CHAPTER SEVEN
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF E-RESOURCES
Introduction
In tracing the origin of e-resources Aina (2008) indicates that the Vannerar Bush may have created the groundwork for electronic resources in 1945 when he envisioned an automated system that would store data such as books, personal records, and articles. Additionally, Douglas Englebert proposed in 1950 that symbol handling activities may be automated by computers, enabling individuals to think more quickly and effectively about complicated issues. Similarly, Hawthorne (2008) indicated that the fundamental principles of library science guided libraries’ pursuit of electronic resources. It is possible to see the inspiration behind libraries’ decision to include electronic resources in their services and collections in Ranganathan’s five rules of library science. The laws are as follows: resources are for use, every person has his or her own resource, every resource has a user, save the user’s time, and the library will be liken to a living creature that grows (Ranganathan’s 1963). Hartley (2003) also observed that in the 1960s, experimental computer systems were created for the storage and retrieval of bibliographic data, and this is where electronic information resources got their start.
Some significant bibliographic databases were accessible on magnetic cassettes by the decade’s end. The availability of machine-readable data during the 1970s and 1980s led to the development of interactive computers and computer networks, which allowed the online information economy to take off.
Academic libraries started switching from card catalogues to online public access catalogues in the 1980s (OPAC). This made it possible for users to look up information in databases. OPACs and CD-ROMs both started to be used as information delivery methods about the same time. OPACs and CD-ROMs both made it possible to search electronic information sources. Okori (2005) reports that in Nigeria significant development and achievements on the use of automated systems have been recorded in academic and research libraries. Attempts by in the early 1970s and 1980s, Nigerian libraries attempted to automate their operations, were unsuccessful. Only certain externally owned or financed libraries like the library of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Library of the British Council, Ibadan, Library of the United States Information Services (USIS) as well as a few others recorded some success stories. Idowu and Mabawonkwu (1999:29).
However, in a study to determine the state of digital libraries today in African universities, Rosenberg (2005) established that libraries in the African continent only started offering access to CD-ROMs in the 1990s. Given the opportunity presented by the World Bank project in the 1994–95 Bozimo (2006) observed that the National University Commission (NUC) assisted in the automation activities in the Nigerian University libraries. This earlier attempt of automating the libraries failed due to lack of trained manpower and poor funding, In2004 some university libraries adopted the use of Alice for Windows. Currently, plans are on for some of these libraries to shift to a more sophisticated software called the VTLS (Bozimo 2006:6).
The term “e-resources” refers to both free internet resources and electronic materials that libraries have purchased or licensed from businesses, charities, trade associations, or other outside institutions.
Information is readily available because to electronic resources. High compact storage, ease of manufacturing, multiplication, manipulation of materials from one media to another, ease of transmission, communication, and storage are characteristics of electronic media in the twenty-first century. E-resources are designed to provide a complement to print collections. It aims to provide the user with information more quickly, accurately, and effectively (P.Venkata Ramana, 2000). The following features are included in the range of e- resources:
Localization is lacking in electronic resources.
The user can utilize them from anyplace and is not required to know where they are.
Is situated geographically. There are numerous users who can utilize it simultaneously.
The user file makes it simple to copy and download them.
It brings the user and the librarian closer together.
It develops a world-wide marketing environment.
They are more lightweight, extremely adaptable, simple to edit, rearrange, reformat, and
Combine with other papers (Prabha Chandra, 2007).
Benefits of Electronic Resources
Electronic resources have several benefits for users, authors, editors, publishers, and archivists in addition to libraries. An electronic resource has numerous benefits, including:
They save a lot of time by enabling quick access without the need for processing, allowing interactive functionality, and enabling communication between the author, publisher, and user.
Make it simple to duplicate content into new media, conserve library storage space, link to more resources, provide remote access from anywhere at any time, allow multiple users to view the same content at once, and are environmentally friendly.
Provide powerful search and retrieval capabilities while facilitating simple search options.
