USE OF ICT'S ON LICS OF NEPAL: A BRIEF STUDY OF LIBRARIES OF TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

Bhim Dhoj ShresthaBishnu Aryal

Tribhuvan University, Nepal

TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

Tribhuvan University is established in 1959 AD as the first university of Nepal.

The University has 60 constituent campuses and 732 affiliated campuses.

The biggest university in Nepal and 19th biggest in the world

Tribhuvan University offers over 115 degrees in 5 institutes and 4 faculties

INITIATIVES TAKEN BY TU ON USE OF ICT

Tribhuvan University (TU) has installed optical fiber network with high speed internet connecting 54 offices

TU is going to be equipped with e-library for the first time. Each campus will get 5 to 10 desktop computers

INITIATIVES TAKEN BY TUCL

TUCL is the largest library in Nepal TUCL offers e-mail and internet services,

information technology services and e-resource services

The library is the coordinating Agency for Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), to implement the Programme for Enhancement of Research Information (PERI) in Nepal.

INITIATIVES TAKEN BY TUCL

More than 250 non profitable academic organizations of Nepal have registered for accessing the PERI

NepJOL (Nepalese Journal Online) is the next important initiatives provide wider access to Nepalese journals through Websites.

The library has uploaded 40 Nepali journals in English language online. 33,321 articles have been downloaded from NepJOL in 2009.

The full text articles from NepJOL website can be downloaded free of cost.

STATUS OF CAMPUSES LIBRARIES

Altogether there are 228 different level LIS professional posts are available in Tribhuvan University libraries. Out of which, only 57% non-technical constituent campus libraries have professional librarians

Less than a quarter numbers of libraries possess computers and connectivity in the library, in case of non-technical faculties

These libraries use CDS/ISIS, WINISIS, KOHA, GSDL, Libra, etc. library software in libraries.

E-LIBRARY INITIATIVES

E-library concept in TUCL was started in 1996, when single computer was installed and internet/email service was started at Rs. 6 per minute from dial up service

Apart from TUCL, few of campus libraries under non-technical institutes have also started e-library on their own initiatives and resources

E-library concept is being verge of implementation among these libraries, except technical institutes, which constitutes about 44 Campus libraries.

These campus libraries will be equipped with 5 to 10 computers along with furniture flooring and furnishing in the libraries.

RECOMMENDATIONS

High speed fiber optic network should be connected to Constituent Campuses.

Computers related materials of e-library project must be confined to library only.

Posts for semi-skilled manpower in the library should be created to enhance e-library.

Skilled librarian should be procured in libraries. For short term, semi-skilled Level-III LIS training should be provided to staff of those libraries, where skilled librarian is lacking

RECOMMENDATIONS

Refresher training should be provided to professionals to update knowledge and skills in the field of LIC.

Training should also be provided to Librarians in the field of computer networking, internet and digital resource sharing.

A consortium should be made among the e-library users conducting regular meetings to share experiences and problems faced during implementation of e-library program.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Regular cost and annual maintenance cost should be managed by the campuses.

Every library should take fee from e-library user

Regular government support should be provided.

For, cost minimization, resource sharing should be highly appreciated.

REFERENCES Bhandary, K. M. (2010). Nepalma E-library ko awashyakata ra

ouchhityata chha (E-library is necessary and justifiable in Nepal). Voice of Library 3(3) .

E-library initiatives in TU (July 8, 2010). The Himalayan Times daily.

List of largest universities (2010). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ list_of_largest_universities_ by_enrollment

Tribhuvan University [TU] (2010). Tribhuvan University Today 2010. Kathmandu: Author.

Tribhuvan University [TU] (2010a). Tribhuvan University Fiscal Year 2009/10: proposed program and budget. Kathmandu: Author.

Tribhuvan University Central Library [TUCL] (2010). Field survey to establish e-library in Tribhuvan University Constituent Campus Libraries. Kathmandu: Author.

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