Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2456-9623.2018.0010 IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, January-June, 2018;3(1):44-48 44 Digitization of library resources and the formation of digital libraries: Special reference in green stone digital library software Sanjay Singh Library Assistant, Central Library, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding Author: Email: sanjaybhu196@gmail.com Abstract This paper discusses the new activities, methods and technology used in digitization and formation of digital libraries. It set out some key points involved and the detailed plans required in the process, offers pieces of advice and guidance for the practicing librarians and information scientists. Digital libraries are being created today for diverse communities and in different fields e.g. education, science culture, development, health, governance and so on. With the availability of several free digital Library software packages at the recent time, mainly green stone digital library software is the one of them to creation and sharing of information through the digital library collections has become an attractive and feasible proposition for library and information professionals around the world. Keywords: Digitization, Digital libraries, Librarians, Information scientists, Library software, Green stone digital library, Information professionals. Introduction Traditional methods of collecting, storing, processing, and accessing information have undergone a massive transformation due to the growth of virtual libraries, digital libraries, online databases, and library and information networks. Digital technology, Internet connectivity, and physical content can now be dovetailed, resulting in a digital library. Digital libraries and the digitization of print materials can preserve resources in art and culture, education, science and technology, literature and humanities, media and entertainment, and cultural heritage and history. In India, a substantial number of libraries and information centers have initiated digital library projects including databases and e-journals, or by digitizing their own archival-valuable collections. Hundreds of thousands of ancient books and manuscripts, scores of them still preserved in palm leaves, urgently need digitization to preserve the cultural heritage of India. What are Digital Libraries? A digital library is a collection of digital documents or objects. This definition is the dominant perception of many people of today. Nevertheless, Smith (2001) defined a digital library as an organized and focused collection of digital objects, including text, images, video and audio, with the methods of access and retrieval and for the selection, creation, organization, maintenance and sharing of collection. Though the focus of this definition is on the document collection, it stresses the fact that the digital libraries are much more than a random assembly of digital objects. They retain the several qualities of traditional libraries such as a defined community of users, focused collections, long-term availability, the possibility of selecting, organizing, preserving and sharing resources. The digital libraries are sometimes perceived as institutions, though this is not as dominant as the previous definition. The following definition given by the Digital Library Federation (DLF) brings out the essence of this perception. “Digital libraries are organization that provide the resources, including the specialized staff to select, structure, offer intellectual access to interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity of and ensure the persistence over time of Collections of digital works so that they are readily and economically available for use by a defined community or set of communities.” The point in this definition is on the digital library as a dynamic, growing organism. As digital libraries evolve and become the predominant mode of access to knowledge and learning, institutionalization of digital libraries appears to be on the increase. Requirement for Digital Libraries: The Internet and World Wide Web provide the impetus and technological environment for the development and operation of a digital library. The Internet provides the TCP/IP and or its associated protocol for accessing the information and web provide tools and technique for publishing the information over Internet. In the digital environment it is reasonable to say that a central back up or archive should be created at the national level, which will store information output of the region as well as information from outside the country. Some of the requirements for digital libraries are: 1. Audio visual: Colour T.V., V.C.R., D.V.D., Sound box, Telephone etc. 2. Computer: Server, P.C. with multimedia, U.PS. etc. 3. Network: LAN, MAN, WAN, Internet etc. 4. Printer: Laser printer, Dot matrix, Barcode printer, Digital graphic printer etc. 5. Scanner: H.P. Scan jet, flatbed, Sheet feeder, Drum scanner, Slide scanner, Microfilming scanner, Digital camera, Barcode scanner etc.