This paper describes the role of selected university libraries in Haryana, India in higher education and research of Engineering, Science and Technology. This paper comprehensively studies the functioning, the resources and services of these libraries. The collection development, library membership, staff position, working hours, services offered and e-resources subscribed by these libraries are also discussed.

Keywords:   University libraries  resources and services  automation  information needs  Haryana

University libraries play a vital role in the achievement of the objectives of the Institution. It is an integral part of the teaching learning process at the academic level. In order to successfully play its role in the university system a library must have appropriate resources like information resources, staff, space, etc. The University libraries make efforts to better serve the users by providing maximum service with their available means or resources. In the light of this, the library can serve its users effectively only when it knows their specific requirements.The Kothari Commission in its report on education and national development (1964-66) further emphasised that, ‘No university, college or department should be set up without taking into account its library needs in terms of staff, journals, space, etc. Nothing could be more damaging to a growing department than to neglect its library, the library should be an important centre of attraction on the college or university campus.’

This study is an attempt to present a comprehensive and up to-date overview of library services and their resources in the state of Haryana, India. The present study covers the below mentioned 3 universities. The rationale behind the selection of the university libraries is two fold–first, two state level university libraries are compared with a Private university library in terms of resources and services. Second, a random selection of the Universities are made on the basis of year of establishment i.e., recently established University libraries, which are operating from independent buildings.

(1) Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology, Murthal, (Sonepat) Haryana was established in 2006 by an act of Haryana Legislature. The University facilitates & promote studies & research in Engineering areas of Higher Education with a focus on the new frontier of Science, Engineering, Technology, Architecture & Management Studies. It offers various technical/professional courses at under graduate, post graduate and research levels with an intake of approximately 3400 students under 16 Departments.

(2) Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan, (Sonepat) Haryana is the first State Women University of North India providing education from KG to Phd level. It was established in the year 2006 by an act of Haryana Legislature. The University offers innovative, job oriented programs in various disciplines. It is currently having 7 departments with an intake of 6000 female students.

(3) O.P. Jindal Global University, Jagdishpur Village, Delhi Narela Road, (Sonepat) Haryana is a non-profit global University established by the Haryana Private Universities (Second Amendment) Act, 2009. It has established five schools: Jindal Global Law School, Jindal Global Business School, Jindal School of International Affairs, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy and Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities with an intake of 1300 students. It is an interdisciplinary University with a vision of contributing to teaching, research and capacity building in law, management and other disciplines on a global level (Table 1).

Karn, et al.,¹ conducted a study on ‘Status of State Libraries in Jharkhand, and revealed that the state public libraries in Jharkhand are not in a good condition. The Library services are ill supported, undernourished, unappreciated and under staff, struggling to provide minimal service. There has been growth in some limited areas, but it is only a beginning and there is still a long way to go before the public is assured of satisfactory library service. There is a great challenge before the state government to nourish these state libraries in order to strengthen the knowledge base of the people of Jharkhand. Jotwani² reported in his study on “Library Resources and Services in Indian Institute of Technology” that each IIT library has a well-resourcedCentral Library to support their academic and research mission. On the technology front, Central libraries in IITs have multipurpose space, better infrastructure, service areas, reading areas and other utilities. Singh³ found in his study on ‘Information technology applications in Technical Institute libraries of Karnal, Haryana’ that all the technical institute libraries have a membership of library consortium. The majority of the libraries has the membership of DELNET to use the online journals. None of the College Libraries have UGC-INFONET consortium. All of the libraries are paying an amount for subscription of consortium.

The objectives of the study are to:

(a) Get the current status of the available information resources in the selected university libraries of Haryana

(b) Find the status of e-resources in the university libraries

(c) Determine the types of services being provided by the libraries to its patrons

(d) Find out about the physical infrastructure of the university libraries

(e) Suggest the ways and means for effective use of resources and services in the university libraries.

The study was intended to know the current status of selected university libraries in Haryana. A questionnaire was prepared and personally administered to the librarians of the respective universities and responses of three selected libraries were received, which was subjected to analysis. The response rate was 100 %.

The data obtained through the questionnaires is presented and compared using tables and figures method and analysed by using the simple calculation method subsequent sections for easy comprehension:

The library collection is a sum total of library materials that makes up the holding of a particular library. Through this study an attempt has been made to analyse the collection strength of the selected university libraries. The findings were as here under.

Table 2 shows that BPSMV library has the largest number of print materials including text, reference and book bank books, i.e., 69,139 followed by DCRUST library with 54,472 and OPJGU library has the lowest number of book collection i.e., 39,000. It has been noted that no book bank facility is provided by BPSMV and OPJGU library.

Table 2 also shows that all the University libraries provide the facility of printed journals. BPSMV library has the largest collection of printed journals i.e., 4000 back volumes, 70 Indian and 80 foreign current journals are subscribed during the current year. This is followed by the OPJGU library with 3700 back volumes, 27 Indian and 42 foreign journals are subscribed during the current year. DCRUST library has the least collection of printed journals with 1073 back volumes, 96 Indian and 4 foreign journals subscribed during the current year.

