IMPACT OF FULL-TEXT DATABASES ON INTER-LIBRARY LOAN SERVICES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

The digitization of information in print media has brought a new concept altogether in library. An electronic resource is defined as a resource which requires computer access or any electronic product that delivers a collection of data, be it referring to full text bases, electronic journals, image collections, other multimedia products and numerical, graphical or time based, as a commercially available title that has been published with an aim to being marketed. These may be delivered on CD ROM, on tape, via Internet and so on.

The shock waves of the explosion of the material and service expectations of the library user, the practitioners of interlibrary loan in the traditional manner are digging in behind their policies. As a consequence, one of the most important, implied obligations of the library-providing the most effective access to information-is slighted, as the borrower will not and cannot borrow and the lenders will not lend. Interlibrary loan is a technique by which one library lends material indirectly to an individual through another library. In essence, therefore, it is merely a means through which a library may broaden its lending service to include those materials which are made available by other libraries. The technique of interlibrary loan, of necessity, entails a lending operation, but regardless of where the actual work is performed-circulation, acquisitions, etc.-the principle involved is one of reference: that is, to provide the library user as completely as is possible with the material he needs.

A full-text database is a compilation of documents in which the complete text of each referenced document is available for online viewing, printing, or downloading. In addition to text documents, images are often included, such as graphs, maps, photos, and diagrams. The library and information services of the 21st century are fast changing. With the rapid development of electronic publishing, libraries are not only acquiring reading materials such as printed books and journals but also arranging for providing access to various learning resources in electronic form. The web resources and the use of web as a tool is changing the way users live and learn. While in the early phase, the World Wide Web was mainly used for push type applications to provide information and resources to users, the development of Web 2.0 and the spread of open sources and shared use concept have focused on user generated content and applications for sharing. This has led to the rapid development and popularity of electronic resources.

However the modern electronic system of sharing online databases has made it more complex for Librarians to keep full compilation. It is upon this premise that this study seeks to examine the impact of full-text database on inter-library loan services

1.2     Statement of the problem

There has been a great impact of electronic technology on traditional interlibrary services. In some libraries, Web-based ILL systems are replacing paper-based manual intensive systems (Connolly, 1999). As technology allows, it has become necessary to modernize traditional library resource-sharing mechanisms, and to experiment with new technologies to improve services. While the information explosion continues, libraries' buying power for journals and collection development is declining. Libraries have turned to resource-sharing networks to meet their patrons' information needs (Holbert et al., 2002). All web-enabled libraries are now in an ideal position to provide ILL services to their clientele through modern information communication technology (ICT). It is now absolutely possible on the part of information professionals to help users in retrieving valuable chunk of information from resources available beyond their own libraries or information centers. Information professionals explore simpler ways and direct the users to pertinent full text resources. They are confident that irrespective of types or sizes of libraries, ILL services can be rendered more efficiently these days. For evidence of this, one needs only to consider the characteristics of today's information seeking community, along with various learning principles that guide the selection of experts and technologies to support successful learning or advances in learning technologies. In order to fulfill the aforesaid objectives, information professionals are being actively engaged with the varied emerging processes and strategies by which the electronic ILL services can be best rendered to the potential information seekers. In academic libraries today, many journals are accessible as full text via various databases or direct subscriptions. The number of journals available in this format generally rises each year, and this growth inevitably changes patterns of academic library use. Many librarians wonder if the increasing availability of electronic full text journals will decrease or even eliminate the need for interlibrary loan of articles. Alternatively, as more articles are available electronically, will librarian want more via interlibrary loan? How will they be able to keep up the database without mixing it up, is there any significant of loaning materials from other libraries  in other to meet the user needs. Full text database helps librarians to keep track of books they lend other libraries, it helps them satisfy their users and maintain efficient services. It is upon this the quest to answer this that the researcher sought to study seeks to examine the impact of full-text database on inter-library loan services.

1.3     Objective of the study

The broad of this study is to examine the impact of full-text database on inter-library loan services. Specifically the study seeks:

1. To examine if the surge of digitization has affected library inter-loan services

2. To ascertain if  full-text database help libraries to keep track of the materials they lend to other libraries.

3. To determine if full-text data base has any significant effect on the efficiency of library inter-loan services.

1.4 RESEARCH HYPPOTHESIS

HO: Full-text database does not help libraries to keep track of the materials they lend to other libraries.

HO: Full-text data base has no significant effect on the efficiency of library inter-loan services.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will be relevant academic and public librarians and library users. It will equip the professional libraries on the guide and the need to borrow materials from other libraries which would enhance their efficiency. It will enlighten them on how to keep appropriate record in their database to avoid loss of resources. Finally the study will contribute empirically to the body of knowledge and serve as a reference for scholars and student who wishes to conduct further research in related field.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study borders on the impact of full-text database on inter-library loan services. The study is however delimited to selected libraries in Rivers State including both public and university libraries

1.7     Limitation of the study

The researcher encountered various challenges during the research process. They included insufficient funds for stationery, transport and buying other important materials to facilitate the carrying of the study. Also shortage of time because the researcher conducted the study in selected schools located far apart from each other.

1.9     Definition of terms

Library: A library is any room which contains learning resources such as books, writings and journals that students use. Other resources are like films, tapes, pictures and charts models and a host of other teaching materials in addition to the printed books to which most people are accustomed

Full Text Database: A full-text database is a compilation of documents in which the complete text of each referenced document is available for online viewing, printing, or downloading. In addition to text documents, images are often included, such as graphs, maps, photos, and diagrams.

Inter library loan: Inter library loan is a service whereby a patron of one library can borrow books, DVDs, music, etc. and/or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library.