Digital Library Initiatives in India

Digital libraries play an important and indispensable role in educational and research development of higher educational institutions such as colleges, universities, and institutes of an academic and research nature. The aim of the digital library is to provide instant access to digitized information and consists of a variety of information sources, paper to paperless including multimedia. Digitization implies conversion of documents in text, sound, graphical, or pictorial form into the language of digits (zero and one). Once the information sources are available in digital form, they can then be accessed, distributed, and transmitted easily in almost no time with no cost to the end-users over the global information network. It not only facilitates the library functions but also saves the time, strength, and energy of the users. A databank of digital cultural heritage from libraries, archives, and museums has been established with online service for national and worldwide users. The chapter highlights some features of digital libraries and the Indian Scenario of Digital Libraries.