Gandhigram-624 302, Dindigul Dt. Tamil Nadu, India. ABSTRACT. Topology is
one of basic network feature for interconnecting the various computers in a ...
VOL. 3, NO. 2, February 2012
ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences ©2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved. http://www.cisjournal.org
Enhancing Network Architecture in Minority Institutions’ Library 1
S. Dhanavandan, 2 M. Tamizhchelvan 1
Assistant Librarian, 2 Deputy Librarian Gandhigram Rural Institute –Deemed University Gandhigram-624 302, Dindigul Dt. Tamil Nadu, India
ABSTRACT Topology is one of basic network feature for interconnecting the various computers in a network. In the library, Computer network has played vital role for retrieving information resources. It is aimed to analyses topology of networks from the minority and non minority institutions in Tamil Nadu. This study evaluates the Network and topology of network the engineering libraries in Tamil Nadu. A well structured questionnaire was distributed among library professionals in engineering colleges, to evaluate infrastructures and services. The present study demonstrates and elaborates the network infrastructures among engineering college libraries in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 200 questionnaires were distributed among the library professionals of the engineering Colleges libraries in Tamil Nadu. Nearly 140 responses were received. Keywords: Status of Minority, Network, topology of network
1. INTRODUCTION The network is the collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow for sharing of resources and information. Networking of computer is the centerpiece that link servers and end users. Network architecture with optical fiber, hardware and software requirements for the effective implementation of LAN in the library is explained in detail. All the library have computer system with the network today’s environment. The computer world is changing daily as companies appear and disappear, but new products are introduced. The networking world is very complex and evolving rapidly. The application of modern information communications technology adds to new services in the academic libraries. It enables academic library users are much aware of online journals, online database and other information services. Many libraries have their own network existing within their own locations i.e. Local Area Network. These networks can be expanded to enhance the access to the information resources. Information and communication technology are providing the library professional with new opportunities to improve their sources and services. The recent developments are made available to them precisely and currently to the academic libraries. This study conducted to find out the network interconnections computers among the academic libraries. The basic network topology types are categorized into bus topology, ring topology, star topology, tree topology and mesh topology. Academic library and information centers with the intensive use of electronic systems and networks have traditional libraries to become modern libraries which aim to facilitate access to information just in time to the critical want of the users. The impacts of ICT on library
activities change the types of services and resources available in libraries.
2. LITERATURE SURVEY Reijio (2002)1 stated that Network competence is seen as one of the information-related competence and is defined as the mastery of four areas: knowledge of information resources available on the internet, skilled use of the ICT tools to access information, Judgment of the relevance of information and communication. Manoj Kumar Sinha (2004)2 highlighted the various aspects of library automation and networking, multimedia application and use of CD-ROM databases, OPAC and Internet Services, Creation of in-house databases of books , serials, these, projects and experts, computer based library and information activities and services. Okon, Jacob and Nkoyo (2005)3 investigated to the extent of adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in university libraries in Nigeria. The major obstacles that influence effective adoption of ICT in university libraries are inadequate funds and the poor state of electricity in Nigeria. Suresh (et al )(2005)4 described the network establishment Gulberga University Library and their experiences to enhance the techno-based services to the users. Besides, network architecture with optical fiber, hardware and software requirements for the effective implementation of LAN in the library are explained in detail. He further explored steps taken to establish CDROM databases; Internet Lab in accessing electronic resources under UGC infonet, status of DBMS, library web page and institutional productivity. Devi and Meitei (2007)5 stated that without understanding of problems, issues, and concerns of information access through networks one would not be able to fulfill one’s own information needs in “electronic information literacy and
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ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences ©2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved. http://www.cisjournal.org
e-network learning : creating a wealth of new digital collections of north east India”.
Vasanth and Mudhol (2009) observed that networking technology of Internet it is possible to form any number of logical networks using the Net as the backbone. Library and information system networking in India have come into existence more than two decades ago. By utilizing the support of the regional and national level networking, libraries in India should corporately establish library consortia for offering and shared electronic resources. Many libraries like technical libraries have their own network existing within their own locations. These networks can be expanded to enhance the access to the information resources through collaborative partnerships. in the form consortia. Khalil and Khan (2009) stated that some of the Pakistan leading institutions have implemented well network architecture in their libraries. The study highlighted the institutions such as Aga Khan University (AKU), Medical Library Association of Pakistan (MELAP) and Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), etc. Fang Chen (2011) explained the implementation of two local area network (LAN) projects in his introductory data communications and networking course. The first project required students to develop a LAN from scratch for a small imaginary organization. The second project required student groups to analyze a LAN for a real world small organization. By allowing students to apply what they learn in class to real world situations, the projects bridge the gap between technical concepts and business applications.
