Digitizing A Research Library: Egerton University- Kenya

Academic libraries have always aimed to fulfill their research objectives and ambitions by using any means at their disposal, particularly in these times when there is shift from traditional library services to digital library services, so long as they can satisfy their clientele. The attempt to provide digital library services is exemplified by the J. D. Rockefeller Research Library at Egerton University, Kenya. This paper discusses digital research libraries, reasons, advantages and disadvantages of digitization. It also provides the development of the research library studied and types of clients who are beneficiaries of the services. It proffers a general overview of both the information resources and services given. Ultimately, it concludes that the essence of the digital research library is to cater for the information needs of researchers in specific fields of specialization.