Running Head: MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL LIBRARY

Watson Wambugu Wangechi

P106/1620G/16

Bsc. Information Science

Compute Science and Informatics

Lecturer: Madam Joan

Karatina University

March 1, 2018
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Book Critique: Management of Digital Library

Bibliographic Citation

Aadhavan, O. (2014). Management of Digital Library. New Delhi: Oxford Book Company. 275

pages

The book that I chose to review for this assignment is entitled Management of Digital

Library by author Aadhavan (2014). In this book, Aadhavan concludes that management of

digital libraries can be achieved through an effective integration of the appropriate technologies.

I chose this book simply because I believe that management of digital libraries is of paramount

importance in the so considered knowledge-based society. Aadhavan provides an in depth look at

the different elements of a digital library. This book is written for people who are already in field

of library and information as well as other related disciplines. Grounded in the recent research on

the libraries and coupled with pertinent insights from the information sciences, the book is

suitable for anybody willing to share and access library materials or put simply, information.

Authority Background

At the time of publishing the book, Professor Omesh Aadhavan is a Computer Scientist at

Anna University in Chennai, working in the Indian Digital Library research project. He has done

extensive research in retrieval of information, machine learning, text compression as well as

programing by demonstration. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of

Karnataka. Further, he has done MSc in Computer Science from the University of Bangalore and

a PHD in Engineering from Manglore University of India.

Introduction

The modern digital technologies are making such an impact of various sectors of the

economy, leading to the present paperless period center. Its impact on libraries is significant. The

management of digital libraries is a critical issue in the modern information age, where

accessibility and retrivability of information by libraries and patrons is of paramount importance.

In Aadhavan’s Management of Digital library, he demonstrates how the internet technologies

have made it apparently possible and easy to create digital collections, repositories, archives and

libraries. Nevertheless, the support of diverse use of information that facilitate interaction beyond

searching and browsing has not made much visible development. The digital techniques have

centered on preservation of information materials have revolutionized the organization and

management of libraries as well as archives. As such, Aaadhavan shows that too peep into it,

professionals (libraries and information scientist) in the field need to prepare to the emerging

challenges resulting from the constantly increasing technologies.

The author focuses on raising awareness on the library and information professionals

about the wonderful body of knowledge, opportunities and the subsequent challenges posed by

information technologies. Specifically, Aadhavan aims at building confidence on these

professionals in enabling them to play a proactive role in managing digital information in the era

characterized by instability and insecurity. He argues that with the development of digital

information and a knowledge society, libraries should change their role from a document

provider to information provider.

Book summary.

The book is organized in thirteen chapters.

In chapter 1, the author discusses the concepts of digital library in the modern

information world, providing various methodologies adopted to support the operation of these

kind of libraries. He provides a historical development of the digital libraries, showing different

views on what constitutes a digital library. As well, this chapter shows that digital libraries

provide similar basic facilities for searching and browsing publications. These features are well

documented and identified by URIs and DOIs, that typical users requires, each with its own

specialty. Among the major digital libraries discussed are Google scholar, Association for

Computing Machinery, The institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Xplore and

Digital Bibliography and Library Project. Most of these libraries provides provide free access to

metadata and link to data, which the user may or may not be licensed to view. Google Scholar

and ISI provided services for counting and tracking illustrations of a particular information

material, which is not provided by most other libraries. The author identifies the major problems

associated with digital libraries which includes identity crisis, get metadata, and inability to

retrieve personalized information. The chapter concludes that these problems are social rather

than technical in nature that is identity, trust and privacy (Aadhavan, 2014, p 10).

In chapter 2, it explains the concepts of digital library based on two models that is, Model

of Bawden and Rowlands, and EFQM model. These models stresses the need for the digital

library to develop the profession in a managerial and productive sense. In this chapter, the aim of

digital libraries is identified as the documentation of historical memory. Also, the chapter shows

that the various technological changes experienced in the field of digital library compared to the

conventional ones. In that view, the successful professions are focusing on combining different
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solutions, different public and private operators within and outside the structure. Italy is used as

an example to show that challenges experienced in libraries all over the world, which include

copyright or legal (Aadhavan, 2014, p 23).The success of the digital library is dependent on five

major elements as discussed in this chapter; financial investment, the political investment,

training and professional investment, technological investment and the constant investment of

study and analysis.

