tutorials can be designed for more effective instruction. Sherie Williams (19) applies steps such as survey, question, read, reflect, review, etc. to help students decipher complex information. Niki Young (20) discusses ways to transform a complex process into a series of small achievable steps and deliver instruction at the student's point of need.

 

As far as discipline specific information literacy programs are concerned Nancy Dennis (21) explains how American social history web sites were used in a women's studies class. Student’s integrated evaluations of web sites with analyses of content. John W East (22) reviews the existing literature on the information behaviour of researchers in the humanities, in order to develop a set of learning objectives, which can be used in the planning of information literacy training programmes.

 

The competence lists in print and on academic library Web sites are too numerous to cite; however, several Web sites from the California State University (23) libraries are worth noting because of the enormous amount of information literacy work they have done at California.

 

Stephanie Sterling Brasley (24) describes the development of a test to measure cognitive skills covering these seven proficiencies: define, access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate. In his study Stephen C Ehrmann (25) proposes five key outcomes for liberal education. He gives examples of liberal arts institutions that are among the leaders in redefining the curriculum. Patricia Iannuzzi (26) considers assessment methodologies such as evaluation of bibliographies, reviews of assignments that underscore the research process, and the use of portfolios or journals. Lorie Roth (27) describes information competence assessment initiatives at several universities in California, including a study at California State University, San Marcos, to measure student attainment in information literacy over a four-year period. Susan Carol Curzon (28) describes the California State University Information Competence Skills Assessment, a telephone survey in which 3,000 students responded to hypothetical research and information-seeking scenarios. 

Bonnie Gratach Lindauer (29) examines the learning environment (curriculum and independent learning opportunities), information literacy programme components (courses, reference desk instruction, etc.), and student learning outcomes (such as performance measures on tests, assignments, portfolios and self-assessments). Diane Mittermayer (30) made a study on the information literacy competency of the first year undergraduate students. A questionnaire given to first year students measured knowledge of five areas: concept identification, search strategy, document types, search tools, and use of results. Janet Williams (31) in his study outlines the steps in designing an assessment, and has examples of various assessment methods such as constructed response, Know-Wonder-Learn-Wonder, self-reflection, and performance tasks.

Other academic libraries have undertaken related assessments and have developed their own instruments, which were of interest. An effort to compare student self-assessment of information skills with objective evaluation was described by Greer, Weston, and Alm (32). Two surveys at Johns Hopkins University (33) compared freshmen and upperclassmen at that institution, focusing first on evaluating basic library skills and then adding some advanced skills. The Indiana University Bloomington Libraries Assessment Plan for Information Literacy (34), while not offering a single assessment tool, describes a plan for assessing information literacy and articulates specific objectives and possible measurement techniques for each information literacy goal. Kent State librarians (35) report on a pre-test used to assess basic library skills primarily of freshmen enrolled in an English II course. The Teaching Library at University of California, Berkeley (36), first surveyed graduating seniors in the political science and sociology departments in March-May 1994 and has repeated the survey with students in these and other disciplines, Pat Maughan is completing an article summarizing the results.

There is a small contribution from Indian Library and Information Science Professionals in the realm of information literacy.  C.R. Karisiddappa (37) has discussed the concept and characteristic of information literacy.  He has also deliberated upon the origin and growing importance of information literacy and had suggested that it should be included not only in library and information science curriculum but also in all curriculum from school education to higher education.  He suggests that information literacy is a tool for capability building.  Suresh K. Chauhan, Prem Chand and TAV Murthy (38) provides an overview of the awareness programmes initiated by INFLIBNET for information literacy through out the country under UGC-Infonet:   E-Journals consortium.  Describe the efforts INFLIBNET had been extending to make academicians aware  and train to use the e-resources available  through consortium up to optimum level: RSR Varalakshmi (39) advocated that effective implementation of Information Literacy Programmes is possible with efficient models of information literacy. Keeping in view the Indian environment and needs she suggests three types of models for trainers, under graduates and post graduates and the necessary measures for their application.  Besides C.K. Sharma (40), Neena Singh (41) , Sudhakar Goud (42), Satish Kanamadi and Vishakha Vichare (43), Mulla and Chandrasekhara (44)  have emphasised the need for information literacy in higher education in India.

Reference:

1.        Shapiro, J and Hughes, S. Information Literacy as a Liberal Art: Enlightenment proposals for a new curriculum.  Educon Review, Vol. 32 No. 2. Available : http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/review/reviewarticles/31231.html (Accessed on 21.01.2008)

2.       American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy.  Final report. Chicago. Author. (ED 315 028)

3.       “Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education”.  Association of College & Research Libraries.  Available : http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm .   Accessed on 07.01.2008).

4.       Barefoot, Betsy. "Bridging the Chasm: First-Year Students and the Library," Chronicle of Higher Education 52 (January 20, 2006): B16.

5.        Brodsky, Karen. "Information Competence in the Freshman Seminar," Academic Exchange (Winter 2002): 46-51.

6.       Fitzgerald, Mary Ann. "Making the Leap from High School to College," Knowledge Quest 32 (March/April 2004): 19-24.

7.        Bodi, Sonia. "How Do We Bridge the Gap between What We Teach and What They Do? Some Thoughts on the Place of Questions in the Process of Research," Journal of Academic Librarianship 28 (May 2002): 109-114.

8.       Carder, Linda et al. "Case-based, Problem-based Learning: Information Literacy for the Real World," Research Strategies 18 (2001): 181-190.

9.       Dembo, Myron H. "Students' Resistance to Change in Learning Strategies Courses," Journal of Developmental Education 27 (Spring 2004): 2-4, 6, 8, 10-11.

10.     Doshi, Ameet. "How Gaming Could Improve Information Literacy," Computers in Libraries (May 2006): 15-17.

11.      Foster, Helen. "Growing Researchers Using an Information-Retrieval Scaffold," Teaching English in the Two-Year College 31 (December 2003): 170-178.

12.     Gilchrist, Debra. "Collaborative Teaching through Inquiry-Based Instruction." In What is Good Instruction Now? Library Instruction for the 90s, ed. Linda Shirato, 51-54. Ann Arbor: Pierian Press, 1993.

13.     Jenson, Jill D. "It's the Information Age, So Where's the Information? Why Our Students Can't Find Information and What We Can Do to Help," College Teaching 52 (Summer 2004): 107-112.

