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source sharing and networking of libraries have become the necessity of the day. No library, however big can contain all information. Till the advent of information technology, most libraries remained like islands except for some minimal co-operation in inter-library loan. Information technology is the modern buzz word. It has provided facilities for the free flow of information. The world has become a global village. Information superhighways, information super markets are created through networks like Internet. This has facilities for the resource sharing among the libraries though they are separated by miles of distance. The concept of virtual libraries, OPAC, hypertext and teleconferences for the purpose of resource sharing and information exchange have become common.

Keeping in view the tremendous flow of information, to organise, and to dissiminate in information systematic way, computerization is the answer. Computer - aided system is more convenient, more flexible and more comprehensive and in long run more economical.

UGC has provided finance, hardware, software, manpower training including all infrastructure facilities. Even though not a single university library is fully computerized in Gujarat State. In all the university libraries in Gujarat State, computerization and networking activities are at the initial stage. They do not have definite and systematic plan for computerization and networking. It is being adopted on adhoc basis.

Effective utilization of this infrastructure is the responsibility of individual library. This means the university libraries in Gujarat state should give highest priority to computerize their library and improving their services and thus ensuring easier and wider access to documents and information for their users. The only way university libraries in Gujarat state cope with the rising cost of information materials is by better co-ordination, co-operation and sharing of resources with other university libraries at state, regional and national level. The networking of university libraries and the application of new technology for this, must obviously get high priority. A vital prerequest for networking is computerization and conformity to common standards for library process. There should be a plan for computerization of university libraries in the state.

How-far the objectives of computerization and modernization of university libraries have been achieved is, what are its lacunas and how to overcome the difficulties faced by the university libraries in the state has compelled the present researcher the to select the topic of “Computerization of University libraries in Gujarat State: A plan.”

Definition of terms

There are three important terms. Here the researcher has focused on “Computerization” and “University library”. and University library located in “Gujarat state” only.“Computerization” means all the functions and services with the help of the computer have to be studied.

The application of computers can be grouped into those concerned with house keeping routines such as Acquisition, serial control, circulation control, cataloguing etc. and those directed towards information storage and retrieval.

It can be applied in two way:

it can be used to build up an inhouse storage and retrieval which is limited to the resources available in the institution and