E-Journal: E-journals, also known as electronic journals or online journals, are digital versions of traditional print journals that are published on the internet. They have become increasingly popular over the last few decades due to advancements in technology and the internet’s widespread availability. E-journals are accessible through electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and e-readers, and they offer a variety of benefits over print journals. Necessity of e-journals
One of the primary advantages of e-journals is their convenience. Unlike print journals, e-journals can be accessed anytime and anywhere with an internet connection, which makes them more accessible to people across the globe. This means that researchers and students no longer have to travel to libraries or purchase expensive subscriptions to access the latest research in their fields. Instead, they can simply search for and access the e-journals they need from the comfort of their own homes or offices.
Another benefit of e-journals is that they often have faster publication times. Since e-journals do not have to go through the lengthy printing and distribution process of print journals, articles can be published and made available online much more quickly. This means that researchers and students can access the latest research findings as soon as they are available, rather than waiting for print journals to be published and distributed.
In addition, e-journals often offer more interactive and multimedia features than print journals. Many e-journals allow readers to access additional resources such as videos, audio recordings, and datasets that supplement the written content. This can help readers gain a deeper understanding of the research findings and make it easier to apply them to their own work.
E-journals also tend to be more environmentally friendly than print journals. Since they do not require paper, ink, or shipping, they have a much lower carbon footprint than their print counterparts. This makes e-journals an attractive option for individuals and institutions looking to reduce their environmental impact.
However, there are some potential downsides to e-journals as well. One concern is that some e-journals may not be peer-reviewed or may have lower standards for peer review than traditional print journals. This means that the quality of the research published in e-journals may not be as high as that published in print journals. Additionally, some individuals may find it more difficult to read and comprehend information on a screen than on paper, which could affect their ability to understand and apply the research findings.
The necessity of e-journals in education and library
E-journals have become an essential tool in education and library settings, providing access to an ever-growing collection of academic and scholarly research. Here are some reasons why e-journals are necessary in education and library settings:
- Access to a wider range of information: E-journals offer access to a vast range of scholarly research, which can be difficult or impossible to find in print form. This enables students and researchers to access a wider range of information that can be used to supplement their studies and research.
- Convenient and cost-effective: E-journals can be accessed from anywhere at any time, making them convenient for students and researchers who may not have access to print journals in their local libraries. In addition, e-journals are often more cost-effective than print journals, as they eliminate the need for printing, shipping, and storage costs.
- Quicker access to research: E-journals typically have faster publication times than print journals, meaning students and researchers can access the latest research as soon as it becomes available. This can be especially important in rapidly evolving fields where new research is constantly being produced.
- Enhanced search capabilities: E-journals often provide search capabilities that allow users to quickly find specific articles or research topics. This can be particularly useful for students who need to complete research assignments or for researchers who need to find specific information quickly.
- Interactive and multimedia features: E-journals often offer additional multimedia features such as videos, audio recordings, and datasets that can enhance the learning experience. These features can help students better understand the research findings and apply them to their studies.
- Environmentally friendly: E-journals are more environmentally friendly than print journals, as they eliminate the need for paper, ink, and shipping. This can help libraries and educational institutions reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
- No more missing issues: In print journal subscriptions, missing issues are a significant problem in any developing country. In many cases, the publishers send the hard copy through the postal service, which is not reached in the library or hands of the users. So it causes problems for both the subscriber and the supplier. Furthermore, the hard copy of a journal can be missed or lost by theft. The E-journal is the only solution to prevent such crime.
- Overcome time, distance, and access barriers: Very often, the print journal reaches very late from the foreign country to the developing country, whereas the subscribers can get e-journals timely, and users of e-journals can read any article or paper at any time.
- Multiple accesses: In an organizational or institutional library, multiple accesses to resources are necessary to save the users’ time. E-journals provide multiple access facilities, and users can have the accessibility to the same journal at the same time.
- Wide search option: The articles of e-journals can be encoded with “metatags,” which allow more sophisticated searching techniques.
- Instant download, updated, and stored easily: The basic benefit of an e-journal is that any information from any article of any specific journal can be downloaded instantly. Besides e-journals being easily updated and stored, the information professionals and users of any developing country will be capable of handling e-journals.
- Save physical space and human resources: E-journal saves the space of the journal section of the library because it requires no space and does not require human resources for shelving and rectification. Thus journals can save money for the library and Information Institute in any developing country.