14.     Mackey, Thomas P. "Integrating Information Literacy in Lower- and Upper-Level Courses: Developing Scalable Models for Higher Education," Journal of General Education 53.3-4 (2004): 201-224.

15.     Metros, Susan E. "Visual Literacy: An Institutional Perspective" EDUCAUSE Review (May/June 2006): 80-81.

16.     Quarton, Barbara. "Research Skills and the New Undergraduate," Journal of Instructional Psychology 30 (June 2003): 120-124.

17.     Rodriguez, Ariel. "Training Students to be Better Consumers of Research: Evaluating Empirical Research Reports" College Teaching 53 (Summer 2005): 99-101.

18.     Veldof, Jerilyn and Karen Beavers. "Going Mental: Tackling Mental Models for The Online Library Tutorial," Research Strategies 18 (2001): 3-20.

19.     Williams, Sherie. "Guiding Students Through the Jungle of Research-Based Literature," College Teaching 53 (Fall 2005): 137-139.

20.    Young, Niki. "From Small Step to Giant Leap in Research Ability," Academic Exchange (Summer 2005): 104-108.

21.     Dennis, Nancy. "Using Inquiry Methods to Foster Information Literacy Partnerships," Reference Services Review 29.2 (2001): 122-131.

22.    East, John W. "Information Literacy for the Humanities Researcher: A Syllabus Based on Information Habits Research," Journal of Academic Librarianship 31.2 (March 2005): 134-142.

23.    California State University Information Competence Work Group, Information Competence in the CSU: A Report, 1995 http://www.calstate.edu/LS/Archive/info_comp_report.shtml (Accessed on 1-01- 2008); California State University Information Competence Work Group, Information Competence, 2000 http://library.csun.edu/susan.curzon/infocmp.html (Accessed on 1-01- 2008); California State University Information Competence Assessment Project, 2000 http://www.csupomona.edu/~kkdunn/Icassess/ictaskforce.html (Accessed on 1-01- 2008); California State University Fullerton Pollak Library, Assessing Information Competence Across Disciplines, 2000 http://guides.library.fullerton.edu/infocomp/index.htm (Accessed on 1-01- 2008).

24.    Brasley, Stephanie Sterling. "Building and Using a Tool to Assess Info and Tech Literacy," Computers in Libraries (May 2006): 6+

25.    Ehrmann, Stephen C."Beyond Computer Literacy: Implications of Technology for the Content of a College Education," Liberal Education (Fall 2004): 6-13.

26.    Iannuzzi, Patricia. "We Are Teaching, But Are They Learning: Accountability, Productivity, and Assessment," Journal of Academic Librarianship 25 (July 1999): 304-5.

27.    Lorie Roth, "Educating the Cut and Paste Generation," Library Journal 124 (November 1, 1999): 42-44.

28.    Susan Carol Curzon, "Developing a programme of Information Literacy," College & Research Libraries News 61 (June 2000): 483+.

29.    Lindauer, Bonnie Gratach. "The Three Arenas of Information Literacy Assessment," Reference and User Services Quarterly 44 (Winter 2004): 122-129.

30.    Mittermayer, Diane. "Incoming First Year Undergraduate Students: How Information Literate Are They?" Education for Information 23 (2005): 203-232.

31.     Williams, Janet L. "Creativity in Assessment of Library Instruction," Reference Services Review 28.4 (2000): 323-334.

32.    Arlene Greer, Lee Weston, and Mary Alm, "Assessment of Learning Outcomes: A Measure of Progress in Library Literacy," College and Research Libraries 52 (November 1991): 549-57.

33.    Jill Coupe, "Undergraduate Library Skills: Two Surveys at Johns Hopkins University," Research Strategies 11 (Fall 1993): 188-201.

34.    Indiana University Bloomington Libraries Assessment Planning Committee, "An Assessment Plan for Information Literacy," May 1, 1996, http://www.indiana.edu/~libinstr/Information_Literacy/assessment.html (Accessed on 1-01- 2008).

35.    Lilith R. Kunkel, Susan M. Weaver, and Kim N. Cook, "What Do They Know?: An Assessment of Undergraduate Library Skills," The Journal of Academic Librarianship 22 (November 1996): 430-34.

36.    Pat Davitt Maughan,, "Information Literacy Survey, " University of California, Berkeley Library, 1995, http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Survey.html (Accessed on 1-01- 2008). 

37.    Karisiddappa, C.R. “Literacy Concepts in the LIS: Information Literacy and capability Building”  “International workshop on “Democratization of Information: Focus on Libraries”

38.    Chauhan , Suresh K, Prem Chand, and Murthy, TAV. “Information Literacy for Indian Academicians:  INFLIBNET Initiatives”, Journal of Library and Information Science  31 (June 2006): 45-52.

39.    Varalakshmi, R.S.R.  “Information Literacy Models: An Indian Perspective”,  Journal of Library and Information  Science 32 (June 2007): 41-60.

40.    Sharma, C.K. “User’s  Orientation and contribution of Information Technology”,  Library Progress.  Vol. 20 No. 2 (2000): 71-75.

41.     Singh, Neena, “Restructuring LIS User Education Courses in Universities of Agfriculture Science; A Study”, Annals of Library and Information Studies Vol. 53 No. 3, p.p. 134-142.

42.    Sudhakar Goud, “Information Literacy is the new goal”, Business Line, Tuesday, September 5, 2006.

43.    Kanamadi, Satish and Vichare, Visakha, “Information Literacy Programmes for Social Scientists: A tool  for harvesting e-resources”, SRELS Journal of Information Management,  Vol. 43 No.33 (2006): 283-293.

44.    Mulla. K. R. and Chaudrashekhra, M. , “Internet Users: Mysore University  Campus,” SERLS Journal of Information Management, Vol. 43 No. 3 (2006): 243-263.

LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE RESOURCE LINKS  ----

JOURNALS---

·         Against the Grain - News about libraries, publishers, book jobbers, and subscription agents.

·         Annual Review of Information Science and Technology - The annual publication of the American Society for Information Science. Focuses on activities and trends in the field of information science and technology. Includes links to the ASIS home page and print version purchase information.

·         Ariadne - Quarterly publication aimed at academic librarians in the United Kingdom. Links to back issues dating from 1996.

·         Biblia's Warrior Librarian Weekly - Pokes fun at the people who use libraries and the funnier ones who work in them.

·         Cataloging & Classification Quarterly - Editorial information, tables of contents and abstracts.

