Arslan Sheikh - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Arslan Sheikh

Research paper thumbnail of Open source software adoption for development of institutional repositories in university libraries of Islamabad

Emerald, 2022

Purpose-This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR... more Purpose-This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR) software's usage in the university libraries of Islamabad. This study also investigates the views, satisfaction level and challenges of librarians in the adoption and use of IR software. Design/methodology/approach-A survey was conducted to collect data from the Library Information Science (LIS) professionals working in the university libraries of Islamabad. Data were collected from all library professionals of the Islamabad university libraries by using a structured questionnaire. Out of the total 104 LIS professionals, 84 participated in the study with a response ratio of 80.76%. Findings-The findings disclose that out of 23 universities recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, 17 (public and private) have developed IRs. Currently, university libraries that have fully implemented the IRs are less as compared with those universities that have partially implemented IR software. However, a good number of university libraries are in the process to develop IRs. Free and open-source software is being used mostly in libraries as compared with in-house developed, locally developed or commercial software. The opinion of librarians about using IR software expressed a positive attitude of librarians. Some of the major challenges encountered by the librarians in using open-source IR software include selection of suitable software and materials for digitization, lack of cooperation from the parent organization, inadequate training opportunities and lack of skilled staff. Research limitations/implications-This study is geographically limited to the university libraries in Islamabad. Practical implications-This study will encourage the Pakistani LIS professionals to use open-source software for the development of IRs in their libraries. Originality/value-This study concludes that the development of IRs in university libraries is a need of the hour. Although the launching of IRs requires certain skills and competencies, Pakistani librarians can overcome these challenges by mastering the ICT skills.

Research paper thumbnail of Use of software for automation of academic libraries in Sialkot

Emerald, 2023

Purpose-The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academ... more Purpose-The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academic libraries in Sialkot. This study consisted of three objectives, including recognizing the reasons to adopt the software for library automation, investigating the problems faced by librarians while using library software and identifying the satisfaction level with the attributes of library software. Design/methodology/approach-A quantitative research approach was used to achieve the objectives of this study. A survey was conducted to collect data from the library information science professionals working in the academic libraries of Sialkot. The data was collected from 46 library professionals through a structured questionnaire. Findings-The findings showed that the economic cost of implementation, maintenance and the software providing multilingual support were the major reasons for adoption of software for the purpose of automation. In this study, compliance with the internet, noncooperation in library automation by university/institution, availability of training facilities, insufficient library budget, a lack of financial/economic resources, staff transfer and a lack of consultancy and technical service were identified as major issues when using library automation software. However, the respondents were quite satisfied with the performance of software attributes including circulation modules, easy to use cataloguing modules, reports' modules, software attributes of administration modules and multilingual facility. Originality/value-This study persuades library and information science professionals to automate their libraries through the adoption of library software.

Research paper thumbnail of Open access movement in the scholarly world: Pathways for libraries in developing countries

Journal of Information Science, Oct 26, 2023

Open access (OA) is a scholarly publishing model that has emerged as an alternative to traditiona... more Open access (OA) is a scholarly publishing model that has emerged as an alternative to traditional subscription-based journal publishing. This study explores the adoption of the open access movement worldwide and the role that libraries can play in addressing those factors which are slowing its progress within developing countries. The study has drawn upon both qualitative data from a focused literature review and quantitative data from major open-access platforms. The results indicate that while the open access movement is steadily gaining acceptance worldwide, the progress in developing countries within geographical areas such as Africa, Asia, and Oceania is quite a bit slower. Two significant factors are the cost of publishing fees and the lack of institutional open-access mandates and policies to encourage uptake. The study provides suggested strategies for academic libraries to help overcome current challenges.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of social media on the academic performance of college students in Kashmir