Table 2 further shows that only the DCRUST library has a collection of 3475 standards. All libraries subscribe newspapers, but magazines are subscribed only by DCRUST and BPSMV libraries.

Table 2 in case of special collections shows that DCRUST has the highest number of collections of special collection, i.e. 2372, whereas BPSMV and OPJGU libraries have no such collection.

E-resources like e-books, e-journals and audio-visual material are shown in Fig. 1. The OPJGU library has the largest collection of e-books, i.e., 16000 followed by BPSMV library with 6000 e-books, and DCRUST library with 475 e-books. OPJGU library has the largest collection of e-journals i.e., 15000+ followed by 12656 bythe DCRUST library while BPSMV has only 3 e-journal databases. The DCRUST library is the biggest subscriber of online and offline databases, i.e., 4808 followed by only 41 in OPJGU library and 15 in BPSMV library. The OPJGU has the biggest collection of CDs i.e., 6350 followed by 1760 in the DCRUST and 400 in the BPSMV library. None of the libraries have any audio-visual material.

University libraries offer free membership to its academic users. This study tried to look into the user base of the libraries and got an overview of the current types of members being catered by the universities.

Table 3 highlights the library membership. Faculty membership (including visiting faculty) is maximum 275 in the OPJGU followed by 226 in the DCRUST and minimum 150 in the BPSMV. The student membership is maximum in the BPSMV i.e., 6000 followed by 3236 in the DCRUST and the lowest 1300 in the OPJGU. Library members of technical and non-teaching staff are maximum 500 in the OPJGU followed by 309 in the DCRUST and 250 in the BPSMV.

In the current scenario the pace of change in higher education is quite rapid. As the learning and development and research experience become more interactive with technology, it is imperative on libraries to must adapt themselves accordingly. Human resource plays a prominent role in the successful management of any institution. Hence, library staff also plays and important role in collection, storage and dissemination of the information in the swift and user friendly manner to its patron.

Table 4 deals with the library staff available in the University Libraries. The maximum number of staff is in the OPJGU library i.e., 14 while the other 2 libraries DCRUST and BPSMV have 7 and 4 professional staff members respectively. Though it is a very good sign that all of the selected university and supervisory post of librarian and supported by deputy librarians and assistant librarians yet the no. of professional staff required to run an effective library is less.

The opening and closing time of the university libraries are shown in the Table 5. The OPJGU library has the maximum opening time i.e., 8.30 am to 12 am in the night, which is further extendable up to 4 am during exam days. Also, only the DCRUST library is open on gazetted holidays.

Library services help in using the collection in the best possible way. Library buildings are W_i-F_i enabled, which facilitates users to bring laptops to have seamless access to their e-resources through IP range. The OPAC is one of the most heavily used services in the selected university libraries. A detailed list of library services offered by the selected university libraries has been given in the Table 6.

Table 6 shows that all of the university libraries offer a range of services including CAS, SDI, photocopy service, bibliography service, document delivery service, inter library loan (ILL) service, reference service, circulation, membership, OPAC/Web OPAC services. The DCRUST and OPJGU libraries offer book bank service totheir students and only the BPSMV is having departmental library services.

The data gathered from the libraries regarding the e-resources available in the libraries are presented in Table 7. This table shows that the maximum e-resources, i.e., 44 have been subscribed by the OPJGU followed by 10 by the DCRUST library and the BPSMV Library has only 5 subscriptions.

The OPJGU being a law university has subscribed different e-resources than the other 2 university libraries.

Library space consists of stack area, rooms and seating area in the University library. The details of each category of space are presented in Table 8.

The DCRUST library has the largest covered area of 4552 sq.mtr. followed by the OPJGU library with 2787 sq.mtr. and the BPSMV library has the lowest covered area of 925 sq.mtr. only.

Fig. 2 reveals about seating facilities for students, research scholars and teachers in the libraries. The OPJGU library has the largest number of seating capacity, i.e., 550 followed by the DCRUST library with 500 seating capacity. The BPSMV Library has the least seating capacity for its users i.e., 100 only. The OPJGU has not provided separate seating facilities for the faculty.

Table 9 shows the details of the library furniture consists of tables, chairs, almirahs, book racks, display racks, and book-cases. The OPJGU library has maximum number of study tables and chairs i.e., 100+400 followed by the DCRUST library with 42+375. The BPSMV has a minimum number with 10+100 only. Office tables and chairs are almost same in the DCRUST 15+20 and the OPJGU library 15+18 but quite less in BPSMV library 4+4. Computer tables and chairs are the maximum in the DCRUST library 54+70 followed by the OPJGU library 20+20 and minimum in the BPSMV library 15+15. Books are mainly stored on the book racks. The OPJGU library has maximum number of book racks, i.e., 200 followed by the DCRUST library with 105 racks. The BPSMV library has only 26 racks. The DCRUST Library has maximum number of almirahs i.e., 17. Display racks for printed journals and magazines are maximum in the DCRUST library, i.e., 20 followed by 12 in the OPJGU library and 7 in the BPSMV library. In addition to that the DCRUST library also has 43 book cases.

