DESKTOP LIBRARY VIS-À-VIS VIRTUAL REFERENCE DESK EMPOWER THE END USER TO MAP THE INFINITE ETEXTS

Abstract

There has been steady erosion of sole custodial authority of the library on the heritage of human kind ever since the Information Technology brought about a media revolution in the content and access of human knowledge. Metaphorically, the library has triumphantly crossed the physical barriers of time and space. The library automation has reached, but, the first milestone of providing multiple bibliographical-access to the printed documents mostly, but has not penetrated further into the full-texts. The library needs to look beyond automation. Admittedly, the library has to effectively carry on its mission with new stock -in-trade of e-books/e-journals. It has to redefine its services by way of responding constructively and imaginatively to the challenges. Days are not very far off when the library will be brought to the desktop of each user for collaborative virtual reference service. The organization of the Internet resources in inter- and intra disciplinary areas for the prospective community of scholars rests with the library professionals.