Enables remote access to information from locations other than a single physical library, compiles numerous volumes and years into a single searchable file, includes sound and video, and lowers theft and mutilation.
Modifies and extracts the text, pictures, and formulas from the content.
Multiple users can use it simultaneously, and information can be easily exported to a personal database.
They conserve staff time and library space by spending less on binding, storing, and stack up keep.
Other authors identified the following advantages of using electronic resources:
Accessible & searchable: E-resources are accessible both on and off campus 24 hours daily x 7 as well as readily searched using cutting-edge search techniques that is fast, easy as well as pinpointed. E-resources can also be fully searched via online indexes.
Interactive: Readers can read, comment on, and quickly edit articles that are available in electronic resources. They can also provide feedback online.
Hypertext format offers links to pertinent articles and significant websites, as well as consistent URLs for specific articles. Users and readers are notified via email and other means of the most recent edition loaded or published.
In terms of printing and distribution expenses, electronic resources are less expensive than printed ones. The expenditures of staff and facilities for material shelving and storage, both in existing stack areas and in storage facilities, are reduced by using an electronic format.
Flexibilities: Online journals quickly advanced. They have not become weary of a format, printer, or distribution system (Patra, 2014).
Uncomfortable screen reading or low graphic quality.
Computer and internet abilities are necessary in order to access online resources.
The availability of internet speed affects how quickly information is downloaded.
Perishable citation: if website changes after being online URLs citation disappears.
Authenticity: Authors who are concerned with demonstrating the source and overall authority of their work will persuade readers of their reliability.
While searching the electronic resources, the search result represents with vast amount information and gets confused the users which to be used which are not.
Choosing when to stop looking for the necessary information and begin writing is difficult. It provides a lot of time for procrastination. It keeps looking and looking for stuff, without getting to the writing.
There is the potential for the quality of work to go down because you need to be able to sort through what is legitimate and what is not (Patra, 2014).
Classification of E-Resources for Social Studies
The classifications of Electronic Information Resources are discussed below:
E-Databases
Data is merely information, and a database is simply a collection of data. It is a structured collection of data that includes tables, queries, reports, views, and other objects like schemas. E-databases are among the renowned electronic information resources frequently used in the academic circle and elsewhere for accessing firsthand and current data within a particular field of interest. According to Mary and Jeff (2006) An electronic database (e-database) is a sizable, frequently updated file of digitized data (bibliographic records, full-text documents, directory entries, images, statistics, etc.), sometimes pertaining to a particular subject or field, composed of records in a standard format organized for speedy search and retrieval and maintained by database management system (DBMS) software that has an internal mechanism (search interface) for searching based on proprietary metadata.
Similarly, Misra (2013) asserts that it is a well-organized collection of data on a single topic or a number of related fields. In the same vein, Jauro (2015:15) states that:
Usually in computer readable form, a database is an ordered collection of information or data. Usually, online or offline search services make them accessible for use. The computers and software used by these search services enable a retrospective search of one or more databases to find data or references in response to a particular query.
Also, Patra (2014) sees database as a set of organized data for some purposes which are available in digital format. In addition, According to Moghaddam (2009), a database is a group of organized data that is used for storage and access. These consist of print-based resources like libraries and dictionaries. The database provides searching facilities to the users by titles, authors, key words as well as courses with operators of Boolean. The database consists Includes items including dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, abstracts, and indexes, as well as other reference materials.
An electronic database’s information can be searched for and retrieved. Its coverage comprises contents of newspaper and journal articles, conference proceedings as well as book reviews, etc. These are typically updated every day, every week, every month, or every three months (Misra 2013). The publisher may develop the content themselves or compile it from content released by other organizations. Online databases are frequently accessed over the Internet (Mary and Jeff, 2006). The main characteristics of databases are the types of data they contain, such as words, numbers, or the topics on which they are focused. The primary data in word-oriented databases is words or texts, while the primary data in numbers-oriented databases, also known as databanks, is numbers, symbols, series, graphs, and tables (Jauro, 2015).
