NCU Law School launched E-Library to disseminate unhindered knowledge during Covid-19 pandemic

The present unprecedented time of this pandemic and the subsequential manner of handling the Covid-19 catastrophe can easily be enunciated into an epiphany which has indeed triggered a need for critical analysis of the epistemological understanding of human capabilities and a dire need for intellectual proficiency, which is both objective and expository in all forms. While we know nothing as indispensable as knowledge and education for achieving the erudition and proficiency entailed amongst all academicians and humans alike,

The NorthCap University has identified Library which includes various academic and educational resources such as books, e-books, journals, e-journals, newspapers as a requisite to improve the knowledge and thought process of the academic fraternity and students all across the globe.

The undeterred endeavour of the library of the School of Law, The NorthCap University, Gurugram has ensured that no one is left bereft of any means of seeking any and all sort of knowledge essential for the pre-eminence as is required and anticipated from academicians, faculty members and students, in the present times. Our University, therefore, has taken up the role of library and its various resources very seriously, especially in a time like this where it is not possible for the students and faculties to visit the campus physically for seeking knowledge. An extensively formulated conceptual decision was taken by the University for helping out the students and faculties whereby remote access to all library resources was made available to all, which not only helped the regular conduction of the online classes but also helped the students to prepare projects, conduct academic researches and prepare for various examinations. The present pandemic has taught us the scope and need of technological advancements, techniques and innovations to cope with uncertainties and which has exquisitely been adopted by our university in the form of online classes, e-library and e-resources. 

Our library has collaborated with leading publishers in the legal field, such as SccOnline, Westlaw, Manupatra, Thomson Reuters, etc. for providing a collection of e-Books and e-journals, which are accessible through different browsers, desktops, tablets, apps and smart-phones. 

It is an ideal solution for the new generation of professionals, academicians and students needing mobility, convenience and speed, especially in times when our movements are substantially restricted. Our University is ensuring, through the said ‘Digital Library’ (being the name propagated for the aforesaid e-resources/e-library being provided by our university), that nothing impedes the desire to seek knowledge. The ‘Digital Library’ would ensure that one can access all academic resources and books without any glitch from any remote location, even while being away from the institute. It has been demonstrated with utter conviction that e-library and e-resources of any academic institution are the determining factor for the overall growth and development of its teachers, students, scholars and academicians. Libraries in different parts of the world are facing very different situations, from broadly maintaining a full service to complete closure.

Our School of Law library has been working hard to provide access to collections and services remotely by promoting their digital services and is constantly endeavouring to encourage the students across the University to read more online. Clearly,

Not all users are familiar with digital tools as a result of which there were new training materials and sessions provided by many database companies for users to help them make the most of these possibilities.

During this period, being the Covid-19 pandemic situation, it is still crucial to remind ourselves the importance of information, be it academic or otherwise, and for that purpose the role of libraries and librarians in organising and disseminating information becomes pivotal, even if done through technological advancements and innovations of this era. Knowing the information dissemination mechanisms of different media and having an efficient information dissemination plan for such pandemic situations pre-warning plays a very important role in reducing losses and ensuring the safety of all associated with the institute.

About the author

Deborisha Dutta is an Assistant Professor at the School of Law at The NorthCap University. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha