IGI Global: The Database and Adaptation

In the past decade, librarians have witnessed firsthand the world of changes taking place in libraries. Moving card catalogs into computers, replacing bookshelves with computer terminals, exchanging books for e-Books; this evolution has not simply happened overnight. Mehtab Alam Ansari, author of the chapter "Modernization of a Traditional Library" in IGI Global's Library and Information Science in Developing Countries remarks: “Libraries of today are no more store-houses of books, but dynamic institutions providing array of services to their user community. Serving their users, libraries have rightly taken the help of Information Technology.”

Technology in libraries today means databases, and databases are a science. It is imperative to offer relevant and unique content, on a platform powerful and easy to use, while still being user-friendly and within budget limitations of the library. It is a process of adaptation. It is the librarian’s duty to ensure that databases are kept up-to-date with current information readily available, to grow with changes and resist being caught in the past. Resisting change would be the truest death of the library.

As said in Project Muse’s journal article, Information Commons: The Academic Library of the Future, Laurie A. MacWhinnie states, “Librarians will continue to organize information, provide research assistance, and to teach users the best ways to access, evaluate and select the best information specific to their needs, but by using new methods in an evolving physical setting.” The database is a powerful tool, but is still just a tool, wielded by librarians who must master it to keep their libraries alive.

IGI Global is an international publishing company specializing in scholarly research publications and databases covering all aspects of information science technology utilization and management. IGI Global’s InfoSci®-Databases provide access to unique groups of cutting-edge peer-reviewed reference books in specific applied technology disciplines, ensuring the research is directly relevant to your interest area. For more information or a free 30 day trial, contact eresouces@igi-global.com.