Digital Space

 

A digital library, also called an online library, an internet library, a digital repository, or a digital collection is an online database of digital objects that can include text, still images, audio, video, digital documents, or other digital media formats or a library accessible through the internet. Objects can consist of digitized content like print or photographs, as well as originally produced digital content like word processor files or social media posts. In addition to storing content, digital libraries provide means for organizing, searching, and retrieving the content contained in the collection.

As the world has been moving from the real world to a virtual world due to the revolutionary changes that is affected by the modern computer technologies, we the MMCs also move into the digital world. We have digitalized significant number of books and other study materials in course of time. However, we still need to enhance and extend this area further more. This Digital Space within the Info-Centre will definitely help the students to enlarge their information and knowledge directly being touch with the digital materials.

Institutional repositories

Many academic libraries are actively involved in building repositories of the institution’s books, papers, theses, and other works which can be digitized or were ‘born digital.’ Many of these repositories are made available to the general public with few restrictions, in accordance with the goals of open access, in contrast to the publication of research in commercial journals, where the publishers often limit access rights. Institutional, truly free, and corporate repositories are sometimes referred to as digital libraries. Institutional repository software is designed for archiving, organizing, and searching a library’s content. Popular open-source solutions include DSpace, EPrints, Digital Commons, and so on.

Features of digital libraries

  • No physical boundary: The user of a digital library need not to go to the library physically; people from all over the world can gain access to the same information, as long as an Internet connection is available.
  • Round the Clock Availability:A major advantage of digital libraries is that people can gain access 24/7 to the information.
  • Multiple Accesses: The same resources can be used simultaneously by a number of institutions and patrons.
  • Information Retrieval: The user is able to use any search term (word, phrase, title, name, subject) to search the entire collection.
  • Preservation and Conservation: Digitization is not a long-term preservation solution for physical collections, but does succeed in providing access copies for materials that would otherwise fall to degradation from repeated use.
  • Space: Whereas traditional libraries are limited by storage space, digital libraries have the potential to store much more information; simply because digital information requires very little physical space to contain them.
  • Added value: Certain characteristics of objects, primarily the quality of images, may be improved. Digitization can enhance legibility and remove visible flaws such as stains and discoloration.