College Libraries

Enhancing Digital Access

Prafulla Kumari, Shilpa Rani N. R — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study assesses the accessibility, quality, and infrastructure challenges associated with accessing
Online Information Resources (OIRs) at agricultural university libraries in Karnataka. A
standardized questionnaire was used to collect data from 150 research scientists and librarians at
six Agricultural University Libraries in Karnataka. The findings show that all the libraries use
library management systems, and UAS Raichur and UAS Bangalore are the leading database
providers. Some of the most common issues include a lack of funding, expensive membership
fees, and insufficient user training in some institutions. Scholars are well-versed in OIR, with 88%
aware of the items they have subscribed to. The study concludes that while the infrastructure is
generally adequate, there are gaps in access to resources and funding that must be addressed by
targeted investment, resource-sharing programs, ICT skill development programs, and the
establishment of institutional repositories

Social Status and Image of the Library and Information Science Professionals

Amrita Devi, P K Barooah — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper aims to investigate the societal perception and global scenario of the social status and
international standing of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals. To achieve this, a
systematic literature review was conducted using five major databases: Google Scholar, Web of
Science, JSTOR, Taylor & Francis, and ResearchGate, covering a range of publications from
1990 to 2024. Out of 16,353 retrieved records, 29 studies were selected after applying inclusion
and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis was conducted to categorise findings based on perceptions
of the general public, students, teachers, media portrayals, and librarians themselves. The results
reveal that about 31.03% recognise LIS Professionals positively, but a significant proportion
(68.97%) pointed out the prevailing stereotypes and undervaluation of LIS professionals. It is also
found that students generally view librarianship as a low-priority career, often ranking it below
other professions in terms of prestige and desirability. Media representations frequently emphasised
outdated stereotypes. Moreover, self-perceptions among librarians also reflect a mix of pride and
insecurity. A gradual shift toward positive acknowledgement in specific contexts was visible. This
paper provides a consolidated understanding of how LIS professionals are perceived worldwide,
highlights the novelty of synthesising evidence across multiple user groups (general public, students,
faculty, media, and librarians themselves), identifies research gaps, and suggests practical strategies
for improving professional status and societal recognition.

Journey towards Dynamic Web OPAC from Static OPAC

Chinmay Mukhopadhyay, Sougata Chattopadhyay — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

From the nineteenth century British Museum Catalogue to today's Resource Description and Access
(RDA), every single step has been pushing forward the frontiers of manifestation of the ever
increasing universe of knowledge. This endeavour of manifestation for a knowledge base is now
fueled by the advancement of Information and Communication Technology. This present paper
aims to explore the various applications of Web 2.0 enabled tools, such as integration aspects of
social media, RSS feed, etc. in Web OPAC (integration process of which make the Web OPAC
dynamic in nature) using Koha ILMS with special emphasis on St. Xavier's College Central Library.
The methodology adopted includes a study in the form of a survey among the users of the previously
mentioned college library to evaluate the extent of use of the various aspects of the dynamic Web
OPAC service and to measure the satisfaction level. Findings suggest that the users are greatly
satisfied with the various aspects of the dynamic Web OPAC service. In LIS setup specifically in
higher education institutions, the online public access catalogue (OPAC) plays a magnificent role
in displaying the resources of its knowledge base to satisfy the needs of the valued patrons.

Mapping a Decade of Biodiversity Research in India

S Anbukkarasi, K Sivasekaran — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes the scientometric parameters on the trends and patterns of biodiversity research
in India, 2015-2024. Data was extracted from the Web of Science database 2015-2024. A total of
7319 publications were found, and there was a sustained upward trend in research output, with the
highest output in 2023 (1080). India is estimated to be fourth (4.46%) in the world for total
biodiversity research behind China, the United States, and Brazil. Nearly all publications were in
English (99. 5%) diagnostic publication type was a research article (87.6%). The primary institutes
were the University of Calcutta, Banaras Hindu University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The three primary authors based on productivity included Singh R.P, Kumar A., and Singh S.
There is a growing profile of biodiversity research in India, output is increasing across time, there
are multiple institutes contributing to the research agenda, and there is collaboration with Indian
and international researchers. These insights may be useful in the development for new research in
biodiversity science, research priorities, research funding, and increased synergy and collaboration
between institutions

Research Performance of Digboi College

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the research performance of Digboi College, affiliated
with Dibrugarh University, Assam. It aims to analyze the annual scientific production and citation
impact, prolific sources and authors, globally cited publications, and most frequently occurring
keywords. The study adopts a bibliometric approach, based on data retrieved from the Scopus
database from 2010 to 2024. The raw data was retrieved on July 23, 2025, using a validated
search query. The study has utilized different software, including the Biblioshiny web interface,
VOSviewer, and MS Office 2013. A total of 51 documents, including articles, book chapters, and
conference papers, have been retrieved. The findings showed that the journal 'Library Philosophy
and Practice' emerges as the most productive source. According to the authors' analysis, Khound
NJ and Mahanta A have emerged as the most prolific authors, while Bharadwaj S (2021), 'Forum
Scientiae Oeconomia', is the highest globally cited paper. The study represents the first systematic
bibliometric assessment of Digboi College's research output and performance. It provides valuable
insights into the college's research strengths, evolving scholarly trends, and potential areas for
improvement. The findings provide a significant impact on students, teachers, researchers, and
decision-makers, enriching academia and benefiting society at large through its advancements in
various fields.