3. OBJECTIVES 1. 2. 3. 4.
To find out the status of minority of SFEC in Tamil Nadu To know the networking facilities among the engineering college libraries in Tamil Nadu To analysis the types of networking facilities about independent or part of network To study the topology of networking facility among the sample libraries
5.
To find out the impact of networking facilities in engineering libraries
4. METHODOLOGY In order to measure, the impact of network architecture in the libraries of minority institutions in Tamil nadu has been collected. This study traces out the status of Network architecture and topology of library network, electronic access points, in the libraries of engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. . The Network and topology of network and their extent of availability are identified. The relevant data are collected from the librarians of the concerned institutions by employing mailed questionnaire method. The respondents have properly answered the queries posed by the researcher. After completion of answering, they returned the questionnaires to the researcher. To test the hypotheses, ANOVA two-way model are applied. The general data interpretation is done with the application of percentage analysis.
5. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS 5.1 Minority Status of Institutions The self financing engineering colleges are classified under three categories by the government of Tamil Nadu, Such as non-minority institutions, religious minority institutions and linguistic minority institutions. The non minority institutions denote the institutions which have non-minority status. The Religious minority indicates the institutions which were categorized as religious minority institutions by the Tamil Nadu state government and it includes Christian and Muslim minorities. The Linguistic Minority Institutions refers to the institutions which were categorized as linguistic minority by the Tamil Nadu state government based on the language such as Telugu, Malayalam, etc. 5.2 Year of Establishment of SFE Colleges based on the Minority Status The frequency of year of establishment in the Self financing Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu has on the minority status been presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Year of Establishment of SFE Colleges in Tamil Nadu–Status of Minority Status of Minority Non- Minority Religious Minority Linguistic Minority Total
1981-85
1986-90
9 (9.28) 4 (19.04)
4 (4.12)
1991-95
1996-2000
17 30 (17.50) (31.05) 3 10 (14.30) (47.62) 1 3 7 (4.54) (13.63) (31.80) 13 5 23 47 (9.29) (3.57) (16.43) (33.57) (Figures in parentheses denote percentage)
After 2001 37 (38.10) 4 (19.04) 11 (50.00) 52 (37.14)
Total 97 (100.00) 21 (100.00) 22 (100.00) 140
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Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences ©2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved. http://www.cisjournal.org
Table 1 shows the year of establishment of various self financing engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu with the status of minority. In total there are 97 non minority status, 21 religious minority and 22 linguistic minority status self financing engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. Among the 97 non minority status colleges, 38.10% of the institutions have been established after 2001. Out of the 21 religious minority institutions, 47.62% of the institutions were started during the year 1996-2000 and 4 institutions after the year 2001. Out of the 22 linguistic minority institutions 50% of the institutions have
been established after 2001. It is also evident from the discussion that more than 70% of the institutions were established after the year of 1996. 5.3 Networking facilities SFEC Libraries in Tamil Nadu The frequency of networking facilities in the Self financing Engineering Colleges libraries in Tamil Nadu based on the minority status been presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Networking facilities SFEC Libraries in Tamil Nadu Part of Network
%
Inde-pendent Network
%
Total
65
67.01
32
32.98
97
Religious Minority
11
52.38
10
47.62
21
Linguistic Minority
11
50.00
11
50.00
22
Total
87
62.14
53
37.86
140
Status of Minority Non-Minority
Table 2 presents data on the status wise nature of library network in engineering college libraries. It could be noted that half of the linguistic minority institutions have got part of network and also independent network. Majority of the religious minority institutions i.e 11 (52.38) out 21 libraries has part of network facilities. In the case of non minority institutions only 32 libraries out of 97 has the independent network infrastructures reaming the 65 institutions libraries has part of the network.
5.4 Type of Networking facilities SFEC Libraries in Tamil Nadu The type of networking facilities in the Self financing Engineering Colleges libraries in Tamil Nadu based on the minority status has been presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Type of Networking facilities SFEC Libraries in Tamil Nadu Extranet 12 (12.37)
LAN 47 (48.45)
WAN 26 (26.80)
Wireless 12 (12.37)
Religious Minority
3 (14.30)
7 (33.33)
7 (33.33)
4 (19.04)
21
Linguistic Minority
4 (18.18)
6 (27.27)
8 (36.37)
4 (18.18)
22
Total
19 (13.58)
60 (42.86)
41 (29.28)
20 (14.28)
140
Status of Minority Non-Minority
Total 97
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VOL. 3, NO. 2, February 2012
ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences ©2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved. http://www.cisjournal.org
Table 3 presents data on the status wise nature of library network in engineering college libraries. Out of 97, 47 libraries have the LAN facility in the engineering colleges. In the Religious minority institutions only three libraries have the extranet and seven libraries have both LAN and WAN facility. In the case of linguistic minority institutions eight libraries have the WAN facility and only four institutions have the both Extranet and Wireless.