Information discovery and delivery, Dec 10, 2020

Purpose The use of social media is prevalent and having the largest number of members than any ot... more Purpose The use of social media is prevalent and having the largest number of members than any other online platform available on the internet. Members of all age groups use social media websites according to their needs. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media usage on the academic performance of college students in Kashmir. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was formulated and a survey was carried out to collect data from the undergraduate students of different government colleges in Kashmir. The questionnaires were distributed randomly among both, male and female of the first, second and third year students of different undergraduate programs. Findings The findings show a majority of the students use social media networking sites to fulfill their educational needs. YouTube is the most largely used social media network among undergraduate students. A majority of the students feel that social media networks are easy to use and they have been using these sites for the past three years. The use of social media greatly helps the students to share knowledge and information with others, to improve their academic grades and to improve their reading and writing skills. A majority of the students spend an hour in using social media networks. Students use their laptops, mobile phones and personal computers to access social media websites. Social implications This study will help to highlight the important role of social media networks in the pedagogical activities of students. Originality/value This study affirms that students do use social media networking sites for academic purposes, which is a good factor to improve their academic skills and grades. Teachers must encourage their students to make the best use of social media networking sites for recreational and academic purposes.

Research paper thumbnail of Evolution of research data management in academic libraries: A review of the literature

Information Development

This study provides insights into the evolution and conceptual framework of research data managem... more This study provides insights into the evolution and conceptual framework of research data management (RDM). It also investigates the role of libraries and librarians in offering data management services and the challenges they face in this regard. The study is qualitative in nature and based on an extensive literature review survey. The analysis of the reviewed literature reveals that the idea of RDM has emerged as a new addition to library research support services. The more recent literature clearly established the pivotal role of libraries and librarians in developing and managing RDM services. However, data sharing practices and the development of RDM services in libraries are more prevalent in developed countries. While these trends are still lacking among researchers and libraries in developing countries. Creating awareness among researchers about the benefits of data sharing is a challenging task for libraries. Furthermore, institutional commitment, collaboration, academic en...

Research paper thumbnail of Use of software for automation of academic libraries in Sialkot

Information Discovery and Delivery

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academ... more Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academic libraries in Sialkot. This study consisted of three objectives, including recognizing the reasons to adopt the software for library automation, investigating the problems faced by librarians while using library software and identifying the satisfaction level with the attributes of library software. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was used to achieve the objectives of this study. A survey was conducted to collect data from the library information science professionals working in the academic libraries of Sialkot. The data was collected from 46 library professionals through a structured questionnaire. Findings The findings showed that the economic cost of implementation, maintenance and the software providing multilingual support were the major reasons for adoption of software for the purpose of automation. In this study, compliance with the internet, noncoo...

Research paper thumbnail of Information and communication technology skills among library and information science professionals: A predictor of enhanced library services

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Sep 30, 2020

The purpose of this study is to measure the information and communication technology (ICT) skills... more The purpose of this study is to measure the information and communication technology (ICT) skills of library and information science professionals considering it as a predictor of enhanced library services. The study also finds out which ICT skill is the best predictor for better library services. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from librarians at university libraries in Punjab, Pakistan. Four constructs – computer skills, information storage skills, information retrieval skills and online utility software skills – were taken as the independent variables and a construct measuring library performance was taken as the dependent variable. After checking all assumptions, a multiple regression was run to predict the dependent variable from the independent variables. Further, comparison among the independent variables was made to check the level of contribution towards library performance. The regression model shows that the explanatory power of ICT skills for enhanced library services is slightly high, which indicates that a higher level of ICT competency among librarians is important for enhanced library services. Furthermore, the beta coefficient illustrates that the contribution of information retrieval skills towards enhanced library services was relatively high compared with the three other ICT skills. The study concludes that ICT skills are a prerequisite for better library services and the professional development of librarians.