In chapter 3, the author provides an overview of establishing a digital library center.

When an academic institution or department moves from processing few digital operation in the

library to an integrated digital library center, it is able to provide its services more efficiently.

The notable benefits of digital library center is that it will have a higher profile and robustness,

thus attracting donors of funders. Staff and other information professionals are able to develop

their skill by engaging in different projects (Aadhavan, 2014, p 44).The vision of the digital

library center is usually founded on the subject domain, services, geographical location, and

particular domain. The chapter discusses various ways of sourcing fund for supporting digital

library centers. On issues regarding to integration of the qualified staff in the administration of

digital libraries, showing that managers should focus on keeping good staff. The strategies

suggested to avoid hiring mediocre staff includes asking them about the contribution in other

projects other than where they see themselves in the coming years. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 47).

In chapter 4, the author discusses the digital library architecture, which includes Objects

(items, collections and libraries), and information (metadata, queries and result sets). The latter

can be epitomized by ADEPT architecture that supports externally visible information. The type

of metadata engrained under ADEPT are; collection reports, bucket report, scan report, full

report, browse report and access report. Bucket denotes an abstract, strongly typed metadata
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category with defined search semantics, to which source metadata is mapped (Aadhavan, 2014, p

66).

Chapter 5 gives a deeper analysis on Cornell Digital Library Research Group, and its

focus on investigating the architectures, protocols, and supporting mechanisms to create

component-based digital libraries. The chapter provides three components of management of a

digital library that is, it begins with the selection of the digital objects that are constituents of the

original collection. Management also entails the definition of the various services such as

indexing conducted in the library. Finally, the management involves the development and

enforcement of policies for task such as controlling access as well as preservation. Digital

libraries have the potential to represent new types of content and delivers them in innovative

ways. Here, the author demonstrates that the rich potential of digital libraries can only be

experienced by multimedia content that aggregates multiple single medium content streams that

are interconnected semantically, structurally, and temporary. Every library, both the conventional

and digital, emphasizes on two major policies which are centered on security and preservation.

These are further supported by technologies that supports device capability and connectivity. The

appropriateness of a digital library is based on synchronization of personal information spaces,

remote reference linking, and dissemination (Aadhavan, 2014, p 81).

In chapter 6, the author provides background information on the management of

DataStream in the digital libraries. These continuous data streams generated by sensor have to

be processed online in in order to detect critical situations. This chapter identify, design and

build demonstrators for data stream operators. It suggest a prototype implementation of an

infrastructure for workflow processes including stream processing supporting the integration if

stream operators and web services. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 113).

Chapter 7 demonstrates how libraries can support e learners who often do not have full

access to library services and materials, necessitating equitable services that are more

personalized. The author indicates that librarians must understand their changing roles in the

information age. The librarians must affirm themselves as key players in the learning process

whereby changing their roles from information providers to educators. In response, librarians

have worked on repackaging information from the traditional libraries to the digital or virtual

libraries. Most libraries are now providing remote access to information materials as well as

electronic delivery of content (Aadhavan, 2014, p 121).With the current technologies, the

librarians are able to interact with the patrons on many to many dynamic relationships.

Additionally, the librarians are utilizing the tools provided by web 2.0, for example, they are

using blogs to keep users up-to-date on matters relating to libraries and its collection, and most

importantly answer frequently asked questions. That said, the role of libraries have a constantly

changed from providing content to meeting the specific needs of the users (Aadhavan, 2014, p

124).

Chapter 8 discusses the management of information in digital libraries. The chapter

further demonstrates Self Organizing map (SOM), which unsupervised neural network model

that provides a mapping from a higher dimensional input space to a low, often two dimensional

output space. It gives an overview of the existing techniques and application of SOMs in Digital

Libraries, and present work in assisting the user in exploring the map by automatically

describing maps using advanced labeling and summarization of map regions. The author applied

a clustering approach on the SOM to reveal hierarchical structures which can be explored by the

user to get a rough overview of the structure of the data on the map. These methods are

integrated into a single application that provides additional features such as visualization and
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advanced interaction via zooming and panning, and selection of arbitrary regions of the map.

(Aadhavan, 2014, p 137).

