ACADEMIS SHIFT : FROM PRINT TO - E

TITLE OF THE ARTICLE :     Bridging the gap between print and electronic resources at a multi-campus university library
AUTHOR:         Mohammed, Sharon Premchand

PUBLISHER:   Emerald Group Publishing Limited

URL:                  www.emeraldinsight.com/0305-5728.htm

ABSTRACT:

     This article examines the experiences and challenges of a medium-sized academic library at a multi-campus Caribbean University, The University of West Indies (UWI) particularly located at St. Augustine Campus, in their shift from print to electronic resources. Despite encountering some problems such as : problems with information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, costs, licensing model, selection, acquisition and management, they have successfully built a "hybrid" collection of print and electronic resources. These libraries also served as a model for other libraries that were planning to shift from print to electronic.

3 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY READING ASSIGNMENT:

     The move from print to electronic resources has an enormous impact on the functions of the library and the services that it provides to users in many ways. For instance, collection development has been affected because libraries are now moving from purchasing to licencing, a change in the emphasis from direct ownership to access. In addition, users access to information resources have greatly increased due to supporting technologies that are in place.

     Moving from print to electronic also requires a new set of staff skills such as licencing, copyright, negotiation and budgeting.To maintain a sustainable electronic information resources environment, staff would need to improve their skills.For  instance , library staff may conduct library instruction in an online medium.

     There should be a balance of print and electronic resources through the use of mechanisms and approaches to manage the process of collection development, selection and acquisition management, technology issues, staff skills, budget allocations and impact assessment.

 IMPLICATIONS: 

      In the case of the UP Law Library, it is not really  a total shift from print to electronic resources because of several factors . First and foremost is the budget. Then there are issues pertaining to licensing, selection , acquisition and management. In my opinion, I believe that there should be a balance between print and electronic resources. Some of the members of our faculty  for instance still prefer print copies of periodicals when they conduct  legal research. Students on the other hand  favor electronic copies for they are easily accessible and searchable.  It is very important that the needs of the different category of users are always being responded to.
     There is also a need for a continous upgrade of skills of library staff.  In the UP Law Library for example, members of  the library staff have to develop skills in negotiation, electronic licencing, copyright law, budgeting and financial management. They have to be acquainted with technologies specific to electronic resources. Continous training of staff is very important in order to meet the challenges presented by the shift from print to electronic.