THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LIBRARY PLATFORMS IN SHAPING RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY TOWARDS A PRODUCTIVE RESEARCHER

Abstract

Research has always been a complex task, often overwhelming due to managing multiple projects and prioritising tasks. Historically. researchers relied heavily on physical libraries and extensive manual searches. The shift to digital libraries marks a significant transformation, enabling more efficient access to resources and tools for organising information. Digital library platforms streamline research by offering easy access to e-books, e-journals and multimedia content, along with advanced features like personalised recommendations and collaborative tools. This paper classified them into open-source and commercial solutions, each with its own strengths in managing digital content. These platforms have redefined research productivity by enhancing it retrieval, citation tracking, and plagiarism detection. However, they come with challenges, such as technological dependencies, financial constraints, and issues around copyright. Despite these hurdles, digital libraries play a central role in modern research, supporting open-access initiatives and improving the visibility and impact of academic work.