Book to Tech: Karnataka all ready to set up 272 digital libraries in State

April 23, 2019:

Cloud-based digital libraries will soon be set up in 30 district, 26 city and 216 taluk libraries in the state, offering members access to books and other resources such as study and test materials through websites & app.

The request for proposal (RFP) by the Department of Public Libraries includes hardware including 1088 android-tablets and 544 desktop computers needed in libraries.

The department has already received technical bids on March 12, and will open the commercial bids after the end of model code of conduct.

Satishkumar S Hosamani, Director, Department of Public Libraries, said the platform will cater to 25 lakh members of public libraries as well as 10 lakh students in Govt high schools and pre-university colleges.

"On a pilot basis, the department set up a similar platform in Haveri, Chamarajanagar and Tumakuru districts. The bids will be opened soon after April 23. It may take about six months to go live after signing the contract," Hosamani said.

The cloud-based platform will have digital rights management protected content. Members of libraries can access the content by the entering their membership number but content can't be modified, deleted or copied.

"The study materials for competitive exams, from CET, NEET to civil services, will help students to prepare for their future," he said.

Besides e-books, e-magazines and journals of both open access and proprietary, embedded-video lessons will be part of the knowledge base. While massive open online courses (MOOC), presentations and test preparation help students, non-academic e-books for people of all age group will also be available. Authors can also donate their digital books to the library.

The website/app will also have information about the catalogue of physical books in the respective library. All this will have remote access authentication solution.

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