Research paper thumbnail of Relationship between Organizational Culture and Knowledge Sharing: A Study of University Librarians

Libri, May 26, 2020

Abstract This paper aims to examine how librarians construe organizational culture based on emplo... more Abstract This paper aims to examine how librarians construe organizational culture based on employees’ satisfaction, good leadership, and organizational support with knowledge sharing practices relationships. The quantitative research method, using a structured questionnaire comprised of three constructs of Organizational Culture (OC), including employees’ satisfaction, good leadership, and organizational support, and six constructs of Knowledge Sharing (KS) (innovation, collaboration, communication channel, trust, loyalty, and ethics), was considered as the most suitable for this study. Correlation research design and Pearson correlation test were used for examining the relationships between OC and KS with respect to academic librarians. The findings disclosed significant relationships between OC and KS among the study participants. Organizational support followed by good leadership style and employees’ satisfaction are the strong predictors of knowledge sharing practices in the context of this study. This study has some practical implications for academic library administrators to consider the role of effective organizational culture in promoting knowledge sharing practices among LIS professionals. This paper is the first attempt to explore the relationship between OC and KS in library perspective.

Research paper thumbnail of Information literacy instruction in the university education: Infrastructure for improving the ability for practical use of information

Journal of Information Processing and Management, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Fourth industrial revolution (4IR): librarians' perceptions encompass the art of thinking skill

Library Management

PurposeThe world is moving toward a new industrial revolution period where digital technology has... more PurposeThe world is moving toward a new industrial revolution period where digital technology has achieved unprecedented developments. The industrial revolution (IR) is a subcategory of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). This paper aims to discuss the 4IR technologies from the perspective of librarians. It investigates the perceptions of librarians about the 4IR.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in the Malaysian academic libraries. A set of eight open-ended questions were designed to investigate the challenges, barriers and business case to encompass the art of thinking skills in information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). The participants were a group of librarians' working in the 4IR with a glimpse of the transformation toward smart libraries. Four librarians' answered the blurred line and fill the gap between life as a librarian and technology as the cutting edge of industry development.FindingsThe findings of this study on the 4IR a...

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness, use and attitudes of the Indian higher educational institutions students about scholarly open access: an empirical analysis

Library Management

PurposeOpen access is a new scholarly publishing model that has appeared in place of the commerci... more PurposeOpen access is a new scholarly publishing model that has appeared in place of the commercial publishing model. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of awareness, use and attitudes of the Indian students in higher educational institutions about scholarly open access.Design/methodology/approachSurvey method was used in the study. The sample population of the study was 212 Indian students belonging to different higher educational institutions in India.FindingsThe results of the study reveal a gloomy picture about the open access (OA) awareness and use among Indian students. Unfamiliarity with the OA journals and high publication fee were the main obstacles for the students not to publish in OA journals. However, a majority of the students reported their willingness to publish in OA journals in future if the obstacles are removed. A very meager ratio of the respondents had published in OA journals so far. In addition, motivational factors for publishing in OA journa...

Research paper thumbnail of A study of the determinants of postgraduate students’ satisfaction of using online research databases

Journal of Information Science, 2019

In today’s technology-enriched environment, online research databases have become an indispensabl... more In today’s technology-enriched environment, online research databases have become an indispensable tool in learning and research activities. Libraries worldwide have incorporated them as an integral part of their current service delivery. This study intends to determine whether the technology satisfaction model (TSM) validly measures postgraduate students’ satisfaction of using online research databases in an academic library. It further explores the relationships among antecedents within the model. To measure the components of the TSM, the stratified random sampling strategy was used to conduct a survey with 300 postgraduate students from six faculties of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) in Pakistan. The data were statistically analysed using the Rasch model and structural equation modelling (SEM). The results of the study illustrate direct and indirect associations among the exogenous, endogenous and mediating variables of the TSM, with the studied postgraduate students’ compute...

