REENGINEERING RESEARCH SUPPORT SERVICES IN INDIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A CASE STUDY OF INTEGRATED SCHOLARLY TOOLS AND DIGITAL REPOSITORIES AT GITAM UNIVERSITY (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY) SANGAREDDY, TELANGANA

Abstract

In recent years, college libraries in India have undergone significant transformation. They are evolving beyond their traditional roles of storing and lending printed materials, becoming dynamic knowledge hubs that actively support research and scholarly communication. This shift has accelerated following the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes research orientation, digital integration, interdisciplinary learning, and global academic visibility in higher education. This study focuses on the Knowledge Resource Centre (KRC) at GITAM University, Hyderabad, an institution accredited with NAAC A++. It explores how a strategic restructuring of library-based research support services has enhanced the university’s research ecosystem. The study highlights the integration of digital repositories, plagiarism detection tools, discovery platforms, researcher profiling systems, and structured financial assistance for research and publication. The impact of these initiatives is evaluated in terms of research quality, accessibility of scholarly output, ethical research practices, and academic visibility. The findings are based on institutional data collected from 2009 to 2025, including growth in collections, usage patterns of physical and electronic resources, on-site visits, remote access statistics, and utilization of research support services. Results indicate that a balanced integration of physical library infrastructure with advanced digital research tools is crucial for sustaining research activity, improving publication outcomes, and enhancing institutional rankings. The study proposes a practical framework that can guide Indian academic libraries in aligning with national research objectives and international academic standards.