Best Practices

In today’s high-tech learning environment, the college library is using advanced ICT tools and techniques to improve the library system, optimize resource utilization, and delivers high quality, value added services to our users.. 

24 x 7 x 365 Remote Access to the Library e-Resources and Online Services

Click here to see the Details of Benefits/ Cost Savings obtained through this Best Practice (From F.Y. 2016-17 to 2021-22)

Title of the Practice:

24 x 7 x 365 Remote Access to the Library e-Resources and Online Services 

Objectives of the Practice:

The Context:

Library – a Knowledge Resource Centre – is supposedly a focal access point to all, be it a faculty, student or any user for that matter. It, therefore, calls and warrants for easy quick/ instant access, services available at all times, irrespective of appointed working hours. Moreover, it should provide adequate space to accommodate ever-increasing uses, space for stacking the books and other learning resources, reprographics and computing facilities, providing computer nodes to all, and be managed with available staff and resources. The resources – staff manage the library services, machines – computers and both hardware, space for library and accommodating readers/ users, and of course, the funds are generally limited, that the institutions find it different to cope up all.

To address these issues concerns ever been/ being faced and to secure services to all, to serve its users better, the institute has internally evolved a system by leveraging smart technology that assured, ensured and generates 24 x 7 x 365 remote access to library resources and a user-friendly online services from anywhere and anytime, a system that compliments, supplements and strengths the existing offline service resulting to optimizations of library services.

The Library Web Portal, Android App and QR Code are used to access the library e-Resources and online services. The users can reach and get access to the specific information resource and service in a very short time with the help of the above interfaces.

The Practice:

To perform the above practice, the library has used open-source tools/ software that are available online and doesn’t require to pay any charges.

The salient features of this innovative practice are:

a. Web Portal: https://sites.google.com/view/deurcollegelibrary

The library has developed a dynamic portal for its users. The library portal consists 81 number of web pages with 13000+ links and other documents that are useful to fulfil the academic, research, administrative and other routine needs of the users. 

If the users are at a remote place or outside of the college campus, they simply access the portal that allows 24 x 7 x 365 days of remote access to the library e-resources and online services. The portal can be accessed through a desktop computer and smartphone. Most of the users access the portal through smartphones as the portal is also responsive on smartphones. The usage of the library portal is increasing day by day. 

*The portal appears to have been accessed by the users in other countries also i.e. USA, Sweden, Brazil, Botswana, France, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh etc. (See Country-wise Access)

Library Web Portal Details: 

b. Android App: Deur College Library

The smartphone is a very much popular device among library users while accessing the e-Resources and online services of the library. To make it more convenient, the library has developed a mobile application based on the Android operating system. Library users can download and install the application on their smartphone and can access all e-resources and online services of the library at any time and from anywhere

C. QR Code: 

Web-links of e-Resources and online services are converted into QR Codes by using QR Code generator software. These QR Codes are printed on paper and displayed at the library notice board, staff room, office and other departments. Students and teachers scan the particular QR Code through their smartphones and access the e-Resource and online services of the library. Further, the accessed e-Resource can be viewed, downloaded, printed and shared. Usually, the users use the QR Code while they present on the college campus.

Access QR Code Gallery

Following library e-Resources and services can be accessed 24/7/365 days in the year through QR Code, Library Portal, Android App and QR Code:

Above all, the institutional endeavour has maintained, restored enhanced and facilitated library services in pandemic-impacted situations prevailing service last two years.

Evidence of Success/ Impact:

The Library Portal, Android App and QR Code are found useful to library users. The Google Analytics Report for the usage of the library portal proves that library e-Resources and other online services are being accessed frequently by users through desktop computers and smartphones. Smartphone devices are very much popular among young generation students and teachers when accessing library resources and services. The College library is now promoting and delivering most of the services through online mode with the help of the above technological platforms.

Some of the remarkable outputs from the above practices are as below:

Click here to see the Details of Benefits/ Cost Savings obtained through this Best Practice (From F.Y. 2016-17 to 2021-22)

Problems Encountered & Resources Required:

The library has stored all e-Resources on Google cloud storage that offers free storage up to 15 GB space only for each e-mail account. To upload additional documents or to use more than 15 GB of free space, the purchase of additional storage space is mandatory. To overcome this problem at an extreme level and save the charges on purchasing additional storage, the library has created a separate e-mail account for a different type of e-Resources and obtained 15 GB storage for each e-Resource.

Resources required:

Notes:

Besides it, being attributed to innovation and creativity, ‘the practice’ has been upheld and commanded by nearly colleges/ institutes of higher learning and in a way gave the unique identity and strength to the institution for this distinctive endeavour.

Mobilization of Financial Resources

In-house generation of Smart-ID/ Library Borrower's Cards

Click here to see the Revenue Summary

Title of the Practice:

Mobilization of Financial Resources through In-house generation of Smart-ID/ Library Borrower's Cards

Objectives/ Goals:

The Context:

Library seeks the additional financial resource to fulfil the day-by-day increasing expenses of the library and found an economical solution by in-house generation of Smart ID/ Library Borrower's Cards within library only.

The Practice/ Process:

The library creates the profile of each student/staff in the library software and developed a particular programme for converting this profile information into the printable bar-code enabled smart ID card through which users can perform various activities like self-identification, circulation of library books and recording their attendance in the Digital Attendance System through the scanner.

The colour print of the user’s information in the form of an ID card is put on the special laser paper and laminated further. The laminated paper is cut into the shape of a standard PVC type ID card using a die machine and the card is made. This in-house developed smart ID card is given to the concerning registered student/ library user on nominal charges and the differential amount between manufacturing cost and actual sales cost is considered as an income of the library and further utilized for the library development.

Evidence of Success/ Impact:

The following outcomes are gained through the practice:

Problems Encountered:

In rural areas it is often difficult to get technical assistance and maintenance support

Resources required:

Notes:

A suitable software programme is being essential to prepare the ID card