·         Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal - A peer-reviewed e-journal with an international outlook focusing on the practical aspect of Chinese librarianship.

·         Christian Library Journal - Reviews of books, videos, cassette tapes, and CDs from a Christian point of view.

·         Cites & Insights: Crawford at Large - Walt Crawford's commentary and annotated citations of selected articles on library and computer-related issues.

·         Computers in Libraries - Online version of the monthly magazine focusing on library oriented information technology.

·         Cultivate Interactive - E-journal which is funded by the European Commission to disseminate information on digital cultural heritage including projects funded by the EU's DIGICULT programme.

·         D-Lib Magazine - Monthly publication about research and innovation in digital libraries.

·         E-JASL: The Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship - Independent, professional, refereed journal dedicated to advancing knowledge and research in the areas of academic and special librarianship.

·         E-LIS - Open access archive of preprints, postprints and other documents in the field of library and information science.

·         Ex Libris - An e-zine for librarians and information junkies.

·         First Monday - Peer-reviewed journal about the Internet and the Global Information Infrastructure.

·         IFLA Journal - Journal of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, an international organization focusing on libraries and library users. Contains tables of contents, abstracts and some full text beginning with 1993.

·         Info To Go - Sample issue and information about the monthly print publication aimed at information professionals. "Dedicated to eliminating aimless surfing."

·         Information Processing and Management - Bi-monthly peer reviewed print journal published by Elsevier Science.

·         Information Research: an international electronic journal - Presents research papers and working papers from a variety of information-related disciplines, including information science, information management, information systems, information policy and librarianship.

·         Information Retrieval - Subscription e-journal dedicated to theory and experimentation in information retrieval. Sample copy available.

·         Information Today - Product information and news for librarians.

·         Informing Science: International Journal of an Emerging Discipline - Information systems, library science and journalism evolve to form a new discipline. Quarterly journal available in print or online.

·         International Information and Library Review - Progress and research in international and comparative librarianship, documentation, and information retrieval. Published quarterly by Academic Press.

·         International Journal of Information Management - Aimed at "managers charged with the responsibility of designing and managing complex information systems." From Elsevier Science

·         International Journal on Digital Libraries - Quarterly print journal emphasizing digital information and libraries. Register for email notification of contents.

·         Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship - Electronic journal from the Science and Technology Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

·         Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship - Home page for Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, an electronic journal from the Science and Technology Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

·         Journal of Digital Information (JODI) - Includes papers on the management, presentation and uses of information in digital environments. A peer-reviewed Web journal supported by Texas A&M University Libraries.

·         Journal of Electronic Publishing - Articles with archives about electronic publishing.

·         Journal of Information Law and Technology - Published by the Universities of Warwick and Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.

·         LIBRES: Library and Information Science Research Journal - International, peer reviewed, online journal devoted to new research in Library and Information Science.

·         LIBRI: International Journal of Libraries and Information Services - Publishes original articles on all aspects of libraries and information services.

·         LISNews - Blake Carver's online Library and Information Science News Digest. Apropos articles culled from a variety of sources. Links, polls, submission guidelines and email updates.

·         Law Library Journal - Official journal of the American Association of Law Libraries. Includes subscription information and links to selected articles from 2000 to the present.

·         Libraries and Culture - A print based journal that explores the significance of libraries; their creation, organization and preservation in the context of cultural and social history.

·         Library Hi Tech - A quarterly, peer reviewed, scholarly journal on computing and technology for library scientists. Links to subscription information, submission guidelines and tables of contents for past issues.

·         Library Journal Digital - Library Journal's online edition. Features current news about libraries and librarians. Includes job opportunities.

·         Library Juice - Rory Litwin's long-running library news digest. Includes announcements, web resources, calls for papers, and news affecting the library world. Archives available; no new issues will be published.

·         Library Philosophy and Practice - Peer reviewed online journal specializing in applied library science research. Articles available for downloading in PDF form. Links to guidelines for submission.

·         Library Quarterly - Prestigious print journal of scholarly research from The University of Chicago Press. Subscription information, submission guidelines, tables of contents from 1996 to the present and general information.

·         Library and Information Update - Monthly magazine of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. Includes selected articles from past issues.

·         MC Journal: The Journal of Academic Media Librarianship - A peer-reviewed online journal for practical and scholarly information concerning academic media librarianship.

·         MLS: Marketing Library Services - A marketing information geared specifically towards librarians. Lists subscription information and contents of previous issues.

·         Marginal Librarian - E-zine features articles and opinions from the McGill Library and Information Studies Student Association. Includes links to past issues.

·         Mississippi Libraries - Official publication of the Mississippi Library Association. Links to full text from 2000 to the present.

·         New Review of Information and Library Research - Annual print review designed for information professionals pertaining to the impact of contemporary information research on information and library services. Subscription information, submission guidelines and current tables of contents.

·         Portal: Libraries and the Academy - Research journal covering technology, publishing, and periodicals.

·         Progressive Librarian - Semi annual print journal of the Progressive Librarians Guild. A forum for critical perspectives in Librarianship, featuring articles, book reviews, bibliographies, reports and documents that explore progressive perspectives on librarianship and information issues. Information on Guild membership, submission guidelines, tables of contents and the cover of the current issue.

·         School Library Journal Online - Online version of the print publication. Features current news about school libraries and librarians. Includes job opportunities.

·         Searcher: The Magazine for Database Professionals - Print based journal with 10 issues annually. Tables of contents and some full text available online along with subscription and submission information.

·         Teacher Librarian: The Journal for School Library Professionals - Offers access to selected past articles, reviews of books and software for resource centers, as well as links to online resources.

·         The Public-Access Computer Systems Review - Online journal about end-user computer systems in libraries from University of Houston Libraries. Full text available from 1990 to present. Includes author/ subject index and submission guidelines.

·         The Unabashed Librarian - A print newsletter featuring advice, reports from the field, and do-it-yourself projects. Current table of contents, submission guidelines and subscription information.

·         Transactions on Information Systems - The official publication of the Association for Computing Machinery. Available online or in print. Includes links to an digital library and subscription information.

·         World Libraries - An online international journal focusing on libraries and socio-economic development. 

100 Best Blogs for Library Science Students

1.        InfoMuse: Kristina M. Spurgin from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill writes this blog about libraries and information science.

2.       InfoEdiface: A Wayne State University student writes this blog about information architecture, library science, and technology.

3.       CAS Library Blog: Here you’ll find Penn State’s blog for library resources in the communication arts and sciences discipline.

