The Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak (PTAR) library website provides access to many of the library's services and resources online. It contains features like bookmarks, practical information about the library's location, training guides, a search function, access to online publications and databases, an online catalogue, links to library friends and other libraries, an "Ask a librarian" function, subject folders, and information about the library's own publications. The website aims to be the main gateway for users to access the library's resources and services virtually. It provides concise and easy navigation to key information, resources, and assistance functions to support users' needs.

1. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
1.0 Introduction
Today‟s librarians recognize the importance of making sure library Web sites are easy to
navigate, so users can find their way quickly to e-resources. But where‟s a busy librarian to
begin?
A library can be considered a store or house of knowledge. In dictionaries the word
“library” has been defined as “a building or room containing a collection of books”. A library
renders a great service to the society. A library plays a very important role in promoting the
progress of knowledge. There are many people who love reading. But they can‟t afford to buy
books because the prices of books are very high. So when one becomes a member of a library,
he can borrow valuable books. A member can borrow two books at a time and he can keep it
with him for two weeks. Libraries are particularly useful for poor children. Even those who are
better off can‟t afford to buy all the books they require for their studies. For instance, invaluable
books like Encyclopedias and large dictionaries cannot be purchased. In academic perspective,
Library is a must. Academician especially, students believes library as an information provider.
Thus, library should be support education and research. The Library website provides online
access to many of the Library's services and resources. Quick search functions allow you to
search the Catalogue, find a database and search for subject resources. You can also check
your borrowing record directly.
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2. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Collectively with the roles of library, library has initiated to utilize today‟s information
technology channels to provide necessary information via website or webpage. Library website
should act as primary gateway to access facilities offered by the library. Perpuastakaan Tun
Abdul Razak (PTAR) uowned by Universiti Teknologi Mara, has been selected to be reviewed
by our team members. Based on Peter Griffiths in his book „Managing your internet & intranet
services1, the ten (10) features of a good library website, as below;
Search on Library Online
Bookmarks Ask a librarian
site Friends Publication
Library Subject Training Practical
Catalogue
Publication Folder/Portals Guides Information
Figure 1 : 10 (ten) Features of a good library
With a guide from above guideline, we have described PTAR‟s website to ensure the
availability of the features.
1
Griffiths, P. (2004). Managing your internet & intranet services. London: Facet Publishing
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3. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
2.0 The Library
An overview of Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak Library(PTAR)
The library was first set up in 1960
under the Rural and Industrial Development
Authority (RIDA) in Petaling Jaya. In 1972 a
new main library building was completed in
Shah Alam and named Perpustakaan Tun
Abdul Razak 1. To date the library collections
totaled more than 600,500 volumes comprising
books, pamphlets, conference papers,
bibliographies, calendars and other non-print
materials in microform format. The library also
holds about 5,000 periodical titles currently
subscribed or received through
request/donations. A number of more 50 online
databases are subscribed from various journals. Figure 2 : A picture of PTAR on Launching Day in
1972
In addition to the main library, there are eight other component libraries namely
Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak, Petaling Jaya (1967), INTEC Section 17 Library in Shah Alam
(1982) , Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak 2 (1986), Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak 3 (2003),
Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak 4 (2004), Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak, Faculty of
Architecture, Planning & Surveying Library (1994), Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak, Faculty of
Information Technology & Quantitative Science Library (1997 - 2004), Faculty of Information
Studies, Puncak Perdana (2004), Selayang Hospital Library (2005) and Puncak Alam Library
(2008).
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4. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.0 The Library Website
The Welcoming Page or Home Page
The website can be accessed via http://library.uitm.edu.my. The home page for PTAR‟s
webpage, as below ;
Figure 3 : The main page or home page of PTAR
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5. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.1 Bookmarks
Bookmarks are useful features which provide its own selection of favorite useful
bookmarks or links to other websites. The selection need to be updated and kept up to
date to ensure that library remain current and relevant information or link to fulfill user
needs.
PTAR‟s Website bookmark, can be found as indicated below ;
Bookmark
s
Figure 4 : Bookmarks Feature in PTAR’s Website
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6. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.2 Practical Information
A good library website will also provide practical information to user. Practical
information provides the location details of the library. These features will provide a map
and directions, which aid user heading to the library. This will help to add physical
visitors.
As such, the details on practical information of PTAR, is shown below;
Figure 5 : Practical Information Feature
Practical Information
in PTAR’s Website
Figure 6 : Practical Information – Map and route to PTAR
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7. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.3 Training Guide
Training guide is another useful link which should be developed in the Library Website.
Training guide consist links to pages that offer advice on training opportunities or use of
navigator in the website, guidance on the services offered also a structured training
materials that are designed for delivery over the web. In simple understanding, it
provides guidance on how to use the website and services for a necessary reason.
Below is an example of the training guide features which can be viewed in PTAR‟s
web site.