The OPJGU library is fully automated while the other two are partially automated and leading towards full automation. Library application software LIBSYS is being used by the DCRUST and the BPSMV library, while KOHA is being used in the OPJGU library. The OPJGU and the BPSMV libraries have Wi-Fi connectivity in the library; the DCRUST has not yet provided Wi-Fi connectivity in the library. Only the OPJGU library is having a functional RFID system.

Table 10 describes about the availability of infrastructural facility in the libraries for automation purpose. The table shows that the OPJGU library is leading and has all the facilities like FAX, LCD projector, TV, CD server, CCTV cameras, Bar-code scanner, UPS, computer, scanner, xerox machine, server and printer required for automation. It has maximum number of computers for staff and students. The DCRUST library also has sufficient infrastructure required for automation. However, BPSMV library is reportedly lacking required infrastructure for automation, particularly it requires more computer and photocopying machine. The DCRUST and BPSMV libraries do not have TV and multimedia kit.

Universities are facing a financial crunch and with upheavals in economies funding is getting reduced for the libraries also. The major chunk of the university library budget is spent on the e-resources and no library is self-reliant enough to buy all the resources. Library consortia is a medium, which at least makes it easy for the university libraries to increase their collection at reduced rates.

Table 11 shows the OPJGU library is member of maximum number of consortiums i.e., 3, namely DELNET, CSIR and INDEST followed by the DCRUST library with a membership of two consortiums namely INDEST and UGC-INFONET, while the BPSMV library has membership of UGC-INFONET consortium only.

Based on the data gathered from the respondent libraries, the following suggestions are put forth to improve and maximise the usage of the university libraries.

(a) Problem of shortage of staff is common among all respondent libraries. State Govt. Universities should take note of the situation of availability of professional staff in the libraries and force the State Government to follow UGC rules. It is evident that libraries are not for profit organisations, that’s why, authorities are keeping themselves blind and drastically cutting down the finance. It is suggested to properly formulate finance & budget provision policy and implementation be provided on proper standards. Well qualified and experienced technical staff is needed in the digital section of the library to solve the user’s problems.

(b) It is necessary to prepare the library staff through appropriate training. Rediscovery may be as important as the creation of knowledge itself in view of the development in information technology.

(c) Though the user base of the OPJGU library is less yet the services provided are up to the mark and cater up to the maximum. State university authorities should adopt a mechanism to raise their service standards.

(d) Special funds provision should be made in the annual budget to improve the status and nonbook materials in the state university libraries. The subscription of e-resources should be increased.

(e) The new technological invasion has drastically affected the education system. Most of the core schools are using technology for effective dissemination of information and they have seen the results in positive directions only. Hence, AV sections may be envisaged in advance by the university authorities.

(f) Libraries should join more consortia in order provide vast and current information to its users.

The university libraries are valued by the users for their support in academic and research through user services, highly skilled staff and easy to use collection. The present survey was aimed to study the condition of university libraries in the context of resources, services, staff and Library automation activities. To conclude, the university libraries need support from higher authorities in terms of constant financial support, trained personnel and better infrastructure, it may play a vital role in raising the efficiency in library services.With the advent of new technologies in every sphere of life, it has become mandatory in technical or non-technical academic institutions to access and check their strength and weakness. This comparative study of the libraries not only brought out their relative strengths and weaknesses, but also will serve as a launching pad for further in depth study. The survey highlighted the resources and services of the selected University libraries in Haryana and will be somewhat helpful to the society in imparting rational education to their younger generation for a better tomorrow.

1. Karn, Sanjay, et al., ‘Status of state libraries in Jharkhand: An analytical study.’ ILA Bulletin, 2006, 42(1), 22-26.

2. Jotwani, Daulat. Library resources and services in Indian Institutes of Technology. Annals of Lib. Inf. Stu., 2013, 60, 204-11.

3. Singh, Mehar. Information Technology Applications in Technical Institute Libraries of Karnal, Haryana. Golden Research Thoughts, 2014, 3(7) 1-7.

4. Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology–Murthal. http://www.dcrustm.org/ (accessed on 12/07/14)

5. O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat. http://www.jgu.edu.in/ (accessed on 12/07/14)

6. B.P.S. MahilaVishwavidyalaya, Sonepat. http://www.bpswomenuniversity.ac.in (accessed on 12/07/14)

Mr Mehar Singh is working as Deputy Librarian, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Sonepat, Haryana. He has more than 10 years of experience and has contributed 10 research papers in the area of ICT, information and knowledge management. He is a member of Indian Library Association and Haryana Library Association.

Mr Ajay Kumar Arora is currently working as Manager, Learning Resource Centre, Indian School of Business, premier B-School in the country. He is pursuing PhD from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra in the area of ‘Information Technology adoption and acceptance in the NIT Libraries’. He has 12 years of experience and has contributed more than 12 research papers in the area of Information Technology and Services. He is also a member of Editorial board of the journal ‘International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology.’