4.       Librarian Way: This blog is written by Heather Ebey, a Master of Library and Information Science student at San Jose State University.

5.       Libraries & Learning: This blog is written by Martha Whitehead of University of British Columbia Library for academic information specialists.

6.       Librarian Web Chic: Karen Coombs is an Informational Technology and Instruction library at SUNY Cortland.

7.       Confessions of a Mad Librarian: This blog is written by a soon-to-graduate LIS student.

8.       Library Cog: Art Rhyno from the University of Windsor discusses library systems and more on this blog.

9.       Library Automation: Read this project blog about library automation from the School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University.

Information Science & Systems Check out these blogs to learn about information science and systems.

1.        LibInfoSpace: Follow LibInfoSpace to get updated on library information systems and services.

2.       Library Monk: Dan Greene shares his thoughts on library and information science and beyond on this blog.

3.       Catalogablog: Read Catalogablog for issues in cataloging and more.

4.       Serials Scene: Serials Scene discusses the acquisition and cataloging of print and digital serial publications.

5.       Christina’s LIS Rant: Check out this blog about library and information science.

6.       025.431: The Dewey Blog: Get a look into the Dewey Decimal Classifaction system on this blog.

7.       Future4catalogers: This blog will help you understand what’s coming in cataloging.

8.       Hey Jude: Judy O’Connell writes this blog about information science in the world of learning.

9.       Metalogue: Follow this blog to learn about dew directions in cataloguing and metadata.

10.    Online IT Degrees: This blog discusses the latest in library IT and integration.

11.     Bibliographic Wilderness: Use this blog to learn about helping people navigate the information wilderness.

12.    Z666.7.B39: Jennifer Bax’s blog is all about metadata and cataloging in the library.

13.    Information Research: This publication offers ideas and debate on the information world.

14.    Cataloging Futures: This blog discusses the future of cataloging and metadata in libraries.

15.    Outgoing: Read Outgoing for library metadata techniques and trends.

16.    The FRBR Blog: The FRBR Blog shares developments in functional requirements for bibliographic records.

17.     Catalogue & Index Blog: Find news, events, and more for cataloguers on this blog.

18.    Planet Cataloging: This blog offers an aggregation of key cataloging blogs.

19.    WorldCat: Get a look into WorldCat with this blog.

20.   The Serials Cataloger: This blog offers information of interest to serials catalogers.

21.    oss4lib: Check out this blog, and you’ll get a look into open source systems for libraries.

22.   The Cataloguing Librarian: Read The Cataloguing Librarian to find resources and information for cataloguers.

23.   ASC Online: On this blog, you’ll find posts about information science and technology education.

24.   Catalogue Blog: Read the Catalogue Blog for links, news, and information on cataloging, including unusual titles and quotations.

Librarian 2.0 Get a look into the next generation of librarians with these blogs.

1.        Librarian.net: Jessamyn West shares her thoughts on the growing field of library science technology on this blog.

2.       NexGen Librarian: On NexGen, you’ll find a forum for librarian and information professionals with a fresh perspective.

3.       Alliance Virtual Library: Check out this blog to learn about libraries on Second Life.

4.       Life of Books: This blog is dedicated to the future of libraries in the digital age.

5.       iLibrarian: iLibrarian shares news and resources on Library 2.0 and the information revolution.

6.       David Lee King: David Lee King blogs about the future of digital technology in library science.

7.       University Online: Adrienne discusses library technological innovation.

8.       Information Literacy Meets Library 2.0: Read about the intersection of Library 2.0 and information literacy on this blog.

9.       Transforming Scholarly Communication: Find resources about scholarly electronic publishing efforts online on this blog.

10.    Thing-ology Blog: LibraryThing’s blog discusses tags, libraries, and related issues.

11.     The Search Lounge: In this librarian’s blog, you’ll find helpful information about the search engine industry.

12.    Exploded Library: Check out this blog for information overload, search techniques, and more.

13.    Michael E. Casey: Michael Casey offers a library 2.0 perspective for the next generation library.

14.    InfoTangle: Read InfoTangle to get a look into Web 2.0 for librarians.

15.    Lorcan Dempsey’s Weblog: Lorcan Dempsey discusses libraries, services, and networks.

16.    blogwithoutalibrary: Amanda’s blog focuses on user experience in libraries.

17.     Libraries Interact: This blog focuses on making libraries more interactive.

18.    Pop Goes the Library: This blog discusses pop culture and libraries.

19.    The Shifted Librarian: The Shifted Librarian writes to make librarians more portable.

20.   Bibliotheke: This blog allows you to watch libraries evolve.

21.    Annoyed Librarian: The Annoyed Librarian offers rants about the state of librarianship.

Information Literacy These blogs will educate you in information literacy.

1.        Formist Informations: Here you’ll find a French-speaking blog about libraries and information literacy.

2.       Information Literacy Weblog: Read this blog to find relevant information and resources for information literacy worldwide.

3.       Information Literacy Librarian: This blog offers an exploration of information literacy instruction theory and practices.

4.       The Information Literacy Land of Confusion: Learn about the confusion in information literacy from this blog.

5.       Open Stacks: Open Stacks promotes information access and literacy for all.

6.       Information Literacy Weblog: Written by three professors, this blog shares news about information literacy worldwide.

7.       The Lateral Literal Librarian: Get a look into topics including information literacy, technoliteracy, and biblioliteracy on this blog.

Technology Learn about the latest library science technology with these blogs.

1.        The Digital Librarian: This blog offers commentary about digital services through digital libraries.

2.       Connecting Librarian: This librarian connects new ideas and technologies with library service.

3.       Libraries and Their Impact on the Digital Divide: Read this blog to find out how libraries have an impact on the digital divide.

4.       Tame The Web: Read about current technology uses in libraries from this blog.

5.       Blyberg: Blyberg is written by and for library geeks.

6.       Weibel Lines: This blogger shares thoughts on libraries and Internet standards.

7.       Information Wants To Be Free: Read Meredith Farkas’ blog to learn about social software in libraries.

8.       Inquiring Librarian: Inquiring Librarian shares thoughts on librarianship, technology, and how they come together.

9.       VALIS: This blog focuses on search, Web 2.0, and online information tools.

10.    Phil Bradley’s Blog: On Phil Bradley’s blog, you’ll find links and news for librarians about search engines, design, and more.