E-databases can be divided into two categories: full-text databases and bibliographic databases. Full-text databases include all of an article’s content, including the text, images, tables, and citation information. According to Johnson, Evensen, Gelgand, Lammers, Sipe and Zilper (2012), A full-text database is a collection of data on a computer or server that offers the full text of a document rather than just a citation, generally in PDF or HTML. Around 1990, when computer storage technology made them affordable and practical, full-text databases started to become widely used. Examples of full-text databases include ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, which offers a variety of management, library, and information management journals, and Health Inter Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI), which comprises health disciplines. Ebscohost is a multidisciplinary database that offers access to several databases, comprising communication, disciplines of mass media. Philosophies and religion, as well as other professions, including Access to full-text glossaries, laws, and legal service procedures are available through LexisNexis.
Bibliographic records are kept in a database. It is a well-organized compilation of citations to published digital literature, such as conference proceedings, journal and newspaper articles, government and legal publications, reports, books, journals, patents, standards, and more. A huge percentage of the bibliography records in bibliographic databases describes articles, papers from conference, etc. instead of complete monographs. These have detailed subject descriptions that include phone numbers, keywords, and subject terms (Feather and Sturges, 2003). Bibliographic databases according to Patra (2014) contain simply the citation data for an article, such as the author’s name, the title of the journal, the date of publication, and the page numbers. Under the direction of Roger K. Summit of Lockheed, the first Dialog database program was developed in 1966. (Dialog invented online, 1966). Computer-based bibliographic databases transformed bibliographic research in the 1970s. In the year 1972, Tymnet form a network of commercial telecommunications, and then the providers of database began to provide services across a network (Bjorner and Ardito, 2003). During the 1980’s, the use of library e- resources started to significantly rise (Patra, 2014).
Other types of databases include Online and CD-ROM Databases, Web-Based Databases as well as DVD-ROM Databases. CDROM stands for ‘Compact Disc- Read-Only Memory’. This kind of optical disk has the capacity to hold up to 1GB worth of data. The standard storage size is 650 MB. Databases stored on CD-ROM are referred to as CD-ROM databases, and users can do searches using a variety of search options. The first commercial CD-ROM product made specifically for libraries was created by Biblio File, a division of Library Corporation (Patra, 2014). According to Jauro (2015), a CD-ROM may fit up to 250,000 A4 typewritten pages (550–600 megabytes) on a disc that is just 4.7 inches in size (11.98cm). This amount of storage is equivalent to the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. The record is made of Plexiglas and metal in the shape of a sandwich. It is very hard to harm it with blows, scratches, fingerprints, harsh weather, or dust, which is a particular issue in Africa.
When the disc is created, the data are stored there indefinitely. The record is unaffected by electromagnetic waves or magnetic fields. Once the information has been burned in, the user cannot change it. If the power goes out, no data is lost. On a CD-ROM, text, numbers, graphs, and digital images can all be recorded. One of the most useful parts of information technology for developing countries may turn out to be CD-ROM. It is independent of high-cost infrastructure like communication networks or complex computer systems (Jauro, 2015). Afolabi (2007) makes the related point that CD-ROM databases give consumers access to pertinent databases even when there is weak internet connectivity. Because information may be accessed offline without incurring telecommunication costs, they are consequently more cost-effective than online databases. Due to its numerous benefits in information storage and retrieval, CD-ROM databases are becoming more and more popular every day in practically all sectors (including social studies). The majority of book and journal publishers, online retailers, and other learned societies are releasing new volumes in CD format with robust, user-friendly retrieval software. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, yearbooks, back volumes, patents, standards, and many more reference works are among the electronic information resources available on CDs. Information specialists now have many chances to offer end users new information offerings thanks to CD-ROM technology.