Research paper thumbnail of Open source software adoption for development of institutional repositories in university libraries of Islamabad

Information Discovery and Delivery

Purpose This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR... more Purpose This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR) software’s usage in the university libraries of Islamabad. This study also investigates the views, satisfaction level and challenges of librarians in the adoption and use of IR software. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted to collect data from the Library Information Science (LIS) professionals working in the university libraries of Islamabad. Data were collected from all library professionals of the Islamabad university libraries by using a structured questionnaire. Out of the total 104 LIS professionals, 84 participated in the study with a response ratio of 80.76%. Findings The findings disclose that out of 23 universities recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, 17 (public and private) have developed IRs. Currently, university libraries that have fully implemented the IRs are less as compared with those universities that have partially implemented...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing the perceived research competencies of academic librarians in Pakistan: Implications for work performance

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science

This study aims to investigate the research experience, perceived research capabilities, and role... more This study aims to investigate the research experience, perceived research capabilities, and role of LIS education in reading and doing research. It further explores their preferred educational activities to learn research skills and the impact of research competencies on their work performance. An online survey was conducted through a questionnaire and the data were collected from the librarians working in academic libraries in Pakistan. The findings revealed that a majority of the academic librarians wrote either journal article/s or presented their research in conferences. With regard to research competencies, academic librarians indicated their high confidence in performing discrete steps involved in a research project. However, the participants noted their lack of confidence in knowing which statistical test(s) to run and how to code qualitative data to identify themes and sub-themes. The study also revealed that Library Information Science (LIS) qualification more adequately t...

Research paper thumbnail of Scholarly open access journals in medicine: A bibliometric study of DOAJ

The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Resources, Services and Systems of TEVTA College Libraries in Punjab

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Social Networking Sites and Knowledge Sharing Practices by the LIS Professionals in Pakistan

Poster paper for the 2017 International Conference on Knowledge Management. This paper studies th... more Poster paper for the 2017 International Conference on Knowledge Management. This paper studies the level of awareness and use of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and MySpace. It further explores the purpose, problems and the impact of these social networking sites on library services.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating the usability of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology library website: a case study

The Electronic Library, 2017

Purpose Library websites serve as gateways to the information resources and services of their lib... more Purpose Library websites serve as gateways to the information resources and services of their libraries. In today’s digital age, the development of websites is inevitable for libraries as a means to provide users with online services at their desktops. This case study reports the findings of a usability study of an academic library website from the user’s perspective. Design/methodology/approach An online survey on the efficacy of the website and statistical reports from Google Analytics were used as tools to assess and track the use of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) Institute of Information Technology’s (CIIT’s) library website resources by national and international users. A sample of 550 users was invited by e-mail to respond to the questionnaire covering various usability features of the website. Findings Findings reveal that users are largely satisfied with the usefulness, convenience, design and quality of CIIT libra...

Research paper thumbnail of Research Productivity of LIS Schools in Pakistan: A Study of MPhil and PhD Theses to 2015

portal: Libraries and the Academy, 2017

This article aims to present a comprehensive review of MPhil and PhD research theses produced by ... more This article aims to present a comprehensive review of MPhil and PhD research theses produced by library and information science (LIS) schools in Pakistan from their beginning to 2015. It also explores the research trends in LIS, identifies gaps, and presents an agenda for future research by LIS scholars. The origin, development, and current status of postgraduate programs in LIS schools are also discussed. Data were collected by using a self-structured questionnaire, by consulting previous research studies, and through personal communication. Findings show that although the number of LIS schools in Pakistani universities has risen to 12, just 5 offer MPhil and PhD programs. A lack of PhD faculty members in LIS departments is the major hurdle to offering MPhil and PhD degrees. However, many Pakistani LIS professionals are pursuing advanced degrees, with 87.5 percent of the total theses produced in the last five years. Up to 2015, 19 library professionals have earned PhD degrees and 125 have achieved MPhil degrees from different Pakistani universities. Moreover, presently a huge number of scholars are enrolled in postgraduate programs at LIS schools. At present, research is primarily conducted by library schools either in the form of Master's theses or on a voluntary basis by individual faculty members. The amount of research and its quality is limited, but still the major areas of research have been crystallized and the foundation has been laid for more serious work on various topics of interest by future researchers.

