The Impact of ICTs upon Library Environment:
Introduction:
In many countries, information and
communication technology (ICT) has a lucid impact on
The development of educational curriculum.
This is the era of Information Communication
Technology, so to perk up educational
planning it is indispensable to implement the ICT in Education Sector. Student
can perform well throughout the usage of ICT. ICT helps the students to augment
their Knowledge skills as well as to improve their learning skills. To know
with reference to the usage and Impact of ICT in Education sector of Pakistan
The consequences show that Availability
and Usage of ICT improves the knowledge and Learning skills of students. For
the Libraries, ICT’s has tremendously changed the Management of Resources or
House Keeping Operations as well as the way services are delivered. While
general IT application tools and Integrated Library Management Systems are
largely used in housekeeping operations, like acquisition, cataloguing,
circulation control, serials control etc; Internet has been used extensively as
a resource as well as a tool to deliver the Library and Information Services
(LIS).
Developments in ICT have made
significant impact on all spheres of human life. The impact has been rather
prominent in case of service activities such as banking, health,
transportation, education and libraries...
In this Unit we have grouped the ICT enabled services into two
categories as follow:
·
ICT
enabled conventional LIS, that can be
delivered more efficiently through use of ICT, and
·
New
Services, which have been made possible due to developments in ICT.
Impact of ICT on Libraries and
Librarians
Computer has brought in a new impact
to the library and information usage. In libraries, information technology has
assisted library professionals to provide value added quality information
service and give more remote access to the inter-nationally available
information resources. Today’s highly sophisticated information technology to
facilitate the storage of huge amounts of data or information in a very compact
space. Information technologies promise fast retrieval of stored information
and revolutionize our concept of the functions of a traditional library and a
modern information center. Recently technological developments have
dramatically changed the mode of library operations and services
Some library users are adopting
electronic habits, making increasing use of the new ICT including computers,
the Internet, the Web, Intranet, Extranet and other technologies. As a result,
library users are placing new demands on their libraries. They require access
to the latest information, updated information resources and access to ICT
facilities that they could use in their work.
Use of ICT in libraries enhances
user’s satisfaction. It provides numerous benefits to library users. Some of
the benefits are:
·
Provide speedy and easy access
to information
·
Provides remote access to users
·
Provides round the clock access
to users
·
Provides access to unlimited
information from different sources
·
Provides information
flexibility to be used by any individual according to his/her requirements
·
Provides increased flexibility
·
facilitates the reformatting
and combining of data from different sources
Libraries are also providing various
ICT-based services to their user, including the following
·
Provision of Web access to
OPACs
·
Electronic document delivery
·
Networked information resources
·
Delivery of information to user
desktops
·
Online instructions
·
Major Challenges of 21St
Century Librarian
In a fast-changing, expanding diverse global digital information
environment, libraries are facing a variety of complex challenges from multiple
sectors of knowledge society in the 21st century. The major challenges are:
·
Information explosion.
·
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT).
·
Growth and usage of web
resources.
·
Use of digital resources.
·
User’s expectations.
·
Virtual learning environment.
·
Virtual educational
institutions.
·
Development of digital,
virtual, and hybrid libraries.
·
Online bookshops and
information services.
These challenges have called for orientation, reengineering,
transformation, and great changes in the information environment, library
functions, and the roles of library and information service professionals.
The functions of a modern library include:
·
Application of new technologies
in libraries.
·
Computerization and networking
of all library operations, resources and services.
·
Build both print and electronic
information resources.
·
Providing a access to the
content of local and global resources and services.
·
Provide guidance and training
in the usage of digital resources.
·
Provide responsive products and
services to meet the user needs and expectations.
ICTS Enabled conventional LIS:
Online public access
catalogue and user services:
Library catalogue is perhaps the most important tool for locating material
in the Library. Unfortunately until recently its value has been restricted by
its physical form, most commonly a large card catalogue or a set of printed
volumes. The advent of computers, with their ability to process large amounts
of information and output in a variety of formats has finally brought the library to the customer,
wherever he or she may be located, in the form of Online Public Access
Catalogue (OPAC).
OPAC provides access to the
catalogue through a computer terminal.
OPAC allows searching the entire catalogue online, conveniently and
quickly, using one or more search criteria. One can, for example, search by author,
title, keywords, class number or one or more of these combined together. OPAC
even shows the current status of a book, whether it is loaned out, available on
the shelf or lying elsewhere. Another advantage of OPAC is its ability to
display catalogue records in a variety of formats such as AACR2, MARC etc, and
the records can be displayed in a desired order. For example one can display
records arranged (sorted) by author, title or call number. Most library
management packages offer printing of bibliographies from OPAC either on a
printer or on a file. An OPAC terminal should be equipped with search software,
which is usually part of integrated library management systems such as LibSys,
EasyLib, NewGenLib, SOUL, Sanjay etc. Some integrated library management
packages even use OPAC for other user services like reservation, membership
enquiry and registration, interlibrary loans etc.