Software is used to enable retrospective searches from a remote computer terminal on the online database, which is a collection of bibliographic data kept in a computer or a central computer. Online search methods can be used to find content by author, publication title, subject, or keyword. Any of these techniques will show the relevant data that the user can select. The US National Library of Medicine was one of the first institutions to use an online information database, as noted by Alan (1984) in Jauro (2015). This was followed by a number of organizations that created databases and online facilities in the middle of the 1960s and afterwards. Examples include the Lockheed and SDC (System Development Corporation) BRS (Bibliographic Retrieval Service) BLAISE (British Library Automated Information Services) Info line and ESA (European Space Agency). Online databases were frequently used in the 1980s. Online bibliographic databases start to incorporate full text articles in the middle of the decade. These databases then started to be more helpful. During this time, TELNET and other for-profit networks were used for online searches. Internet wasn’t being used at the time for internet searches (Hawthorne, 2008).
Online-based databases (WBDBs) are lists of web pages that are organized (Nicholson, 2002). WBDBs, according to Doe (2004), are regularly used collections of ordered information. Online-based databases can be used for four main objectives, including “posting data on the web, sharing data on the web, e-commerce, and entirely database-driven websites,” according to Wyllys (2003).
With high data storage capacity of 17 GB, the DVD (Digital Video Disc) or (Digital Versatile Disc) made it feasible to incorporate Multimedia components like audio and video as well as several reference materials on a single disc. “The additional advantages, such as better audio and video quality, faster data transfer, data security, etc., make DVD a more attractive alternative to CD- ROM. The development of DVD technology is now being slowed down by issues like the absence of industry standards among DVD and drive makers, the necessity for additional PC hardware, and the greater cost of such hardware. The Complete National Geographic on DVD-ROM, Webster’s International DVD Encyclopedia, Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Eyewitness World Atlas DVD- ROM Deluxe Edition, and Britannica DVD are a few examples of DVD reference materials (Misra, 2013). Databases are becoming multi-media as multi-media capabilities spread among computers of all sizes. Data types like business graphs, spreadsheets, art clips (clip arts), images, sound, and video, among others, can be stored in and retrieved from modern DBMS.
Education in the social sciences is multidisciplinary and is thought of as an eclectic distillation of information from several linked fields. As a result, these databases are priceless resources for social studies teachers to access and incorporate because they offer current and expert knowledge. Teachers of social studies in colleges of education who are very familiar with these databases can use them to easily design, organize, and deliver the curriculum’s contents. This is consistent with the emerging trend in 21st-century teaching and learning, this demands an adjustment in the manner teaching is given, moving away from simple, ICT-based approaches and toward more sophisticated, advanced ways that are in line with global best practices.
E- Journals
A journal is a publication in any format that is distributed in numbered or numbered-chronological order and is indented to be continued continuously. Academic journals or scholarly publications accessible via electronic transmission are known as electronic journals, likewise known as electronic serials and e-journals. Other names for e-journals include “online journals,” “electronic periodicals,” “electronic serials,” and “electronic publishing.” This actually means that they are frequently posted online. They are a specific type of electronic document that provide resources for academic study and research and have a format that is similar to that of journal articles in conventional printed journals (Misra, 2013). “Any publication that is available over the Internet can be labeled an electronic journal,” according to the Glasgow University Library.
A similar definition of an e-journal is provided by Jauro (2015), who defines it as “a journal’s digital edition, or an electronic publication similar to a journal without a print counterpart, made accessible through the Internet, email, or some other electronic means.” Similar to that spirit, Rietz (2004) describes an electronic journal as a Web site that offers access to an online journal that doesn’t have a print equivalent or that graphically mimics an already-existing print journal (such as Library Journal). A full text electronic journal is often referred to as an online journal, e-journal, or electronic serial. Electronic transmission is used to access electronic journals, which are often published online (Patra, 2014). A journal is considered to exist if its material is generated and saved electronically or if it can be scanned and searched for online (Alahakoon and Jayasundar, 2015). Due to their existence in electronic form papers occasionally contain metadata that may be placed into dedicated, professional databases like DOAJ or OACI in addition to the search tools and databases specific to the academic field. A completely online electronic journal is a possibility, online versions of printed journals, or online versions of printed journals with additional online-only content (sometimes video and interactive media).