Research Publications of Artificial Intelligence in India

Suchintra Barman — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The present study aims to analyze the publications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India from
2014 to 2023. It aims to explore publication trends, authorship patterns, gender-based contributions,
and open-access publishing practices, while also mapping collaborative networks and influential
entities in AI research. The study seeks to identify India's position in the global AI research landscape
and highlight areas for strategic improvement and collaboration. The data comprising 4,910
publications was sourced from the OpenAlex database and analysed by VOSviewer advanced
tools for bibliometric mapping, and used the Open Refine was used for data wrangling. The analysis
reveals that Indian authors significantly contribute to AI research, with open- access publications
categorized as Bronze (979), Gold (3,084), Green (143) and Hybrid (674). The gold open-access
publications category (3084) is the most accessible publication in open- access. Co-authorship
and citation networks illustrate strong collaborations among authors, institutions and countries,
with Vellore Institute of Technology emerging as the top-performing organization. Bibliographic
analysis reveals influential authors, organizations and countries, emphasizing collaboration's
importance in advancing AI research. This study provides valuable insights into AI research trends
in India, serving as a foundation for strategic planning and fostering interdisciplinary partnerships.
By helping this study, future studies should focus on expanding collaborations and exploring the
emerging domains of AI research field

Exploring User Perceptions in Academic Libraries

Femy Francis, Chinnasamy K — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This review study examines the user perceptions of the academic libraries that users have concerning
what services they value, the problems they face, and their expectations in the fast-digitalising
world from 2015 to 2024. Following a relevance check, all studies that were related to user
satisfaction, service quality, technology adoption, and the impact of both physical and virtual
spaces were selected. The analysis was conducted thematically so as to find common patterns and
changing views. Findings indicate that users are allowed to have a blend of both digital and
traditional resources, with reliable access to e-resources, use of friendly platforms, and supportive
staff. Mobile application usage, emerging digital literacy initiatives, inclusive practices, and
innovations in technology, including AI-powered solutions and personalisation, are also among
the key trends. There have been challenges in the fields of bridging digital divides, enhancing
usability, and harmonizing physical and virtual library experiences. This review helps provide a
synthesized opinion on how perceptions are changing among users of academic libraries. It puts
emphasis on user-centred, technology-supported, and inclusive methods, which are best practices
to gain insight into librarians, researchers, and policymakers to enhance the pertinence of libraries
to academic societies.

A Content Analysis of Library Websites of Central Universities in North East India

Sangita Sarkar, Hinanish Roy — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The present study explores the content available on the library websites of nine central universities
located in North-East India, with the aim of assessing their informational scope and digital services.
A web-based survey was conducted using Google search from January to April 2025. To ensure a
comprehensive evaluation, a well-structured checklist was designed based on established parameters
from previous scholarly assessments of academic library websites. These parameters include 54
criteria under four different categories, such as availability of general information, library resources
and services, user access features and overall performance of the library websites. The findings
revealed that Tezpur University (TZU) emerges as the top-ranking institution with a total score of
44 out of 54, excelling in both resources and services while maintaining a strong digital presence.
Assam University (AU) follows closely with a score of 43. Tripura University (TU) scored 40,
Manipur University (MU) 39, while both Mizoram University (MZU) and Sikkim University
(SU) scored 38. In contrast, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) scored 29, Nagaland University
(NU) 28, and Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) ranked lowest with a score of 24.

The effectiveness of the Wayback Machine in Reviving Vanished Web Citations

Gurusiddesh Mugannavara, B. T. Sampath Kumar — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the availability, decay, and recovery of web citations in College & Research
Libraries (C & R L) journal articles from 2015-2024. A total of 21,384 citations from 497 research
articles were analyzed, of which 9,287 were web citations. Web citation usage increased significantly
over time, rising from 21.49% in 2015 to 66.01% in 2023 (r = 0.931, p = .000). Concurrently, the
proportion of vanished web citations declined (r = 0.901, p = .000), indicating improved link
persistence. HTTP 403 errors formed 56.57% of the observed HTTP errors among vanished web
citations. The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine successfully recovered 95.30% of these vanished
web citations, highlighting its effectiveness as a tool to retrieve lost web citations. This study
emphasizes the growing reliance on web sources in academic work and underscores the critical
role of digital preservation tools in maintaining access to scholarly materials over time.

Scientific Literature Mapping on Knowledge Graph with ResearchRabbit

Partha Sarathi Mandal, Sukumar Mandal — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

ResearchRabbit is a literature discovery and visualization tool powered by artificial intelligence.
This tool changes conventional practices. This paper demonstrates how this tool is transforming
the field of scientific literature mapping. This study demonstrates that this tool can be utilized to
create knowledge networks that connect authors, publications, and research topics in library and
information science (LIS). A descriptive and analytical approach is employed to analyze the
platform, its working process, and the feasibility of structuring unstructured information to generate
knowledge graphs. The findings have revealed that the literature search exercise can be reduced
through this approach. The researchers' perception, both regarding citation patterns and co-author
networks, as well as the trend of emerging themes, will also require improvement. It transforms
disorganized bibliographic data into practical knowledge, enabling this tool to help bridge the gap
between traditional literature review methods and the representation of semantic knowledge. This
paper demonstrates that ResearchRabbit is a new and helpful academic research tool, suggesting
an additional application of visual and AI-connected systems in the academic communication and
discovery creation process.