Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
5-2012
Abstract
Introduction
Architectural engineering education plays a vital role in the building community and educates future leaders in planning and design of outdoor space. Information is a key element for any kind of research and development. Libraries help accelerate knowledge, creation in collaboration with educational and research organizations. The library helps improve collections, maintains, preserves, and organizes documents, cooperates with other institutions and is a link between information sources and users (Ku, 1996). Today’s libraries focus on electronic publications to provide rapid access to information and save storage space for traditional resources (Thakur, 2003). The pillars of the development of libraries and information services are collections, information infrastructure, network with information resources, digitization of information, copyright of electronic resources, multimedia centres, and digital libraries (Skaliczki, 1999). Collection development includes assessing user needs, evaluating the collection, selection policies, and other kinds of planning and coordinating activities. Collection development is not a single activity but a group of activities (Kumar, et al., 2008).
Libraries of Architecture Colleges in Haryana
There are nine libraries of Architecture colleges in the state of Haryana. Eight are private/self-financing colleges; most of these were established from 2006 to 2010.
Literature Review
There is quite a good collection of literature on examining engineering college libraries, but only a few relevant studies have been discussed here. Sharma & Kumar (2010) found that the libraries of textile institutes are making an effort to do well in collection development, services, and infrastructure. Biradar, et al. (2009) did a study on use of information sources and services in library of an agricultural science college. Mahmood & Shafique (2009) found a number of problems with libraries in Pakistan, particularly public and school libraries. Most federal policies do not provide for the establishment of effective libraries. Gul & Khan (2008) discussed that describe how in the British period the Oriental library reached its zenith and that the Mughals also contributed a great deal to the development of Oriental libraries. Vasishta (2007) observed that present situation of deemed universities libraries of north India is not so satisfactory especially in area of professional staff and collection development of e-resources. Rukanci & Anameric (2006) observe that books and library tradition play important role in the scientific, social, and cultural formation of society in a nation. Voorbij & Lemmen (2006) applied the method of list checking in their study to look at books with and without ISBN. Olaojo (2006) states that collection development is a planned, continuous, and cost effective acquisition of quality, relevant materials to meet the needs of users and the objectives of the library. Abd, Mohd. Zain, et al. (2004) did a study on faculty awareness of the collection. Fombad & Mutula (2003) describe the challenges in library collection development in the area of book budgets, electronic material, delays in the delivery of ordered books and evaluation of materials. Turpening (2003) found that law libraries addressed their preservation problems. Byrd (1982) used a statistical method for determining subject strengths and weakness in a library book collection in relation to user demand.
Scope of the Study
The scope of the present study is limited and concerned only to those colleges, which offer degree level courses in the field of Architecture engineering and technology and approved by AICTE and Council of Architecture, India.
Objectives
The study assesses:
- Space and related facilities issues
- The various kinds of resources available in the library.
- Library hours.
- Number of users being served.
- Library staff and their qualifications.
- The collection policies and practices.
- The financial resources and expenditure on equipment.
- Technical processing of documents.
- Library services being provided.
- State of IT applications in the library.