Shrinking space in university libraries: challenges & solutions

It is a universal fact that these days, librarians are under pressure for maintaining a hybrid library, i.e. traditional library as well as digital library. Librarians have to make space for accommodating physical collection of books and at the same time, they have to make provision for cyber library, storing electronic formats of information, storing torn books, electronic scrapes etc. within their limited space and budget. As a result, space in library is shrinking. It is becoming very difficult for librarians to maintain a hybrid library in such a situation. Conservation of library space is one of the biggest problems in present time. These issues are discussed in the context of the university library of Lucknow University, Uttar Pradesh. Tagore library is the central research library of the Lucknow University. It is passing through the transition phase and facing the challenges posed by ICT. Some solutions in form of weeding out the collection and establishment of collaborative repositories are suggested to tackle the problem of shrinking space in University Libraries.