In Chapter 9, the author discusses the management of digital library education in

academic institutions. In this view, digital library can be viewed as a concept and reality. The

chapter pinpoints various schools that are perceived to represent various emerging approaches to

digital library education. University of British Columbia, for example, although there is no

identification of digital library as such, a number of courses deal with metadata standards and

include courses which deal with metadata standards and include courses which address the

status of digitally-born information and the role of digital libraries in managing cultural heritage.

Others like University of Michigan combines practical and skill-based program with a focus on

advanced tools, content, format migration. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 198).

Chapter 10 discusses the transformation of digital library from project to production. The

maturity of digital libraries is dependent on its ability to be fully integrated into their parent

organizations, and reflect a high level of investment consistent with the institution mission. A

digital library must move beyond a focus on projects to one of deploying and supporting classes

of systems. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 211).

In chapter 11, the author demonstrates long digital preservation from an information

perspective other than the conventional approaches; the archival and technocratic approach. If an

information material is worthy creating then it is also important to save it. The current problems

with digital problems are that it is difficult to continue to exist and on the other hand, the

software currently available does not include good tools for saving digital recorded information

in the face of rapid hardware and software. If an information material is worthy creating then it is

also important to save it. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 223)

Chapter 12 put emphasis on digital curation as well as management of digital libraries.

The availability and the constant growth of digital information and services online has resulted to

an increase in the expectations of digital services from cultural heritage institutions. In particular,

this chapter has a concentration on the active management of digital information over is entire

life. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 247)

In the last chapter, the author analyses how digital libraries have influenced learning in

higher education as well as researches. Application of ICT in libraries have resulted to easier

identification, accessibility, acquisition, record, storage, organization and dissemination of

information. Furthermore, ICT have led to increased efficiency in all aspects of information

acquisition, storage and transfer. He also illustrates the various generation of libraries in relation

to computer technologies (Aadhavan, 2014, p 258).

Evaluation

The Book has partially succeeded in raising awareness level of library and information

professionals about the wonderful body of knowledge as well as opportunities and challenges

posed by information technology. However, he deviates from the original focus of enabling

professionals to take a proactive role in the end user in this unsecure and unstable environment.

Today, the use of digital libraries is take a critical role in the dissemination of information to the

users with ease and on a timely manner. The book, per se, contributes to the field of library, by

providing the basic understanding of the modern concepts in relation to digital library and open

access. Information professionals in libraries, institutions and other related information centers

are emphasizing on integrating digital libraries services in order to promote the dissemination

and access to information in the remote areas (Aadhavan, 2014, p 23).

The book supplement the existing knowledge on the digitization of information materials.

Nearly every chapter in the book is oriented to digital library centers and how they can be used to

promote users interactions with the information providers. The book indicates that the

fundamental changes in policies such as copyright law and changes in the way in which the laws

are enforced are likely to occur as digital libraries expand their use becomes more widespread

(Aadhavan, 2014, p 93).

The book enlightens the information and library professionals on the contemporary

management of digital libraries center. The author has clearly demonstrated the strategies

adopted by digital libraries such as Google Scholar in improving the interactions with the users.

In the current debates on information services, there are questions on the impacts of publicizing

information material through Open Access or remote accessibility to information materials.

(Cleveland, 1998). The major issues of concern are centered on the copyright laws and the

infringement of laws relating to intellectual property. This book has tried to provide an overview

analysis of these issues that are contentious in the field of library and information science

(Aadhavan, 2014, p 103).

Owing to the fact that the author is a computer scientist, it adds to the validity and

authority of the subject discussed in the book. That said, the author has provided a

comprehensive analysis on the integration of computer technologies in the field of libraries.

However, due to his educational profession and interests, the author is more inclined to the

adaptation of these technologies other than promoting users experience and subsequently,

establishing a lasting relationship with the library users. In the recent, most users are preferring

to search for relevant information materials at their places of convenience (Aadhavan, 2014, p

149).Therefore, there is a need to stimulate academic institutions, organizations and government

to invest in digital libraries that in turn, are likely to promote transfer of information materials.

This book is based on the view that the contemporary library users and people in need of

information have preference for online materials compared to the conventional brick and mortar

libraries.

More so, the author argues that the role of librarians are changing from the providers of

information materials to establishing a strong relationship with the patrons. He explicitly states

that the prevailing librarian will be a professional with the ability to combine different solutions,

different public and private operations within and outside the structure (Sreenivasulu, 2000).

