QUESTION: SUMARIZE ARTICLE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF VIRTUAL LIBRARY FOR HIGH INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA.

NAME: IDRIS ISAH GULU REG. NO. MIM/EDUC/11370/2008-09

LIBS 883: ONLINE INFORMATION INDUSTRIES

The paper highlights on how virtual library facilitates access to information resources as database, electronics, journals, alerting services, online references tools, and quality selected web resources that improve of teaching and research.

The paper differentiated between electronic libraries, digital library and virtual library as electronic library consist of electronic materials and services like video tapes and CD-ROM. While digital library consist f digital services and materials are stored, process and transferred via digital devices and network. The virtual
Library consists of both digital and electronic libraries existing virtually. And stress the important of virtual library in high institutions in Nigeria, which among them is improving quality of teaching and research through the provision of current e-book, journals and other resources, also enhance scholarship, research and lifelong learning through the establishment of access to shared global virtual archival collections.

The article in addition examines the process of building virtual libraries as the thus digitalization, acquisitions, and collection development

Digitalization involve the process of making non-digital materials in digital format and acquisition and collection development involves acquiring and securing ownership of electronic resources such as databases, e-books, and journal trough license. Subscribed electronic resources are stored on a remote server hosted by the vendor and made accessible to a target user, while digital collections of information resources involve selection and organization based on an explicit collection development policy that address need of particular community.

The paper finally, identifies the challenges of its implementation which includes misconceptions of what constitute virtual libraries, unavailability of he basic information infrastructures, poor policy implementation and lack of web technologies skill digital/systems librarians have been identifies.

And the way-forward was suggested in form of recommendation as thus; Improvement of infrastructures, web technological skills, access to resources and availability of fund was emphasized.