Electronic resources comprise library online catalog, list of CD-ROMs, Online Journals (Open access or subscribed), On line magazines, Databases, on line Newspapers, Reference Materials, e-books etc. Most of the Libraries are embracing digital collections apart from print materials. Libraries prefer digital collections for many reasons such as easy access from anywhere, save space and relatively easy to maintain, cost effective, Hyperlinked to view related articles, can be linked from and to indexing and abstracting databases etc. Apart from this , it is very helpful for student, faculty and expert of different subjects to view/download their required materials just by Typing keywords. Users can browse different scholarly Journals simultaneously and can also update themselves with current developments of the subject
Electronic resources consist of data (information representing numbers, text,
graphics, images, maps, moving images, music, sounds, etc.), programs (instructions,
etc., that process the data for use), or combinations of data and programs. Electronic
resources often include components with characteristics found in multiple classes of
materials so there will frequently be a need to consult other chapters. For example, in
describing a serially-issued cartographic electronic resource, use chapters 3, 9, and
12.
For cataloging purposes, electronic resources may be treated in one of two
ways depending on whether access is direct (local) or remote (networked). Direct
access is understood to mean that a physical carrier can be described. Such a carrier
(e.g., disc/disk, cassette, cartridge) must be inserted into a computerized device or
into a peripheral attached to a computerized device. Remote access is understood to
mean that no physical carrier can be handled. Remote access can only be provided by
use of an input-output device (e.g., a terminal), either connected to a computer
system (e.g., a resource in a network), or by use of resources stored in a hard disk or
other storage device.
Dear Acharya.
electronic resource means that resource, which are in digital form. suppose: books, newspapers, journals are resources of any library. But these are in digital form ( machine readable), called electronic resource.
I think is this the simplest definition of E-resources.
Examples: E-newspapers, E-journals, electronic books, CD-ROMs, many more.