While the author supposed to provide the challenges as well as solutions for the problems

bedeviling digitization of libraries, the book appears to be inclined on the technical aspects,

leaving issues that relating to information seeking strategies in the online platforms. In this case,

the book would have integrated chapters that focus on tools for example email and chartrooms

that support interaction of users and the information providers. (Aadhavan, 2014, p 117).

By concentrating on digital libraries functionality and the relevant information

technologies, the book disregards the role of human resources (professionals, staff and patrons)

in the provision of information services. Arguably, a reader would expect to find certain

chapters set to discuss the particular problems that are impeding the success of digital library

projects in this era. Also, the implementation of information technologies in library cannot be

done without the formulation of the appropriate policies (Aadhavan, 2014, p 79).This book takes

little attempt to provide the policies that can be adopted in the implementation of such projects

that are critical in the modern information age. With that, the librarian and information providers

are left speculating on the workable strategies that can be applied in the digital library contexts to

achieve the desired objectives.

While the author suggest to make a contribution in the global context on digital libraries,

the book bases its argument in the Indian and Western countries which may not be operative in

the African context or other developing countries. At the basics, the book appears to use the

phrases, automated library, electronic library and digital library interchangeably, railing to

provide the distinction in its application to the main focus of the book. This leaves the reader

with ambiguity on whether the book aimed at advocating for the automation or digitization of

library resources. In chapter 12, the author purports to discuss digital curation and the

management of digital library, yet few strategies on the current curation and preservation.

(Aadhavan, 2014, 247).

Generally, the content in the book can be authenticated because it is largely based on

previous studies, and also the author has a great knowledge in the field of computer science and

library retrieval materials. However, the author does not include a list of references or

bibliographies, and thus raising the question on the credibility of some information. The book is

well-written, however, it lacks an academic organization, making it complex for a novice readers

to understand the content of the information. The extreme use of acronym, for example ADEPT,

makes it impossible for a reader to understand the book without getting to the initial

explanations. Additionally, the book has not provided a glossary page or index page, which

would assist the user in tracking the information. This means that if a reader needs to extract

(Aadhavan, 2014, p 266).

Certain information from the books, he or she has to scan through the book, making it

uninteresting to the reader. Although the book has used several illustrations, they are not very

comprehensive and appears to have little support to the book’s main focus. It is also evident that
13 MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL LIBRARY

the book has applied some practical examples to support the main arguments about digital

libraries. This enable the reader to connect with the main argument through practical issues.

Ideally, the use of library resources is indispensable in different fields, and thus this book is

applicable in different discipline in the institution of learning. However, it is most suited to

students in the field of Library and Information Science, Computer Science, Information Systems

and Information technology. The book has a good structure a part form the extensive use of

research jargons that is impertinent to the novice` readers.

Conclusion and Recommendations

I have to say that, in the end, I would partly recommend this book to someone wanting to

learn more about digital library and the recent developments. As I stated in the summary section

of this critique, I believe the main idea in this book was partly developed. The book’s main idea

was the summed up in first few chapters, leaving the other parts to appear impertinent. For

instance, the author links digital libraries to contemporary issues such as Open Access, he fails to

back up his standpoint or provide solution on how it can be integrated in academic settings

effectively. Although I consent the idea that the emphasis on the means other than the end is a

critical aspect of digital libraries, and that most libraries fails simply because they lack

technological support, I am convinced that there is much more than that. I am convinced that

digital libraries considerably fails as a result of weak capacity development and lack of extensive

professional networks (Jones and Beagrie, 2001). 

Arguing that by just integrating technology in the libraries is sufficient to promote

effectiveness and efficiency in management of the digital libraries, it conflict the popular
14 MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL LIBRARY

theoretical approaches of systemic thinking. I don’t believe that a novice reader would

completely understand the concepts of digital libraries, as the author suggest in this book.

References

Aadhavan, O. (2014). Management of Digital Library. New Delhi: Oxford Book Company.

Jones, M. and Beagrie, N., 2001. Preservation management of digital materials: a handbook (p.

58). London: British Library.

Cleveland, G., 1998. Digital libraries: definitions, issues and challenges. IFLA, Universal

dataflow and telecommunications core programme.

Sreenivasulu, V., 2000. The role of a digital librarian in the management of digital information

systems (DIS). The electronic library, 18(1), pp.12-20.