E-resources and Collection Development: Emerging Issues for The Academic Libraries

Abstract

The academic libraries today are reorienting their collections and their collection development policies in the light of e-resources. Not only are the collections changing so are the role of librarians. The dual print and electronic environment are posing a challenge to the librarians. How best to balance the available budget between the two and in the process provide easy access to relevant information to the users without any delay, is the Mantra of Librarianship today. E-journals and e-books are here to stay. In the light of this fact how to provide access, which are the best source, how to index and catalogue them to provide quick access as well as training of the staff for their new role are the various issues that have been discussed in this article. But then each library needs to develop its own model for collection development keeping in mind its users and their specific requirements.