Another convenience that OPAC
offers is accessibility from a remote computer, using a local area network
(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). With modern library systems offering
interface to OPAC, it is also possible to provide access from anywhere in the
world via Internet.
INFORMATION SERVICES:
Some of
the important changes that developments in ICT have brought about in information
services are:
·
Changes
in formats, contents and methods of production & delivery of information
products, and a new business model for use of information products. This
requires procedural and infrastructural changes and cost implications in
Libraries.
·
Emergence
of Internet as the largest repository of information and knowledge.
·
Extinction
or significant transformation of some of the conventional information services
such as press clippings, contents pages, company information etc.
·
Use
of new tools and technologies for dissemination of information.
·
Transformation
of role of LIS professional as the subject specialist and end-user gets
directly involved in the information work and consequent need for new skills.
·
Shift
from physical to virtual services that offer convenience of time and location
for access to services.
Today almost every important
reference tools is available in electronic format whether offline (CDROM) or
online, providing convenience of use, storage, timeliness and currency of
information. Computer storage and
compression technologies have made it possible to store large amount of data
and information on small digital and optical media, eliminating requirement for
large space for holding the printed sources. It is also faster and easier to
keep the electronic sources up to date. For example a 24-volume Encyclopedia
Britannica can be stored on a single CDROM, and online edition of chemical
abstracts is updated every week. Information can also be delivered in a variety
of media using different tools, such as CDROM, email, chat, discussion forum
etc.
In the following paragraphs we
will now briefly discuss a few types of information services viz. Reference
service, Bibliographic Service, and Current Awareness Service in ICT enabled
environment. Some new information services are described later.
Reference Service:
Asynchronous tools such as email, subject gateways, FAQs, and electronic
libraries and interactive tools like chat rooms, virtual reference desk, and
ask-me are replacing the conventional means of post, phone or in-person
reference enquiries. Ask-a-Librarian allows the user to click on
ask-a-librarian link to send a formatted enquiry to the reference librarian.
The reference librarian either provides an answer, links to resources or link
to a subject expert. Interactive tools now allow a reference interview online.
Bibliographic Service: Compilation of bibliographies, reading lists and
state-of-art reports are very parts of LIS work, particularly in research and
academic libraries. Browsing through the manual indexes and abstracts is a
tedious and time consuming work, and does not always produce up to date result.
Availability of databases in electronic form on CDROM or online, offers
convenient, efficient and cost effective information retrieval. Electronic
databases also provide unique search features such as searching on multiple
criteria (key-word, subject, author, source, classification code, year of
publication, language etc.), and variety of display formats & styles.
Current Awareness Service: Current Awareness Services has been important
means for keeping the users up to date in their areas of interest. A current
awareness service may be as simple as copy of table of contents or a bulletin
containing bibliographic records, of articles selected from the current issues
of journals and other material, and usually organized by subjects. Libraries
now compile current awareness bulletins using predefined search strategy and
running on the database either on CDROM or online periodically and getting the
desired output. Subject to copyrights, the output can also be stored on a local
system, and disseminated online (internet, intranet) and offline (print, CDROM,
email). Table of contents of most journals are available free from the publishers’
sites. Some publishers even offer free email update of table of contents. A
large number of electronic publishing sites or portals now offer current
information via email to registered users. For example one can register on New
York Times newspapers to receive summary of news on daily basis.
DOCUMENT DELIVERY:
It is not
possible for libraries to have everything that its clients may need. Libraries
use document delivery services from other libraries and commercial
organizations for copies of research papers etc not held by them. Locating a
source and procuring the document requires considerable time and efforts and
the process is laden with uncertainties. ICT has made the document delivery
services very simple and reliable. From searching the holdings to ordering and
delivery have been benefited by the use of ICT. A large number of libraries now
host their up to date holdings on their website and can be searched on
internet. Many library networks such as INFLIBNET and DELNET maintain union
catalogue of their member’s journal holdings
INTER-LIBRARY LOANS AND
UNION CATALOGUES:
As described earlier, no library can fulfill all the needs of its users
from its collection. Resource sharing through Inter-library loan is a necessity
for the libraries. Access to the catalogue of partner libraries is crucial to
inter-library lending. Union catalogues, standardization and machine readable
catalogues are aimed at promoting resource sharing. Printed union catalogues
and Computer Output on Microfiche (COM) catalogues and CDROM are now being
replaced by web OPAC and web based union catalogues. Librarians
can now access catalogues of thousands of libraries across the world using
Internet. Developments in digital library and internet technologies have
made it possible to automatically update the catalogue records from member
library systems, distributed searches using a single user interface, and value
added services.
CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND USER
EDUCATION:
LIS being service
organization, customer services and user training are important aspects of its
activities. A continuous interaction with users for feedback and information is
a must to maintain the standards of service. While the conventional means of
interaction such as meetings, suggestion box, surveys and interviews are still
important, use of new means of communications such as email, web forms,
bulletins boards, discussion forums and listserv are fast replacing these. Not
only these tools provide a fast, convenient and transparent and cost effective
medium, but also offer scope for innovations and greater peer participation.
Some of these tools can even be used by the libraries to involve the users in
book selection etc. LIS customer relations can be tremendously improved by
innovative use of technology like virtual library tours, making interactive
library maps and floor plan available on the library web site. A highly ICT
enabled environment requires appropriate training to its users also.
ICT BASED NEW SERVICES:
A library web page or
Universal Resource Locator (URL) facilitates single window access to various
web enabled library services. A URL
could be as simple as a library web page listing the services with some links
to catalogue and external free and subscribed resources or may include advance
features like interactive helps and value added services such as subject
gateways, self-help tools and frequently asked questions, and information about
the library such as timings, calendar, rules etc can be hosted on the library
web site. Apart from the ICT enabled conventional services, Libraries are
making use of potential of internet and computing power to provide new and
innovative services. In a web enabled environment the new LIS services can be
grouped into the following three categories:
·
Providing
access to internet and internet based services
·
Providing
access to web based resources
·
Providing
access local or internal information resources in digital form
INTERNET ACCESS:
Internet is not only a medium
for digital communication but also the world’s largest repository of
information. However, under developed internet infrastructure in a country like
India
SUBJECT GATEWAYS:
Preparing subject guides or
path finder’s has been an intellectual activity for reference librarians. Such
guides are normally prepared in consultation with the subject experts or by a
subject librarian, who picks up the sources after careful evaluation. Random
surfing of the Internet may be a popular pastime, but is an inefficient use of
bandwidth and time. One of the most useful ways to discover quality resources
in a particular subject area is use of subject-based Internet gateways and
directories. A subject gateway thus is a facility that allows easier access to
web based resources in a defined subject area.
DIGITAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES:
Many Libraries traditionally have been repositories of local information
and heritage documents such as manuscripts, rare books, maps, photographs and
paintings etc. Archives or record management is also part of LIS function,
particularly in business and research organizations. In other cases such as
university libraries, documents generated in-house such as dissertation and
theses, research reports etc represent the intellectual strength of the
institution. Libraries are developing digital repositories of such resources,
and providing Internet or intranet access to these. Large public and academic
libraries also provide up to date local information via internet.
THE CHALLENGE TO THE LIBRARY AS A PHYSICAL PLACE
Over the past few years, library automation has undergone a shift in its
direction. Attention has changed from in house processing of traditional tasks
to the use of computing and telecommunication tools to develop “the library
without walls”… using technologies to expand services resources and
relationships between libraries and resources around the world
The notion of a library without walls is an exciting prospect for many in
that it conjures an mage of the breaking of physical barriers to permit total
freedom of access to all information throughout the world computer seem to be a
suitable means for removing these walls.
The growth of scientific and technical information and the increasing need
to harness this information toward technological progress helped spawn a major
revaluation in computerized access to information the movement toward greater
computerization seems irresistible.
As more and more information is accessed remotely are provided by
organization that excites to provide information through telecommunication
lines and electronic databases, the obsolescence of the library is considered
possibility even a desired end for some.
IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES:
During the 1960s and 70s when automation was introduced into libraries
little attention was paid to the effect on the staff. Indeed a major argument
regarding the desire ability of its implementation was that it wood reduces
dependence on libraries staff. However the experiences of the last to decades
have made it clear that the reaction of staff to the introduction and
implementation of automation plays an important role in its effective use of
valued employs infect the introduction of new technologies has generated
considerable perturbation in the workplace and especially in regard to human
resources.
THE IMPACT OF TECNOLOGIES ON THE PHYSICAL AND
PSHYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION OF WORKERS:
The effect of technologies of people can be profound, and since new
technologies are introduced regularly. It is important to understand the many
potential reactions to their presence in the workplace one concern is the
physical impact of electronic technologies. Experiences with employees working
with computers has revealed that a variety of physical symptoms, some quite
serious can arise, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive motion disorders ,
headaches, neck aches, vision problems joined pain, numbness in limbs, and
fatigue. More controversial findings have suggested that there may be serious
side effects from extensive exposure to electromagnetic radiation from the
computer.
