W eek 2: (2) About Virtual Library....

Virtual libraries are the library exist only virtually which us does not exist "in real life." A virtual library can consist of material from a variety of separate libraries that are organized in a virtual space using computers and computer networks. One of the best examples of a virtual library is the Networked Computer Science Technical Reports Library (NCSTRL) 

Now….

There are some issues about this virtual library. The first issue is about the quality of the scope or the content of the materials. The content of the materials must be always up to date to meet the user need. The materials  which are available in virtual library maybe do not update for quite some times. The issue is who need to responsible to update the content  the vendor or other third party. There are not statistic to state the usage of the virtual library for the time being. Ease of use of the materials is another issue. The user may print the materials, reuse it and re-print it for business purpose. The library still not yet find the better solution to solve this copy right issue of the materials. The another issue is the cost to retrieve the materials through the virtual library. Users may be need to pay for viewing the materials even the materials are not the he need it. 

Future…

In future the library Law maybe exist to ensure the virtual library able to continue to provide the service to the user. We need virtual library cause it able to provide paperless service compare the library . We also can’t deny its advantages as following

• It saves and/or reduces the physical space taken up by library materials.
• It often adds enhanced searching capabilities in a digital format.
• The library materials are available at the user's desktop, regardless of where the user is physically located.
• It allows for the inclusion of materials only available on the Internet or in digital format.
• It provides the user with the capability to download and manipulate text.
• It often allows for multiple, concurrent users.
• It eliminates the problem of a book being missing or off the shelf.
• It is less labor intensive.

  Reference: 

       http://www.llrx.com/features/virtuallibrary.htm
       http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/mydefinitions.html