Impact Of It On Lis & Changing Role Of Librarian

IMPACT OF IT ON LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICES & CHANGING ROLE OF LIBRARIAN IN THE PRESENT SCENARIO By:

Miss.Shantashree S. Sengupta Librarian & Head, Dept. of Lib. & Inf. Sci, Chandmal Tarachand Bora College, Shirur, Dist.Pune, Maharashtra. &

Miss.Gauri R. Kulkarni

Librarian, S.P.Mandali’s Prin.N.G.Naralkar Institute of Career Development & Research, Pune, Maharashtra.

NATIONAL SEMINAR ON CHANGING ERA IN LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICES Organised by Jayakar Library, Department of Library & Information Science, University of Pune. 22nd -23rd January 2009

INTRODUCTION: The industrial revolution led the society towards mechanisation and automation. Today the networking of computer plays an important role in communication and dissemination of information. The Internet began in 1969 as ARPANET, a project of the U.S. Department of Defense. It enables users to communicate via e-mail, transfer data and program files via FTP, find information on the WWW and access remote computer systems such as online catalogs and electronic databases easily and effortlessly, using an innovative technique called packet switching. Technological developments have affected not only the format and sources of information sources, but also the way in which the services where provided. Libraries introduce various new services in order to satisfy their users.

INTRODUCTION: (contd…) For this purpose either they modify the existing service or introduce complete new service e.g. portals, online reference service, OPAC, electronic publishing etc. Introducing such service need huge funding. For reporting to funding agencies, libraries need to measure the impact of new services on users, staff and on other aspects of library. In 21st century, with change in the mode of providing library services to the users, librarians too need a makeover in their role from a mere caretaker of books to a professional who organises, guides and retrieves the information for the right user at the right time.

Internet User Statistics: World Total World Internet users Usage percentage of world Usage growth (from 2000 to 2008) India Total Internet Users (in 2000) Total Internet Users (in 2008) India’s position in Internet usage in Asia Continent Usage growth (from 2000 to 2008)

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6,676,120,288 100% 305.5%

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5,000,000 1,147,995,898 10.4%

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1,100%

IMPACT ON LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICES: According to Encyclopedia of Library & Information Science, “Impact can be defined as the eventual result of using library services, the influence the use had, and its significance to the user.” Need of measuring impact: Various measures have been developed to assess the quality of library services and the cost efficiency of library’s performance. But the quantity of use and quality of performance do not yet prove that users are really benefited from the provided library service. Measuring the impact of any new technology on services means going a step further and trying to assess the effect of the services on users. Libraries are changing day by day in their ways of providing services. To incorporate new developments, libraries need to justify the investment and the positive impact of the new services on library users. Also, measuring impact is important to gain a basis for resource allocation. If any new service introduced by the library is widely accepted by its users then, the library needs to shift more staff and financial resources into that area of library. If there is no positive outcome then services could be cut down.

LIST OF LIBRARY SERVICES WHEREIN INTERNET & WEB TECHNOLOGIES CAN BE USED EFFECTIVELY:

ACQUISITION:

1)  

 

Correspondence with booksellers and publishers Calling quotations, sending reminders regarding delay in supplying books Ordering books Purchasing books from online bookstores e.g. www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com

CLASSIFICATION:

2)  

Classifying documents using DDC Online Library of Congress Online Classification System

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT:

3)  

Subscription of periodicals in print as well as in e-form Joining Library Consortia Projects

4)

CATALOGUING:  

2)

3)

4)

Cataloging of library resources using available WebOPACs Browsing the Online Catalogs

CIRCULATION:  Remote Login, Checking availability of books, OPAC access, sending reminders  Receiving user requests, Direct borrowing, Inter Library Loan RESOURCE SHARING:  Union catalog, Accessing databases over networks SERVICES:  ILL, Document Delivery Service, Reference Service, Providing CAS, Recent Additions List  Providing SDI, Accessing databases (Bibliographical, Full-Text)

8)

SUBJECT GATEWAYS:  SOSIG (for social sciences) http:// www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/lost.html  EEVL (for engineering) www.eevl.ac.uk  OMNI (for medical) www.omnimd.com  ADAM (for arts, design) adam.ac.uk  LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE http://www.lisgateway.com

9)

USER EDUCATION:  Through E-mail, setting Intranet RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET: E-journals, E-books, Standards, Library Catalog, Bibliographical tools, Newspapers, Dictionaries, Databases, Encyclopedias, Films, Directories, Technical Reports, Maps, Proceedings, Patents etc.

EVALUATION OF INFORMATION SOURCES:

7.

Evaluation helps in decision making. For successful management of any library, evaluation is important. Need of evaluation of Internet resources is required becauseInformation published on Internet may not be authentic. The author may not be qualified for writing the article. Information may be not current, reliable and filtered. Information may not be meant for a specific group of audience.

 11. 12. 13. 14.

Some general criteria should be used for evaluating information: Scope, Subject Coverage 2. Currency User 4. Accuracy Purpose 6. Accessibility Authority & Reputation Arrangement of Information

4. 5. 6.

CHANGING ROLE OF LIBRARIAN IN THE PRESENT SCENARIO: The tremendous increase of online information sources has made the searching difficult. The present scenario of information explosion demands the organizing skill of the library and information professionals. Learning and education are important topics in the information society and the educational situation is changing for several reasons, which develop from the social, cultural, political and economic changes in the society. New roles & skills: As Hastings says “ it is more important that digital librarians possess particular personal qualities rather than specific technical expertise.” Information professionals within libraries are playing an increasing role in dealing with information in electronic formats by creating web pages to promote their services to external customers and choosing library management systems. The new era librarian is a technology application leader who works with other members of the information management team to design and evaluate systems for information access that meet user needs. He/she is capable of working in the hybrid world of print and electronic media and providing the best mix of information resources in the most appropriate formats for the environment.

New roles & skills: (contd…)



2.

The new era librarian plays a key role in developing information policy for the organization, ensuring that access to all information resources, from internal records to external databases, is provided in the most strategically effective and cost-effective manner. They are the knowledge based practitioners who use research as a foundation for their own professional practice and who support the conduct of research through their professional associations. New era librarians require two main qualities in them: Professional competencies relate to the special librarian’s knowledge in the areas of information resources, information access, technology, management and research and the ability to use these areas of knowledge as a basis for providing library and information services. Personal competencies represent a set of skills, attitudes and values that enable librarians to work efficiently, be good communicators, focus on continuing learning throughout their careers, demonstrate the value added nature of their contributions and survive in the new world of work.

Apart form the survival skills, the new era librarian should focus more on effective skills and characteristics such as:  enthusiasm for life-long learning and new roles.  will power  assertiveness  creative thinking  self-confidence  innovativeness

CONCLUSION: Developments in information and communication technologies have a profound impact on library and information services. Now, instead of Library Catalog, a Library portal can show the actual picture of the Library (e.g. Jayakar Library Portal, University of Pune). A Library Portal can even be termed as ‘Mirror of Library Holdings’. They are also the tool through which libraries are trying to reach out to the user. Libraries should make consistent efforts to provide web based services to their users. Also, library professionals should embrace the changes confronting them. Internet access should be seen as a mean to boost up information access for users. Library professionals who embrace this new environment will be better able to provide customized service to their patrons.

REFERENCES: 1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

7.

Kanamadi, Satish & Kumbar, B.D. “Web based services expected from libraries: a case study of management institutes in Mumbai.” Webology, 3(2), June 2006. (www.webology.ir) Lalitha, P. “Impact of information and communication technology on library and information centres.” (www.alibnet.org) www.ifla.org/IV/ifla71/papers www.internetworldstats.com http://drtc.isibang.ac.in Kaur, Sarbinder & Satija, M.P.” Colletcion development in digital environment: trends and problems.” SRELS Journal of Information Management, 44(2), June 2007. www.ifla.org/IV/ifla66/papers

Thank you