The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : The advantages of digital libraries

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 24, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

The advantages of digital libraries

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: "Digital libraries are the only solution to the problem of pages disappearing from library books," said P. Rajendran, Chief Librarian, SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

Mr. Rajendran was one of the 72 members who were invited to make a presentation at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He was one among the three Indians, who participated in the 8th International Symposium of Electronic Theses and Dissertations, in September.

Mr. Rajendran's paper was titled `Preservation of Electronic Theses and Dissertations: A case study of SRM Institute of Science and Technology'.

"The paper won the appreciation of many since it was one hundred percent practically applicable," said Mr. Rajendran. He said that SRM would have a digitised library in another two or three years.

The reading material would be available in PDF format so that it could just be read and not downloaded, he said.

Mr. Rajendran, who visited the library at the University of New SouthWales said, "India has a long way to go. Their library was technologically much more advanced."

"Though digital libraries are extremely convenient and space-saving, it is ultimately the individual who has to take the initiative and read," said T.P. Ganesan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, S.R.M Engineering College.

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