The Parija Library at Utkal University. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 26: The Parija Library at Utkal University is all set to go digital.

This will help readers to access the library on the net. “The digitalisation is being done with UGC funds and will help scholars and students gain access to books and journals in the library,” said post graduate council chairman S. Moharana.

“It will also ensure networking of various libraries where users can gain access to a large number of books,” he said.

Established in 1946, the Parija Library at present holds over 2.37 lakh books. It also has 236 journals, both Indian and foreign, have been subscribed to since 2000.

Borrowers of books include teachers, students, Employees and Research Scholar. A technical committee had been formed to take a final call on which books to be digtalised.

The digital library, when ready, can be accessed at the Utkal University.

The title page will contain a list of journals and recently added books in the library. Users can also gain access to various ejournals that the university subscribes.

Registered users can access ebooks as well as the edatabase. “This is something really exciting. There are various advantages of setting up a digital repository in our university.

Institutions around the world will gain from a more efficient system of communication,” said Prasanna, a student.

“Traditional libraries are limited due to lack of storage space, whereas digital libraries have the potential to store much more information. As such, the cost of maintaining a digital library is much lower than that of a traditional library. A traditional library must spend large sums of money paying for staff, book maintenance and rent.

“Digital libraries may reduce or do away with these costs,” said Bidyut Joshi, another student.

“One can also access the syllabus of undergraduate and postgraduate courses of the university, examination question papers, etheses and dissertations, earticles and students projects etc.

“One can also link up to various sites for useful references,” he added.