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
Title of the Practice:
24 x 7 x 365 Remote Access to the Library e-Resources and Online Services
Objectives of the Practice:
To offer 24 x 7 x 365 of remote access to the library e-Resources and online services for the library users from anywhere and anytime
To save the time of the library users by providing all e-Resources at a single online platform
To provide a variety of e-Resources and online services to the library users to fulfil their academic, research, administrative and routine needs
To reduce the expenditure on printed reading material, stationery and support to the Green Environment
To save the expenditure on closets/ furniture needed to keep library reading materials and save the library space
To promote the ICT among the library users
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:
Practice strongly supports- Digital India Mission
Practice promotes the NAAC core values- Contribution to National Development & Promoting the Use of Technology
Ensures Uninterrupted Remote Access to Library e-Resources and Online Services
Self-designed and developed Library Web Portal and Android App
Dynamic QR Codes for quick mobile access
Universal access to library resources & services for the users at local, national and Global Level Countries
Usage of Coding-Free Software Programmes
Usage of completely Free IT Tools/ Software Platforms
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:
Site Building Platform: Google Site
Number of Webpages: 85
Number of Links & Documents associated: 13000+
Number of Users: 8477
New Visitors: 66.1 % | Returning Visitors: 33.9%
Users from Foreign Countries: 51
Number of Page Views: 48345
Devices used to access the library portal
Through Mobile: 84.78 %
Through Desktop: 15.18 %
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.
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:
Library e-Resources & other documents
e-Books
e-Journals Volume
e-Reports
Exam. Question Papers
Syllabus
e-Resource Database (N-LIST, NDL & INFED (INFLIBNET)
College Prospectus
Mudhai- College Magazine
Library Periodicals List
Textbook Titles
Dictionary/Encyclopedias
Library Forms
Office/ Administrative Forms
e-Content (PDF)
Audio Notes
Video Lectures
Subject Notes
Online Tests/ Quiz
Question Bank
PPT bank
e-Newspapers
e-Theses/Dissertations
Patents
Digital Books Fair
Government GRs
TV News Channels
World Digital Libraries
Shivaji University e-Resources
UGC-INFONET e-Resources
MOOC Online Courses
Swayam Online Courses
Shodhganga Repository
e-ShodhSindhu
Shodhgangotri
UGC-CARE List of Journals
Library Online Services & Facilities
Library Portal
Android App of Library & College
QR Code Gallery
Information Broadcasting through Social Media: WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, YouTube and Instagram etc.
Library Membership Online Application System
Scholar's Card Online Application System
Online Public Access Catalogue (Web OPAC)
Books Online Requisition System
Inter-Library Loan Online Application System
Library Users Online Feedback
Ask Librarian
Students Corner Interface
Staff Corner Interface
Dynamic Webpage of Competitive Examinations
Research @ PSKCD: Research recording facility for the Staff Members
e-Content Gateway
Photo Repository
College e-News
Institutional Digital Library
Digital Books Fair
Digital Payments to Library
Software Gateway
Online Union Catalogue of College Libraries
Shivaji University College Librarian's Directory
COVID 19 Information Gateway
Library Value Added Info. Services & Facilities
IT Corner
Career Corner
Employment Outlook
Prabodhan Series
Success Stories
Health Plus
Women's Corner
Facilities for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
Daily Life Utilities
Students Placement Registration
Maintenance Work Online Intimation
Committee Meeting Online Registration
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:
Users get quick remote access (24 x 7 x 365 days) to the e-Resources and online services of the library. It also saves their time and reduces the efforts to find useful e-Resources in their own subject field
The expenses for the purchase of printed reading material are reduced and photocopy/ print charges to the users are also abridged due to the online availability of e-Resources and ultimately it supports maintaining the green environment
It saved the expenditure on closets/ furniture needed to keep library reading materials
It also saved the internal space of the library
It reduced the burden on library staff at the circulation counter while delivering the library services like circulation, reference, print, photocopy and other information services
The concept of conventional ‘Journal Bound Volume’ is replaced with ‘e-Journal Archives’ so that library space is saved and the expenses of binding the journal volumes are avoided absolutely
Users are now able to find the list of books, periodicals and other reading material related to their subject at any time and anywhere
The scheme of Inter-Library Loan is promoted online by granting access to the teachers for ‘Online Union Catalogue of College Libraries’ and ‘Online Inter-Library Loan Application facility’
Conventional feedback for the library services is replaced with the 'Users Online Feedback Form' Users are now able to submit their feedback online
Library provided the facility of ‘Books Online Requisition’ through which users can send their demands online for purchasing new books in the library
The practice promotes and motivated the library users to acquire new ICT skills and use the ICT tools in their routine work
The practice has strongly promoted the core values of NAAC such as "Contributing to National Development" and "Promoting the Use of Technology" by providing free online access to the treasure of different e-Resources related to higher education at one single user-friendly interface.
The practice also promoted the 8th mission of our college- "Maximum use of ICT in Teaching and Learning process" by using ICT tools effectively
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:
Hardware:
Desktop for processing/accessing the Web Portal, Mobile App and QR Code
Smartphone for processing/accessing the Web Portal, Mobile App and QR Code
Printer for printing the QR Code
Software and other Web Tools:
Website building platform for developing a website- e.g. Google Sites, WordPress etc.
Cloud Storage- Google Drive, Dropbox etc.
Mobile Application Builder- Thunkable, AppsBuilder, Android Studio etc.
QR Code Generator for creating the code
QR Code Reader for decoding the code
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:
To generate an additional financial resource for the library development
To save the expenses on printing of College ID/ Library Borrower's Cards
To reduce the administrative work of library/ office
To save the user's time by the quick circulation of library reading material through Smart ID Card
To offer Smart Barcode enabled ID-card for recording library user’s attendance in digital mode
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:
The additional financial resource became available to fulfil the various expenses of the library. The Library obtained a net profit of around Rupees 2.12 lakh in the last eight years that is being available for the library development.
It saved the increasing expenses on printing of College ID/ Library Borrower's Cards through external commercial vendors
The outsourcing activities for the printing of ID Cards such as demanding quotations from the vendors, official correspondence/ purchase orders and communications etc. is totally avoided. It reduced the burden of administrative work on the library/ office staff ultimately
The barcode enabled smart ID card saved the time of the library users while circulating the library reading material
It provided an economic and smart solution to record the library user’s attendance in digital format instead of entering manually in the printed attendance register. This saved the user time and the recurring cost of printing attendance registers
Problems Encountered:
In rural areas it is often difficult to get technical assistance and maintenance support
Resources required:
Suitable software programme for the conversion of user profile information into the printable bar-code enabled smart ID
Colour Printer for printing the ID cards
Lamination Machine for laminating the printed paper
Die Machine for cutting the cards in standard shape of ID card
Stationary required: Non-terrible laser paper, Lamination Paper, ID card lace & Holder etc.
Notes:
A suitable software programme is being essential to prepare the ID card