11.     Schooliblit: Schooliblit offers links and information about media centers, information literacy, technology in education, and beyond.

12.    Closed Stacks: This blog shares writings on the state of information in the age of technology.

13.    Librarian in Black: Find the latest news for tech savvy librarians on this blog.

14.    Digital Reference: This teaching librarian blog discusses communication reference in the digital age.

15.    The Invisible Web Weblog: Learn about information on the invisible web from this blog.

16.    InSilico: This blog from Princeton is about digital libraries and metadata.

17.     Library Technology Musings: Read this blog about ideas and solutions in technology for libraries.

18.    Loomware: On this blog, you’ll learn about information and technology in academic libraries and beyond.

19.    Library Web Chic: Library Web Chic offers a resources for librarians in web design and technology.

Resources These blogs will connect you with useful resources.

1.        Librarian Activist: On this blog, you’ll find resources for becoming active in issues surrounding libraries.

2.       Keeping Legal: This blog offers resources for legal issues affecting the information profession.

3.       Library Juice: Library Juice discusses the intersection of libraries, politics, and culture.

4.       Stephen Gallant Review: Stephen Gallant offers a look at reading for librarians and information specialists.

5.       Cataloguing Aids: With this blog, you’ll be able to find cataloguing aids, reminders, and links.

6.       AbsTracked: AbsTracked offers links in law, libraries, reference, and more, which are immensely useful for university students.

7.       Threnody for the Public Domain: On this blog, you’ll learn about the current state of copyright and other related issues.

8.       A Librarian’s Guide to Etiquette: Find out how to be a polite librarian on this blog.

9.       The Resource Shelf: Check out the Resource Shelf for news, search tips, and more for information professionals.

10.    banned librarian: The banned librarian blog is written for librarians who support social justice.

11.     A Librarian at the Kitchen Table: On this blog, you’ll find out how librarians can build community as advocates.

12.    Union Librarian: Read this blog to stay on top of news about library unions.

13.    Cybrarians: Find information about resources related to library and information science on this blog.

News Read these blogs to stay up to date on news that matters for library science students.

1.        Information Community News: Stay aware of current events in the information community on this blog.

2.       It’s all good: Find out about things that impact libraries and their users on this group blog.

3.       Library Bytes: Get bits and pieces of news about libraries and new technologies from Library Bytes.

4.       Unshelved: Unshelved offers news and comic strip entertainment for librarians.

5.       Library Stuff: Use this blog to stay on top of important resources for professional development as a librarian.

6.       LISNews: On this collaborative blog, you’ll learn about current events and news in library and information science.

DIRECTORIES

1.        AcqWeb's Directory of Journals, Newsletters and Electronic Discussion Archives - A list, especially good on the technical services side. Includes information about the contents of the site.

2.       Digital Library of Information Science and Technology (DLIST) - Developed by the School of Information Resources and Library Science and the Arizona Health Sciences Library at the University of Arizona using Open Archives Initiative (OAI) compliant Eprints v.2 software.

3.       Internet Addresses of Reformistas - A directory of members of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to the Spanish Speaking.

4.       Library Journals, Newsletters, and Zines - Collection of electronic publications for librarians.From E-Campus booksellers.

5.       Library-Oriented Lists & Electronic Serials - A compilation of electronic discussion lists, distribution lists and serials which are of interest to library professionals and staff. Browsable by title or subject.

·         ALA News Archive - Collected headlines related to US libraries, grouped by month of

