Setting up an electronic library: the case of TERI

Abstract

Purpose

The paper describes the setting up of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) electronic library in New Delhi, India to provide better services for the researchers to access the structured information from the desk top. The aim of this paper is to share the experience gain and invite comments and suggestion for further improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a case study of TERI and how the electronic library has developed.

Findings

TERI Electronic Library (EL) was created to provide access to online resources, online e‐journals, electronic documents and virtual resources. The virtual libraries i.e. internet sources, together, have now crystallized to more or less to a full‐fledged EL that can be browsed as well as searched. In TERI, electronic services like Current Awareness and Alerts services apart from establishing a Virtual Information Centre has further supplemented the EL. A physical electronic library has been created to address the access to all the local area network (LAN) connected systems that provide CD‐ROM access and journals and books available for download for all time free access to in‐house users.

Research limitations/implications

The usage has become handier for the researchers and has helped in saving their valuable time. Library management has also become easier. Any addition to the existing resources is announced by e‐mail for user access. The future plan is to make the whole resources dynamic in nature. The future of libraries seems to have no escape from that of becoming the EL.

Originality/value

This paper could be useful for the small and medium special and research libraries who do not have enough funds to start an electronic library in these lines.

Citation

Deb, S. and Kar, D.C. (2005), "Setting up an electronic library: the case of TERI", The Electronic Library, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 189-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470510592889