“Role of Multimedia Resources in the Libraries of Indian Institutes of Technology”

1. “Role of Multimedia Resources in the Libraries of Indian Institutes of Technology” Submitted By: Sadaf Fatma Research Scholar Integral University, Lucknow 226022 sadaf17jan@gmail.com

2. FLOW OF THE PRESENTATION • Introduction • Definition of Multimedia Resources • Characteristics of Multimedia Resources • Elements of Multimedia Resources • Role of Multimedia Resources in Libraries: General Perspectives • Role of Multimedia Resources in the Libraries of Indian Institutes of Technology • Conclusion

3. Introduction • In today’s technical environment, the term multimedia is not a new concept. It the integration of two or more than two form of media or objects such as tapes, slides, text etc. • The term Multimedia is used in contrast to media which contain only the printed form of media or handmade material. • Something that combines the capabilities of technologies that used to be separate or it can combine things like text, graphics, sounds and still or motion pictures in a smooth way to present training or information”; and “print, telecommunications, video and broadcasting, and computers have merged – and the result is what we now call multimedia”.

4. Multimedia is ideal for things like presentations, video conferencing, video lectures etc, instead of making black-and-white printouts, for example, one can present information on-screen using colour video and graphics accompanied by sound. • Now the term Multimedia can be used to describe the “workstations that support not just alphanumeric/ graphic displays but also audiovisual material stored on CD-ROM or hard disk”. • Use of multimedia resources gave a new shape to our libraries and librarianship. There is multiplicity in both printed and electronic formats. • It has changed the way to collect, organize, store and disseminate information and removed the traditional approaches to libraries and library professionals.

5. Definition of Multimedia Resources • ‟Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Library and Information Science defines media as “A generic term for non-print library materials (films, filmstrips, slides, video recordings, audio recordings, CD-ROMs, machine-readable data files, computer software etc.). (Ali, 2006).

6. Characteristics of Multimedia Resources • Multimedia can be as simple as a few images with some accompanying text to a multimedia presentation using video clips, sound, images, animation and text. • Multimedia files use a lot of data when in a digital format. Video is the most demanding. • A PAL signal when digitized can require a data rate of 170 Mbps. Audio is less demanding but still requires 1.3 Mbytes for a 1 minute clip using a Sound Blaster Pro system at 22 kHz sampling rate. • Still images require and use more space proportional to their size. • Synchronizations of sound and video are important. Sound is likely to brake up if parts of it are lost or delayed in storage or transmission.

7. To accommodate these characteristics, techniques used by the telecommunication networks include compression of data and methods of timing the transmission and replay of multimedia. • Data networks and computers have been built in a different way (they are asynchronous) to telephone and TV networks (which are isochronous).

8. Elements of Multimedia Resources There are various Multimedia elements out of which some elements are given below: • Text. It includes information about an object /event, notes, contents, indexes, abstracts, dictionaries etc. • Data It contains tables, charts, graphs, spreadsheets, statistics & raw data. • Graphics. It includes both traditional and computer generated graphics such as drawings, prints, maps etc. • Photographic images It includes slides, negatives and prints from video cameras and scanned photographs.

9. Audio It contains all type of music, sounds, speech, tape & CDs. • Video It includes all the digital videos either converted from analogue film or entirely created within a computer. • Animation Includes all types of animated videos generated by computers.

10. Role of Multimedia Resources in Libraries: General Perspectives • It offers contents with striking visual appeal. • It can replace the traditional card catalogue for identification and location of documents in the libraries • It can serve as integrated system involving total library services • With its help a digital document becomes more interactive and live • A multimedia document size is smaller than its paper equivalent and is convenient to preserve (A CD book) • Task of updating is easier trough multimedia resource.

11. Multimedia collection is easy to maintain since a library with millions of books can easily be replaced by few CDs and are free from binding, shelving , maintenance, etc. • Retrieval of information from CDs is simpler and faster as compared to manual systems • Information available in multimedia is more durable as compared to print media, etc. • Multimedia once introduced will unleash a number of new services • Hyper linking facility is available.

12. Role of Multimedia Resources in Libraries of Indian Institutes of Technology • Multimedia resources are being used for many purposes by different organization /institutions & offices to provide quality based services. • Multimedia resources are increasingly available to libraries of higher institutions and information centres and constituted an important part of the collection. • These are either placed in libraries on shelves or disseminated via networks or through TV or radio. • Since the last decade multimedia resources have become an integral part of libraries and these are considered as essential assets of the collection of any library and information centre. • The subject of the articles is restricted to multimedia resources only in the libraries of Indian Institute of Technology which is generally considered as well equipped in terms of collection, services and infrastructure available.

13. Multimedia Resources play a very important role in Indian Institutes of Technology libraries. IIT Libraries are providing various types of services through Multimedia Resources that can be explained as follows: • Multimedia Database, multimedia information bank is being provided by the IIT libraries. • Multimedia presentations & Instruction/training facility is also provided to the students. • Multimedia newsletters, books & other information resources are available to consult. • Video conferencing & webcasting facility is also provided by IIT Libraries. • Reference tools such as encyclopaedias, dictionaries are ready to use.

14. Interactive multimedia Catalogues are being provided by Libraries of Indian Institute of Technology. • Access of digital multimedia library on the website is being provided by the Libraries of Indian Institute of Technology. • Audio visual lectures are being uploaded on the website not only the for the students of IITs but also for other who are interested. • Millions of books has been easily replaced by few CDs and are free from binding, shelving , maintenance, etc. • Provide Remote access to information such as books, journals, reports, conference proceedings, CD-ROM databases, etc., of the library/documentation centre • Preservation, digitization and digital multimedia library development is also done in these libraries.

15. Maintenance of website and web-based multimedia services is properly done in IIT libraries • Technical documentation facility including engineering drawings, specification etc is also provided. • Hyperlinks can be provided to slides describing the activities of various depts./sections in the library such as acquisition, technical services, data base development division, newspaper clipping section, etc. • Presentation is linked directly to the organisation website for internet users with the help of Multimedia Technology. • Many other contents such as virtual walk-through to various sections (by digitised video and specialised authoring software) and so on can be added.

16. Conclusion • Thus, we can conclude that Multimedia Resources have great impact on the libraries of Indian Institutes of Technology. • An effective and better service of Multimedia Resources can leave a good impact on viewers and they will gain knowledge regarding the holdings of library leading to better use of library and thereby fulfilling the Ranganathan’s laws of librarianship • And the libraries of Indian Institutes of Technology are taking initiatives to provide better Multimedia based services to its users.