• Al-Assad National Library - Official site provides information about Syria's national library and its structure, activities, services and book fair. [Arabic, English]
• Azerbaijan National Library - Provides details about the institution's history, structure, activity, online and printed resources, registration conditions, and opening hours. Located in Baku.
• Bermuda National Library - Details on the institution's history, activity, current projects, plus references on the youth, adult, and technical services provided. Located in Hamilton, HM.
• Biblioteca Nacional d'Andorra - General information about the institution, as well as about its history, functions, services, publications, and an online resource catalogue. Andorra.
• Biblioteca Nacional di Aruba - Online information about the library's history, activity, facilities, departments, and opening hours. Site also includes pages dedicated to kids and teens. Aruba.
• Biblioteca nazionale centrale di Roma - Brief information on the library's history, collections, catalogues, services and exhibitions. Features a section with access to the institution's online catalogues. Italy.
• Bibliothèque nationale de France - Provides online access to collections and virtual exhibitions, as well as details for readers, professionals, and institutions interested in patronage or partnerships. Located in Paris, France.
• Deutsche National Bibliothek - News and information about the institution's activity, catalogues and collections, online publications, and services. Divisions in Berlin, Leipzig, and Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
• Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) - Online catalogues and details about the library's services and the Agricultural Research Center (ARC).
• German National Library of Medicine - News and details about the services provided and about the library's online resources. Divisions in Köln and in Bonn.
• Jewish National and University Library - Provides information related to the library's activity, current projects and exhibitions, online catalogues, and contact references. Located in Jerusalem, Israel.
• Library and Archives Canada - Information on the library's history, activity and staff, including details about its services and collections. Canada.
• Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania - Details about the institution's history, activity, holdings, services, collections, and catalogues. Also included are section referring to current cultural exhibitions and publications printed by the library. Located in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica (NUK) - General information for the public, publishers and libraries, including lists of recent events, and access to the institution's digital collections. Located in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
• National Archives and National Library of Bangladesh - Historic and administrative information, along with details on the library's collections, services, and publications. Bangladesh.
• National Diet Library - Provides access to online catalogues and collections, along with details on the library's activity, services, and current exhibitions. Located in Tokyo. Japan.
• National Library & Archives of Bhutan - Information on the library's history, functions, collections, facilities, and publications. Link to on-line catalouge. One of the largest collection of Buddhist texts. Located in Thimphu, Bhutan.
• National Library Board Singapore - Included online are details about the services, catalogues, collections and printed materials available to the general public by the National Library, and other Public and Reference libraries in Singapore.
• National Library Service of Belize - Brief information on the library's history, services, partners, and publications. Belize.
• National Library and Archives Organisation of Iran (NLAI) - Details about the organisation, current events, services, collections and publications. Located in Tehran, Iran.
• National Library of Armenia - Brief information on the history, services, and the printed and digital collections of the institution. Located in Yerevan, Armenia.
• National Library of Australia - Provides news and information on the institution's activity, services, collections, and opening hours. Located in Canberra, Australia.
• National Library of Belarus - Site displays news, lists of services provided, and details on the institution's activity, resources, and current exhibitions. Belarus.
• National Library of Estonia - Provides information for the general public, libraries and for publishers, along with details on the institution's cultural center and resources grouped in online catalogues and collections. Established in Tallinn.
• National Library of Ethiopia - Information on the institution's history, collections, and access conditions. Ethiopia.
• National Library of Finland - General information on the library, its collections, services, cultural activities, and references for publishers and other libraries. Established at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
• National Library of Greece - On-site resources include information on the services provided for researchers, publishers, libraries, librarians, and the general public. Located in Athens, Greece.
• National Library of India - Provides news, details on the library's history, services, publications, collections and foreign journals, including information for publishers and for the general public. Located in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India.
• National Library of Ireland - Details about services, collections, catalogues and databases, the digital library, and a list of current events. Established in Dublin, Ireland.
• National Library of Jamaica - Information about the library's activity, facilities, services, catalogues, and collections. Located in Kingston. Most of the resources provided are available in .doc (document) format. Jamaica.
• National Library of Korea - General information about the institution, lists of activities and current events, and details on how to access the library's resources, for the general public. Located in Seoul, Korea.
• National Library of Latvia - Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka - General information about the institution, with details about its services and opening hours. Located in Riga, Latvia.
• National Library of Maldives - Provides details about the history, services, collections, and cultural events organized by the library. Located in Malé.
• National Library of New Zealand - Site displays information referring to the library's services, collections, and online catalogues. Located in Wellington, New Zealand.
• National Library of Norway - Nasjonalbiblioteket - Online presentation of the library's services, collections, digital catalogs, and current projects. Located in Oslo, Norway.
• National Library of Pakistan (NLP) - Details about the library's activities, infrastructure, administration and information for the general public. Special section about the library for children. Located in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• National Library of Republic Kazakhstan - Details about the library's activity, structure, services and international cooperation project. Also included are references about current exhibitions and sections with online access to digital documents, archives and databases. Kazakhstan.
• National Library of Russia - Provides access to catalogues, indexes, electronic delivery service, information about services, publications, and activities of the library. Located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
• National Library of Scotland - A complete list of library catalogs and indexes, current exhibitions and a digital library. Located in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
• National Library of Serbia - Provides access to online catalogues and collections, lists of current projects, events and publications, as well as insights on the institution's educational center and digital library. Established in Belgrade, Serbia.
• National Library of Sweden - Provides news, information on the library's activity, facilities and services, along with references for the general public, libraries, publishers, and mass media. Located in Stockholm.
• National Library of Thailand (NLT) - Brief information about the institution's history, organisation, services, and online catalogs. Located in Bangkok, Thailand.
• National Library of Uganda - Provides information on the library's services, collections, publications, projects and recent cultural exhibitions. Located in Kampala, Uganda.
• National Library of Wales - Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru - Books, maps, manuscripts, archives, bibliography, pictures, and photographs dealing with Welch history and culture. Located in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, United Kingdom.
• National Library of the Czech Republic - Information about the history, activity, current events and the exhibitions organized by the library, along with access to online catalogues and databases. Located in Prague.
• National Library of the Netherlands - Koninklijke Bibliotheek - News, details about the library's history and services, as well as online access to the institution's catalogues and collections. Located in Amsterdam, Holland.
• National and University Library "St. Kliment Ohridski" - General information referring to the library's history, activities, holdings, services, and catalogues. Located in Skopje. Macedonia.
• National and University Library of Iceland - Information on the library's history, activity, collections, journals, services and online access to the institution's catalogues and databases. Located in Reykjavík, Iceland.
• Nepal Kaiser Library - Information about the staff and the services provided by the library, including sections with access to online catalogues and collections. Located in Kathmandu.
• Nepal National Library - Established by His Majesty’s government in 1957. General information about library and its collections and catalogues, section for children, and details for the general public. Situated in Lalitpur.
• Poland National Library - Details on the institution's history, collections, online catalogues, and databases, including brief presentations of current projects and programs, and references for the general public. Located in Warsaw.
• Russian State Library - Information about the institution's collections, catalogues, services, current projects and access to an online digital library. Located in Moscow.
