Portal Approach to Library Websites : Libraries Need to Discover New Integrated Platforms

Abstract

The advent of the World Wide Web and digitisation of publications have resulted in the proliferation of a vast amount and format of content types. Initiatives such as cyber infrastructure recommended by the NSF foundation provide specifications for accessing data, information support the emerging collaborative processes within sciences and includes several components relevant for libraries. Libraries are rapidly changing and expanding to web-based delivery of content and related access services in order to conform to the changing information seeking methods and expectations of their users. Developing an understanding of changing user demands and the basic building blocks of a new architecture will be a challenge in our current library environment. Presently our current technical systems are organized around data (e.g. the catalogue, vendor-based indexes and publishers) or services (e. g. interlibrary-loan, circulation and reference). One approach is to design multitired architectures that include an integration layer providing programme level services for user level applications such as a portal. Web portals are seen as positive potential frameworks for achieving order out of chaos. The library portal is one approach to organize information resources and services in a way that supports the users’ needs. However, the library portal will not be the only starting point for access to the library. The future of library websites in fact lies in integration of different effective information management and need based service modules.