E-journals first started in the 1970s but only really took off in the 1990s. You can access electronic journals online that are available on floppy disks, CD- ROMs, DVDs, or the whole material. The majority of people access e-journals using the web rather than Telnet, Gopher, FTP, email, or discussion lists (Majumder and Roy, 2007). Online publications of electronic journals often come in two forms., such as open source and commercial. Commercial journals are those that customers must pay to access, whereas open-source journals are available to everyone for free. Nowadays, the majority of electronic journals are digitally born, that is, only available online, but some are online versions of print journals. The most common format for electronic journals is PDF, while some are also published in HTML. Doc., picture, and MP3 audio may also be among the additional formats. The publisher’s website or aggregator databases like EBSCOHOST, PROQUEST, Lexis-Nexis, JSTOR, Project Mouse, Science Direct, Emerald, etc. are places where E-journals can be accessed (Patra, 2014).
In the age of computers, e-journals can help social studies teachers gain access to up-to-date knowledge, literature, and research findings without being constrained by distance or physical accessibility. Some of these online publications are open access (available for no cost), while others are restricted access (subscription-based) and available only to organizations or to private individuals. Regardless of where they are published, e-publications can be conveniently accessed by Social Studies professors at the convenience of their workplaces and are less expensive than printed journals. They are priceless resources that Social Studies teachers can use to guarantee efficient curriculum delivery.
E-Books
A book-length digital publication known as an electronic book (or e-book) is one that was created on, published through, and available for reading on computers and modern electronic devices. It could have text, pictures, or perhaps both. E-books, which sometimes are the digital equal of print books, can also be created from scratch. Although it is a digital replica of a printed book, e-books may also exist independently of their physical counterparts. Ebooks are built to replicate the fundamental elements of printed books in an electronic version. Dinkelman and Stacy-Bates (2007) likewise defined e-books as any electronic text that is made available digitally (or optically) for any device (portable device or desk-bound) that includes a display, irrespective of the size or design (a digital object), excluding journal articles. An E-Book can
be a singular book or a serial collection of books in electronic format which can be viewed on different display interface, gadgets, and Computers (Jauro, 2015). According to Johnson et al. (2012) e-books are also defined as books available in an electronic version for use or reading using a computer, an electronic device such an e-book reader, or an internet browser. An E-book is defined as a book created or typed on a computer, or one that has been transformed from print to digital (machine-readable) format through scanning or another technique, for display on a computer screen. E-books are typically available to read on tablets with e-book readers or on specialized e-readers software. They can also be read on personal computers, a lot of mobile phones, and almost all smart phones. According to Falk (2003), e-books are rapidly becoming more and more popular in developing country institutions, colleges, and schools. In tertiary institutions, e-books have grown to constitute a significant component of the learning environment. The number of academic libraries that support digital collections rises along with their importance.
E-book reading using an internet browser seems to follow the same patterns as other forms of online distribution. The user can read the material online with the web interface as well as opportunities for cross-text searches, using dictionaries, and other options (Sejane, 2017). According to (Ashcroft and Watt, 2004; Mini-Obradovi, 2011; Sejane 2017), there are a few benefits to utilizing e-books such as;
Anytime, everywhere access. Students and academics can check anything out at their convenience without having to visit the library. Academic
personnel desire to have access to collections at times that are convenient for them because they are frequently out of the office or traveling abroad (Sejane 2017);
Full-text queries. Full-text searches, extra search options, and more complete information retrieval are all included in e-books. (Sejane 2017); and
Enhanced text. The capability of altering font sizes and types is one of the useful features of electronic writing. Non-permanent highlighting and annotation are possible with e-books (Mmcic-Obradovic, 2011: 19–21).