• Sri Lanka National Library - News, access to online databases and catalogues, and details about the National Library and Documentation Services Board, and the National Library and Documentation Centre. Located in Colombo.
• St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library of Bulgaria - News and details on the institution's history, activity, services, publications, and catalogues. Bulgaria.
• Swiss National Library (NL) - Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek - Included online are details about collections, professional services, opening hours and facilities. Located in Bern.
• Taiwan National Central Library (NCL) - Introduction to the institution's history, structure and services, including references pertaining to available collections, research projects, and international collaborations. Located in Taipei.
• The British Library - Official depository of the United Kingdom and one the largest research institutions in the world. Maintains collections of primary and secondary resource materials dealing with most areas of intellectual inquiry. Locations in London and West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
• The European Library - Information about the National Libraries of Europe, their services and the online exhibitions they offer. Located in The Hague, The Netherlands.
• The National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum - Detailed information about the institution's services, exhibitions, collections, research and education activities, and recent events. Site also provides access to online catalogues and databases. Located in London, United Kingdom.
• The Royal Library - Details about the history, services and the functions of the library, along with information on disciplines and digital or printed materials available to the general public. Denmark.
• Trinidad and Tobago National Library and Information System Authority - Information about the institution's organization, services, activity domains and recent events. Also provides access to a digital library. Located in Port of Spain.
• United States National Agricultural Library - Part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, the NAL serves as the nation's chief information resource for agricultural information. Information about the library's catalogs, collections, information centers, and services. Located in Beltsville, Maryland.
• United States National Library of Medicine - Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health; offers access to consumer, patient, and physician information, including Medline. Located in Bethesda, Maryland.
• Vatican Apostolic Library - Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana - Provides details about the library's history, structure, services, catalogs, current projects, and a section pertaining to the National Treasures hosted by the institution. Part of the site is displayed in Italian.
• Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine - Brief information about the library's history, activity, facilities, and collections. Located in Kiev, Ukraine.
• Österreichische Nationalbibliothek - Included online are details on the library's catalogues and databases, services, projects, public collections, museums, and opening hours. Austria.
• 75th Anniversary of the Free Library of Philadelphia - Special collection of over 225 texts and images covering local architecture, history and African American architects.
• Alexandria Digital Library Project - Digital map collections at the University of California Santa Barbara.
• American Journeys - A digital library of more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration. A collaboration between the Wisconsin Historical Society and National History Day.
• American Memory - Site hosted by the Library of Congress as a gateway to online collections of the history and culture of the United States, totaling more than 7 million digital items.
• Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE - Program information, resources, and access to digital collections.
• Brigham Young University Digital Media Library - The public access interface of this online resource allows browsing or searching of university publications, including theses and the Mormon Studies Index.
• British Library Images Online - Search, order and purchase items from the thousands of images from the library’s collections.
• CHILDE Project - Children's Historical Literature Disseminated throughout Europe is a project, funded under the European Commission's Culture 2000 programme, which has created a collection of images from early children's books.
• California Digital Library (CDL) - Provides access to scholarly materials, databases of journal article abstracts and citations, electronic journals, publishing tools, and reference databases for the University of California. The CDL also builds collections and provides public access to cultural heritage materials though a variety of innovative programs.
• Carrie Electronic Library - Collection of full-text electronic academic works related to Asian studies.
• Center for Retrospective Digitization - Access to the digital collections at the Lower Saxony State and University Library Göttingen, Germany, including the Gutenberg Bible, travel literature and North Americana from the 18th and 19th centuries, DIEPER (Digitized European Periodicals), historical mathematics materials, and Goethe illustrations.
• Central and Eastern European Online Library (CEEOL) - A paid subscription service providing access to articles, scholarly journals, electronic books and re-digitized documents from cultural and scientific publications related to central and eastern Europe.
• CiteSeer: The NEC Research Institute Scientific Literature Digital Library - Aims to improve the dissemination and feedback of scientific literature, and to provide improvements in functionality, usability, availability, cost, comprehensiveness, efficiency, and timeliness. Rather than creating just another digital library, CiteSeer provides algorithms, techniques, and software that can be used in other digital libraries. CiteSeer indexes Postscript and PDF research articles on the Web, and provides a number of special features.
• DSpace@MIT - This is a repository of digital research materials for scholarly work taking place at MIT, including an increasing number of conference papers, images, peer-reviewed scholarly articles, preprints, technical reports, theses, working papers, and more
• Digital Archive for Chinese Studies (DACHS) - Based at the Institute of Chinese Studies at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), the collection includes websites, e-journals, films, snapshots of discussion boards, and single documents covering social and political subject matters.
• Digital Collections: National Library of New Zealand - Provides access to text, images, photographs, newspaper articles, audio and video collections as well as virtual exhibits. Bilingual site (Maori and English).
• Digital Library Project - A University of Pennsylvania selection of digital library collections, exhibits, and finding aids prepared by digital librarians. Information on tools and technology.
• Digital Library of Information Science and Technology (DLIST) - Developed by the School of Information Resources and Library Science and the Arizona Health Sciences Library at the University of Arizona using Open Archives Initiative (OAI) compliant Eprints v.2 software.
• Digital Projects at the University of Illinois - Information and access to the digital collections at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
• Digital Research Library (DRL) - Text-based collections, photographs, map images, finding aids, databases, audio-visual material, and bibliographic catalogs of collections to aid the research of scholars, historians, faculty, and students at the University of Pittsburgh.
• Digital Resources & Exhibitions - Special collections at Case Western Reserve University, including medieval manuscripts and items from the US 1930s Works Projects Administration era.
• Digital South Asia Library - Materials related to South Asia, including maps, statistics, photographs, and official publications.
• Eastern North Carolina Digital Library - Collection includes texts and maps pertaining to the history of 41 counties in eastern North Carolina and works of fiction that relate to some of those counties. Historic soil surveys and maps with zooming capability are a unique feature of the site.
• Ethnomathematics Digital Library - Collection of links and papers covering the interaction of mathematics and culture, with emphasis on the indigenous mathematics of the Pacific region.
• Everglades Digital Library - Access to the digital collections at Florida International University. Relates to the south Florida environment.
• Hill Museum & Manuscript Library - Vivarium - Vivarium is the home of digitized manuscripts, art, rare books, photographs, audio, video, and other resources from two Benedictine monastic and educational communities in central Minnesota.
• Illinois Alive - Includes text and images about agriculture and business; early Illinois authors; and issues facing minorities, immigrants, and women. Also includes an introduction to 19th century Illinois, tools for educators, and a timeline.
• Illuminated Books - Illuminated and illustrated books scanned for online viewing. Collection consists of books from the 1800's to the 1920's.
• Images from the Heritage Collection of the State Library of Tasmania - A searchable database of images from the Heritage Collection of the State Library of Tasmania, Australia.
• Indiana University Digital Library Program - Provides access to text, images, maps and audio collections as well as virtual exhibits. Includes information on digitization projects and links to further resources.
• International Children's Digital Library - Multicultural digital library of outstanding children's books.
• Internet Archive - A digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Includes a text archive of digitised books from Canadian libraries, Carnegie Mellon University, and Project Gutenberg.
• Internet Moving Image Archive - A collection of hundreds of short films in MPEG-2 format
• IntraText Digital Library - A multilingual, open access and XML-based digital library offering texts and corpora in 36 languages from religions, humanities, and research.
• Iran Virtual Library - Nonpartisan archive of social, political, economic and cultural documents pertaining to Iran. Edited by Frederick  Nemani, a professor at South Bank University, London.