5.5 Topology of network facility in the SFEC libraries
The topology of network in the self financing engineering college libraries in Tamil Nadu- minority status wise distribution has been presented in Table 4.
Table 4: Topology of Networking in SFEC Libraries in Tamil Nadu Status of minority
Bus
Ring
Star
Total
Non-Minority
40(41.24)
24(24.74)
33(34.02)
97
Religious Minority
6(28.57)
7(33.33)
8(38.10)
21
Linguistic Minority
10(45.40)
3(13.60)
9(41.00)
22
Total
56(40.00)
34(24.59)
50(35.71)
140
(Figures in parentheses denote percentage) Data presented in table 4 indicates topology of computer networking facilities in self financing engineering college libraries. Majority of the (41.24%) non minority institutions have bus type topology computer network in their libraries and star type topology structure
60
in the case of majority of the same institutions (34.02%). A considerable number of the linguistic minority (33.33%) institutions have bus type topology computer network in their libraries.
Topology of Network at SFEC Libraries
No.of Libraries
50 40 30 20 10 0 Bus
Ring
Star
Topology of Network
Figure 1: Topology of Network in the SFEC Libraries Table 5: Source - Computed ANOVA
Source of Variation Rows Columns Error
SS 1266.889 86.22222 73.11111
df 2 2 4
Total
1426.222
8
MS 633.4444 43.11111 18.27778
F 34.65653 2.358663
P-value 0.002977 0.210549
F crit 6.944276 6.944276
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Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences ©2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved. http://www.cisjournal.org
The ANOVA two ways model is applied for topology of networking facilities in the self financing engineering college libraries in Tamil Nadu. At one point, the computed ANOVA value is 34.65 which is greater than its tabulated value at 5 percent level of significance. Hence variation with respect to number of network facilities used in the library network is statistically identified as significant. At another point the computed ANOVA value is 2.35 which is less than its tabulated value at 5 percent level of significance. Hence the variation in status wise distribution of institutions is statistically identified insignificant as with respect to topology of network facilities used in the library network of the selected self financing engineering colleges.
6. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS It could be observed that from the findings of the nature of library network, minimum number of libraries have independent network for the library and maximum number of libraries have part of network facility. The majority of the libraries have LAN facility. The twenty libraries have wireless network facility for the library network environment. The presence of bus topology network occupies the first position with respect to the selected self financing engineering college libraries in Tamil Nadu, star type topology of network the second and ring type topology network the last. The results of the minority status wise analysis indicate that majority of the non minority institution libraries have bus type topology of network compared to other types of network. The networking of libraries has dramatically changed the old concept of libraries in new information storage and retrieval mechanism has now become very faster and easier. The application of computer and networking technologies has improved the efficiency of library services.
REFERENCES [1] Reijio Savolainen.(2002) “Network Competence and Information Seeking on the INTERNET”. Journal of Doccumentation Vol.58, No.2, [2] Manoj Kumar Sinha,(2004) “Scenario of Automation an Networking of Library and Information Centres of North Eastern Region of India: An Evaluative Study”. CALIBER-2004. New Delhi: 86-99.
[3] Okon E. Ani, Jacob E. Esin and Nkoyo Edem,(2005), “Adoption of information and Communication technology (ICT) in academic libraries, A strategy for library networking in Nigeria, The Electronic Library Vol. 23 No. 6, pp. 701- 708. [4] Suresh Jange (et al ), (2005) “Enhancing network applications in a University Library: A Case Study “. CALIBER- 2005. Kochi (2005) 539-548. [5] Devi, TH and Meitei, L (2007) “Electronic Information Literacy and E-Network learning creating wealth of new digital Connections of North East India” Library Progress (International) Vol.27 No.2, pp93-100. [6] Vasanth, N. and Mudhol, Mahesh V. (2009) A Plan for the establishment of Networking in Technical Libraries. SRELS Journal of Information Management; Dec2009, Vol. 46 Issue 4, p383-390, 8p [7] Khalil, Shakil Ahmed and Khan, Musa (2009) Networking and Cooperation between Medical Libraries of Pakistan. Pakistan Library & Information Science Journal; Sep2009, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p3-9, 7p [8] Fang Chen (2011). LAN Configuration and Analysis: Projects for the Data Communications and Networking Course. Journal of Information Systems Education; Spring2011, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p7-14, 8p
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