Additional possible benefits of e-books include accessibility, quick publication, space savings, and cost savings (Ashcroft and Watt, 2004).
Teachers of social studies should have a few reference books on hand, especially for preparation and presenting of lessons. Even if some printed texts might not be physically accessible, technology has made it possible to access electronic versions of books via the internet and other connected technologies, solving the issue of distance (closed or open access). Some books in print are no longer available; they can only be accessed on the internet. Nowadays, some writers of books choose to publish them in electronic form in order to greatly lessen the plague of piracy. Using electronic books has advantages, but there are also disadvantages. According to Sejane (2017), these include technical requirements because V Many readers still find it challenging to read on screens. These may prevent social studies teachers from using these books effectively to complement and enrich the delivery of the curriculum.
E-Magazines
A web-based magazine known as a “e-magazine” is one that is published online. Some webzines refer to themselves as online magazines. A more specialized word, “ezine,” usually written “e-zine,” is applicable for tiny periodicals and newsletters transmitted over any electronic channel, such as electronic mail (Misra, 2013). The names “cyberzine” and “hyperzine,” which refer to materials that are delivered electronically, may be used by some social groups. To reflect the demographics of their readership or to take advantage of other terminology and spellings in internet searches, the terms “electronic magazines” or “e-magazines” may also be used to describe some online publications. Online magazines and blogs both share some elements, as do online newspapers, but they may typically be distinguished by how they handle editorial control.
The editors or editorial boards of magazines often analyze submissions and carry out quality controls to make sure that contents satisfy the standards publishers (people that invest their time or resources in its production) and readers. For a price, several sizable publishers offer online services that offer digital copies of their print magazine titles. Online magazines and occasionally digital magazines are other terms used by service providers to characterize their collections of various digital format items. In order to effectively plan, organize, and present the curriculum’s contents for students’ overall development, Social Studies will examine electronic magazines that have bearing on socio-economic, political, educational, cultural, religious, science and technology, environmental, health, and other aspects related to man’s social and physical environment. As previously mentioned, Social Studies is an eclectic distillation of knowledge.
E- Newspapers
A journal called Electronic News focuses on the semiconductor manufacturing equipment market. It used to be a weekly trade publication that covered every facet of the electronics sector, from semiconductors to computers, software, communications, satellites, and even television electronics. Today, a sizable number of newspapers are accessible online.
E-Reference Sources
It is a digital version of books like dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographies, and other reference works.
Research Guides by Subject
Subject guides are online tools created by University of Chicago librarians that offer a summary of the resources available in a particular field. They contain information on the staff, print resources, electronic resources, and links to other pertinent websites. When you are starting your research on a certain topic, subject guides are a fantastic place to start.
Indexes
An index is a source of reference that offers bibliographic data about various kinds of items as well as journal articles. While there have been printed indexes for very long time, online indexes have broadened the scope of inquiry. More possibilities than just searching for content by author, subject, or title.
You can search beyond author, subject, or title using indexes online. They enable you to do keyword or phrase searches over the entire bibliographic record, including the abstract. Since indexes are typically used to look for articles in journals, they are occasionally referred to as “Article Databases.” The complete text of several articles is also available online. It’s crucial to understand that many indexes also include other types of research content, including conference papers, book chapters, dissertations, research studies, etc.
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation
It is the electronic/digital version of a document that details the intellectual pursuits, whether artistic or scholarly, that scholars engaged in within a certain era and field. An Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) is expressed such that is both compatible with its paper predecessor and machine archives and global retrieval. It gives word processors a technologically advanced medium for expressing thoughts that is less expensive, takes up less space, is simple to use, and never gets old. They may, at the user’s discretion, be accessible to everyone who can use the World Wide Web.
ETD databases are available for the academic and scientific communities.