• Kentucky Virtual Library - Online catalogs and databases, online tutorial and help with internet-based research, a virtual reference desk, and access to Kentuckiana digitized collections, serving Kentuckians and supporting the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University.
• Kibbutz Sasa Virtual Library - Online bibliographical and image search service in Hebrew only, which also retains an "expert searcher" for locating online sources of information.
• Library and Archives Canada - Collections include over 600 web sites covering Canadian history, geography, science, technology and culture, ranging from national treasures to local history. The site features educational resources, such as curriculum units, classroom activities, quizzes and games. Also available in French.
• Library of California - Details the Library's services to local libraries, state and local government and the public as well as links to California Research Bureau papers online, LDS publications, the California Library Directory and other useful information.
• Library of Virginia Digital Library Program - Provides access to multiple databases and millions of digital images of text, photographs and maps pertaining to the history and culture of Virginia.
• Life in Western Pennsylvania 1840 -1970 - Historic photographic collection provided by the library and archives of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. The site also covers the local history of photography and information on the care and handling of photographs.
• Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts - Presents the collection of the Dutch Royal Library and the Museum Meermanno-Westreenianum in The Hague. Highlights and database with images and backgrounds.
• Mylib's Knowledge Portal - A portal to on-line dictionaries and reference works. Some emphasis on Malaysian society.
• NLS Digital Library - Special collections held by the National Library of Scotland including: The Murthly Hours medieval manuscripts, Experiences of War, Maps of Scotland, First Scottish Books, Scottish Decorative Bookbinding, Photographs of Modern Scottish Writers, Churchill, Robert Louis Stevenson, and The Last Letter of Mary Queen of Scots.
• NYPL Digital Library Collections - Collections provided by the New York Public Library covering Black culture and experience, history, literature, maps, New York City and State, performing arts, prints, and photographs.
• Nalanda Digital Library - Based at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC) in India. Open access is provided to selected collections of published papers, PhD theses, student projects, research reports, course materials, ebooks, etexts and Perl scripts.
• National Science Digital Library (NSDL) - A source for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Funded by the National Science Foundation.
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) - The NDLTD is an international organization that promotes the adoption, creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations. The NDLTD encourages and supports the efforts of institutes of higher education and their communities to develop electronic publishing and digital libraries (including repositories).
• New York Public Library Digital Gallery - Provides access to over 275,000 images digitized from the library collections, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, and printed ephemera.
• New Zealand Digital Library (NZDL) - Based at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. The site contains text, image and audio-visual collections; including historical documents, humanitarian and development information, computer science technical reports and bibliographies, literary works, and magazines.
• Online Publications at the University of Stuttgart (OPUS) - Collection of theses, dissertations, preprints, proceedings and full-text documents published in pdf format by staff and students of the University. Site in German and English.
• Original Sources - Electronic library with works from history, the social sciences, philosophy, literature, and religion. Fee required for access.
• Perseus Digital Library - An evolving collection of resources for the study of the ancient world, including archaeology, atlas, texts and translations, text tools and lexica.
• Public Domain Works - Open registry of artistic works that are in the public domain. A project of the Open Knowledge Foundation.
• Questia - Paid subscription service that provides access to a large online collection of books and journal articles in the humanities and social sciences, plus magazine and newspaper articles.
• Quinnipiac University: Arnold Bernhard Library Resources - E-Texts - Materials digitized by the university and links to materials available elsewhere.
• SAILOR: Maryland's Public Information Network - Provides public information for citizens of and visitors to Maryland, including resources for health, business, education, and history.
• SMARTech - A Georgia Tech's repository that digitally captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and redistributes the intellectual output of the Institute’s students, faculty, and researchers.
• Sagnanetið - Saganet project by the National and University Library of Iceland and Cornell University with the association of the Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland to provide the entire range of Icelandic family sagas and other works published before 1900 online. Site in English and Icelandic.
• San Fernando Valley History Digital Library - An image database of historically significant documents, manuscripts, photographs and related graphic materials of the San Fernando Valley. Administered by the State Librarian of California.
• Science Direct - Journals - An online library featuring fulltext journals from Academic Press and other scholarly publishers. Access by subscription.
• Simon Fraser University Library Electronic Document Centre - Promotes access to knowledge created at Simon Fraser University and makes some of the Library's unique holdings available to a wider audience.
• St Laurentius Digital Manuscript Library - A collection of scanned images of medieval manuscripts comprising 67 volumes, ranging from the 10th century to the 1640s provided by Lund University Library in Sweden.
• The Digital Mirror - The Welsh national collection of manuscripts, early and rare printed books, antiquarian maps, and diverse images at The National Library of Wales. Includes online exhibitions and information about the digitisation program.
• The Digital Reading Room (DRR) - An Athabasca University Library project. The DRR is an interactive online reading room, offering a digital solution for course readings and supplementary materials. It has been designed to provide access to faculty-selected resources and can accommodate a range of formats, including online journal articles, electronic books, audio or video clips, web sites and learning objects.
• The Gateway to Northwestern Ontario History - Collection includes photographs, books, drawings and artifacts. Site in English with French version under development.
• The Online Archive of California - This union database of manuscripts and images from institutions across California is comprised of over 5,000 archival finding aids encoded using Encoded Archival Description (EAD) standard and the SGML document type definition. Part of the California Digital Library.
• UK Web Archiving Consortium - Aimed at the broad research community and is systematically attempting to create an archive of social, historic and culturally significant web-based material from the UK domain.
• University of Chicago Digital Library Activities - Text, image, audio and special collections in the humanities and the arts.
• University of Michigan Digital Library Production Service - The Digital Library Production Service (DLPS) was formed in 1996 to provide infrastructure for campus digital library collections, including both access and delivery of collection content.
• University of Tennessee Digital Library Center - Promotes the development of a growing collection of digital content for the University community and the State of Tennessee.
• University of Tennessee-Martin Andy Holt Virtual Library - Focus is on the humanities and fine arts, with access to local and world library catalogs, electronic journals, databases, virtual reference desk, digitized documents, and departmental resources. Partners with the physical Paul Meek Library to provide face to face services.
• University of Texas System Digital Library - Supporting the learning and research needs of the University of Texas Telecampus and University of Texas System students and faculty on campus and at a distance.
• University of Wisconsin Digital Collections - List of collections, and links to collections at various UW branches.
• Uysal-Walker Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative (ATON) - Collection of written (PDF) and spoken (MP3) texts in several Turkic languages at Texas Tech University.
• VIVA, The Virtual Library of Virginia - Information on this library consortium of shared digital collections.
• Victorian Women Writers Project - A collection of text, essays, and fiction written during the Victorian period, by women writers.
• Washington State Digital Library Resources - Text, image, archive and local history collections. Best practice guide and Digital Imaging Initiative project pages.
• Wikipedia: Digital library - Talks about types of digital libraries, digital preservation and its future, searching, construction and organization, advantages and problems.
• World Digital Library - Significant primary materials from cultures around the world, including manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs and architectural drawings to promote international and inter-cultural understanding and awareness, provide resources to educators, expand non-English and non-Western content on the Internet, and to contribute to scholarly research. [multilingual]
• Worthington Memory - Online history scrapbook of Worthington, Ohio.
• eCUIP : The Digital Library Project - A browsable and searchable digital library of materials for K-12 teachers and students.
• ibiblio - A collaboration of the Center for the Public Domain and The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill to provide public domain material, organised by subject and UDC (Universal Decimal Classification) including journals, ebooks and a special collection of linux programs and documentation.