CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION
Information technology is able to facilitate the revolution of changes, which optimize performance and profitability to companies because it provides solution to one of the key business and communication barriers; distance and difficulties associated with crossing them. Emergence of internet technologies has led to the death of distance and collapsed the entire world into a “global village”.
The virtual means many things to many
people, but according to Encarta encyclopedia, virtual means something in
effect even if not in reality or not conforming to the general accepted definition
of term. Again it can be seen as used to describe a particle whose existence is
suggested to explain observed phenomena but is not proved or directly
observable.
Finally, it can be seen as simulated
but computer for reasons of economics, convenience or performance.
The term “virtual library: emanates
from virtual reality; the virtual reality is a system that enables one or more
users to look more and react in a computer – simulated world. Various types of
inference devices allow users to have the experiences of seeing, touching,
picking up, and even manipulating virtual (simulated) objects. Virtual world
and everything in them, (including computer images of the participants) are
represented by mathematical models and computer programs Virtual world and
everything in them, (including computer images of the participants) are
represented by mathematical models and computer programs.
A library can be seen as a room,
building or institution where a collection of books or other research materials
is kept or a collection of books, newspapers, records, tapes, or other
materials that are valuable for research or a collection of things for use on a
computer, for example programs or diskettes, or a collection of routines or
institutions used by a computer program.
But mere looking at all this our main
aim on this project is to make a library look virtual; thereby making the
collection of books and other research materials to be in electronic form, for
global access across the globe term “virtual library”.
1.1 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
In Nigeria as a developing country,
most institutions large organizations are not yet able to create setup standard
library for their organization especially schools (higher schools in the
country), thereby making it difficult for their members to have access to
research data and valuable materials. It also limits them from knowing what is
happening in the globe. It is likely one of the major cause or out – dated
knowledge that students suffer in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.
To cope with high pace technology in
this information age, the researcher is prompted to provide an effective
channel or medium that will serve as virtual library through which university
students and organizations of different kinds can have access in any part of
the world for retrieving information and for their knowledge update.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Computer being one of the newest
development in technology, the populace failed to apprehend its multiples
retrieving importance. This study will first:
Aim at utterly clearing off the misconceptions biases about computer and discouraging the boring method of creating awareness, which does not extend to a wide society.
To provide the globe with virtual library where they will go in need of vital and research information.
To create a virtual library that will be easily updated.
To minimize research time and make it more efficient.
To setup a virtual library where electronics books will be centralized.
PURPOSE OF STUDY
In the context of technological
advancement, computer is playing a leading role and indispensable role. This is
based on its ability to provide or perfume a lot of tasks.
Based on this, the purpose of this
study is to discourage the manual and time wasted in the process of going
through bookshelves in search of books or information or data(s) in the library
and also to make research material available at a point.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this study is to
make people understand that virtual library is currently developing so that the
society, becomes more dependent on it to store and obtain information quickly
and effectively.
The students organizations and other institutions beginning to use the internet as a new method for awareness creation and information search.
This was what motivated me into
embarking on this research work.