Training Guide
Figure 7 : Training Guide Feature in PTAR’s Website
Under the drop list, we can choose either one link in view to get further guidance and advice. As
such, PTAR‟s offer Customer services, serial services, information services and research guide
in conducting guide to user, based on their needs and requirements. The link is attached below ;
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8. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Figure 8 : Samples of training guide
provided by PTAR
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9. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.4 Search on site
Search on site can be define as process of searching info or specific user‟s request on
site using search engine developed on the website. Search engine is essential for a site
of any size beyond few pages. Using internal search engine to look for specific articles
or using a major search engines.
Search on site feature, as shown below.
Search on site
Figure 9 : Search on site Feature in PTAR’s Website
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10. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Another samples of
search engines
provided
Figure 10 : Search on site – others Search Engines
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11. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.5 Online Publication
One of the most visited links is an online publication or e-resources or digital library link.
These features provide links to online publications that available such as in-house online
databases or subscribed online databases that include online journals.
As such, the details on online publication of PTAR, is shown below;
Online Publication
Figure 11 : Online Publications Feature in PTAR’s Website
Furthermore, below is an online publication link, which is available in PTAR‟s website
online publication links.
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12. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Figure 12 : Samples of Online Publication Feature in PTAR’s Website
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13. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Figure 13 : Samples of Online Publication Feature in PTAR’s Website
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14. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.6 Catalogue
A good library website consist a link to a Library Catalogue. The features allow user to
and to be linked to the library online catalogues (Web OPAC). Users can search
materials from the catalogue provided from the website.
Sample of catalogue provided by PTAR, as below;
Figure 14 : Samples of Catalogue
Feature in PTAR’s Website
Figure 15 : Catalogue’s search result
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15. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.7 Library Friends
Some of the libraries provide a page for their friends of the library organization. These
features will allow users to make direct contact with the Friends of the library
organization.
Sample of catalogue provided by PTAR, as below;
Links to Library Friends
Figure 16 : Library Friends feature in PTAR’s Website
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16. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
It provides link to other
academic libraries in
Malaysia.
Figure 17 : Library Friends
feature sample. Link to other
academic libraries.
Also, a link to other
libraries such as Figure 18 : Library Friends
National Library. feature sample. Link to other
libraries.
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17. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.8 Ask a librarian
In view of providing interactive website, Ask a Librarian features has been invented to
entertain users in very efficient way. Users are invited to submit enquiries to the library
enquiry service online, either in a freeform e-mail, or more likely by completing fields on
a form (such as essential contact details, so that the answer can be returned).
The features of ask a librarian provided by PTAR, as below;
Ask a librarian
Figure 19 : Ask a librarian
feature sample.
e-form provided
Figure 20 : Ask a librarian
request form
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18. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Figure 21 : Frequently Ask Question Feature
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19. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.9 Subject folders and subject portals
Subject folders and subject portals are lists of recommended resources available in the
format of subject folders. The web gives you the option of providing links to online
information and mixing these links with traditional bibliographic reference to printed
resources.
The features of ask a librarian provided by PTAR, as below;
Subject Folder or Subject Portal
Figure 22 : Subject folder / subject portal feature in PTAR’s Website.
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20. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Subject folder for
online publication
Figure 23 : Online Publication subject folder / subject portal feature in PTAR’s Website.
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21. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
3.10 Library Publication
Some libraries provide links to a catalogue and perhaps an online ordering service or a
bookshop operation where their organization‟s publication can be identified. As such,
this features allows user to subscribe or purchase in house publication. The library
should of course be the obvious source of reliable information about publications.
The figure below shows several of the library‟s publications.
Library Publication
Figure 24 : Library Publications feature in PTAR’s Website.
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22. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
Figure 25 : Samples of Library Publications in PTAR’s Website.
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23. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
In house
publication
examples
Figure 26 : Samples of in house publications in PTAR’s Website.
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24. Library Website Review – Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak
4.0 Conclusion
A well-designed website is one of the best ways for a library to communicate to students,
faculty and the public. It serves as a gateway to library resources such as the online catalog,
databases, other websites, and information about the library. The content and purpose of the
website will vary, depending on the type of library and the mission of the site.
Though there is a growing number of ways and means of contacting users and showing
the library‟s services, the library website should always be the main starting-point for searches
and the one virtual “entrance” to the library. The most important issue is probably, that the
website, especially the homepage, should guide by the shortest possible way to the most-used
information.
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5.0 References
1. Griffiths, P. (2004). Managing your internet & intranet services. London: Facet Publishing
2. Selfert, M. (2004). Creating a good library web site. Journal of Adventist Education, 35-
39. Retrieved from http://circle.adventist.org/files/jae/en/jae200467023505.pdf
3. Home page. Retrieved March 27, 2011, from http://library.uitm.edu.my/v1/
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