E.g. Shodganga of INFLIBNET
E-theses, another new format, also uses open archive software. Expectations for access to the content of dissertations and theses have grown as scholars have grown accustomed to having simple access to the results of their study in e-journals. There has been a deliberate attempt to facilitate the online provision of theses in a bid to allow more access and use of the vast wealth of the intellectual work done in universities that have mostly stayed “invisible.” A sizable number of universities around the world have created a variety of open- source software tools to help with this process and made their dissertations and theses readily available for use in digital format. International initiatives like the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), an institution committed to encouraging advocating the use of electronic alternatives to traditional paper-based theses and dissertations, as well as the UNESCO criteria for their development, acceptance, usage, distribution, and preservation have had an impact on these developments (Armstrong & Lonsdale, 2011).
Library Catalogue
Today, the majority of libraries allow users to view their catalog online. A great number of people contribute data about their holdings to larger databases like World Cat or the RLG Union Catalogue. On its website, the Library includes links to several catalogues in the “Catalogue” section.
Statistical Sources
Libraries have access to several paid databases that offer statistics or economic data. These resources can be located via the library’s catalog, a library’s database finder, or by using any of its subject-specific research aids. Be aware that there are numerous statistical sources in print that are not accessible online.
Sound Recordings
There aren’t many library databases that offer access to audio files. Start your internet search for music resources at the Music Subject Guide.
Image Databases (Art, Maps, Medical, etc.)
Many databases also contain visuals and images, including pictures, paintings, and maps. To find these, utilize the Database Finder page. Additionally, there is a wealth of information about where to get photos in the Art Subject Guide.
Internet as an Electronic Information Resource
Information management has undergone a paradigm shift because to the Internet. The vast amount of information available online is growing quickly, and all sorts of libraries are realizing how crucial it is to provide their users with pertinent information. Web pages and Web-OPACs are used by all libraries to communicate their internal and external information resources, along with majority of reputable publishers, academic institutions, and commercial groups. The effective search engines on the internet are assisting with the location of information. Internet resources like email, bulletin boards, newsgroups, discussion lists, etc. are becoming more and more important in libraries and essential tools for patrons. More and more people are using the web as a user interface to access distant and often updated resources, which has caused a quick migration from offline to online as a result of the influence of the Internet.
Emerging Types of Social Studies E-resources
Below is a summary of the expanding e-resource categories that provide innovative information handling techniques and have enormous promise for libraries.
Blogs
Blogs are online journals that list their content and events in reverse chronological order. They have revolutionized web publishing, due to how easy it is to publish the contents. Readers can post feedback and issues on the blogs as well (Patra, 2014).
Wikis - Editable Websites
WIKIS have also existed for some time.; the Wikipedia project is probably its best-known application. They are probably going to have a big impact on libraries in the next ten years, along with blogs and RSS. Wikis are useful for producing and disseminating user-generated documentation or for online education; teams and work groups can use blogs and wikis to update each other on their progress (Patra, 2014).
RSS Feeds
Really-Simple-Syndication (RSS) or Rich Site Summary (RSS) is a “XML text- based data format providing a list of items, each generally including a title, summary, URL link, and date” (Musser, 2007). It can be used to notify users when the feed’s source has changed. Libraries can easily promote events and library news by using RSS feeds. We can link to other users and subscribe to services via RSS feeds. Use RSS to share news, events, or summaries of
information about a certain subject. Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Blogs, and Wikis can produce an RSS feed (Patra, 2014).
Shared Bookmarking - or ‘Social Classification’ or ‘Folksonomies’
Although they may be more useful to individual users by definition, it gives libraries a new tool. Users can keep their bookmarks online (Patra, 2014).
Review Questions
Attempt the following questions:
Trace the historical evolution of electronic information resources.
Describe how the social studies program is delivered using technological tools.
Describe the use of electronic resources in the delivery of social studies curriculum.
Provide any three (3) authoritative definitions of e-resources.
Identify any five categories/classification of e-resources