Research paper thumbnail of Development of Information Commons in University Libraries of Pakistan: The Current Scenario

The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Open source software adoption for development of institutional repositories in university libraries of Islamabad

Emerald, 2022

Purpose-This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR... more Purpose-This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR) software's usage in the university libraries of Islamabad. This study also investigates the views, satisfaction level and challenges of librarians in the adoption and use of IR software. Design/methodology/approach-A survey was conducted to collect data from the Library Information Science (LIS) professionals working in the university libraries of Islamabad. Data were collected from all library professionals of the Islamabad university libraries by using a structured questionnaire. Out of the total 104 LIS professionals, 84 participated in the study with a response ratio of 80.76%. Findings-The findings disclose that out of 23 universities recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, 17 (public and private) have developed IRs. Currently, university libraries that have fully implemented the IRs are less as compared with those universities that have partially implemented IR software. However, a good number of university libraries are in the process to develop IRs. Free and open-source software is being used mostly in libraries as compared with in-house developed, locally developed or commercial software. The opinion of librarians about using IR software expressed a positive attitude of librarians. Some of the major challenges encountered by the librarians in using open-source IR software include selection of suitable software and materials for digitization, lack of cooperation from the parent organization, inadequate training opportunities and lack of skilled staff. Research limitations/implications-This study is geographically limited to the university libraries in Islamabad. Practical implications-This study will encourage the Pakistani LIS professionals to use open-source software for the development of IRs in their libraries. Originality/value-This study concludes that the development of IRs in university libraries is a need of the hour. Although the launching of IRs requires certain skills and competencies, Pakistani librarians can overcome these challenges by mastering the ICT skills.

Research paper thumbnail of Use of software for automation of academic libraries in Sialkot

Emerald, 2023

Purpose-The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academ... more Purpose-The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academic libraries in Sialkot. This study consisted of three objectives, including recognizing the reasons to adopt the software for library automation, investigating the problems faced by librarians while using library software and identifying the satisfaction level with the attributes of library software. Design/methodology/approach-A quantitative research approach was used to achieve the objectives of this study. A survey was conducted to collect data from the library information science professionals working in the academic libraries of Sialkot. The data was collected from 46 library professionals through a structured questionnaire. Findings-The findings showed that the economic cost of implementation, maintenance and the software providing multilingual support were the major reasons for adoption of software for the purpose of automation. In this study, compliance with the internet, noncooperation in library automation by university/institution, availability of training facilities, insufficient library budget, a lack of financial/economic resources, staff transfer and a lack of consultancy and technical service were identified as major issues when using library automation software. However, the respondents were quite satisfied with the performance of software attributes including circulation modules, easy to use cataloguing modules, reports' modules, software attributes of administration modules and multilingual facility. Originality/value-This study persuades library and information science professionals to automate their libraries through the adoption of library software.

Research paper thumbnail of Open access movement in the scholarly world: Pathways for libraries in developing countries

Journal of Information Science, Oct 26, 2023

Open access (OA) is a scholarly publishing model that has emerged as an alternative to traditiona... more Open access (OA) is a scholarly publishing model that has emerged as an alternative to traditional subscription-based journal publishing. This study explores the adoption of the open access movement worldwide and the role that libraries can play in addressing those factors which are slowing its progress within developing countries. The study has drawn upon both qualitative data from a focused literature review and quantitative data from major open-access platforms. The results indicate that while the open access movement is steadily gaining acceptance worldwide, the progress in developing countries within geographical areas such as Africa, Asia, and Oceania is quite a bit slower. Two significant factors are the cost of publishing fees and the lack of institutional open-access mandates and policies to encourage uptake. The study provides suggested strategies for academic libraries to help overcome current challenges.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of social media on the academic performance of college students in Kashmir

Information discovery and delivery, Dec 10, 2020

Purpose The use of social media is prevalent and having the largest number of members than any ot... more Purpose The use of social media is prevalent and having the largest number of members than any other online platform available on the internet. Members of all age groups use social media websites according to their needs. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media usage on the academic performance of college students in Kashmir. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was formulated and a survey was carried out to collect data from the undergraduate students of different government colleges in Kashmir. The questionnaires were distributed randomly among both, male and female of the first, second and third year students of different undergraduate programs. Findings The findings show a majority of the students use social media networking sites to fulfill their educational needs. YouTube is the most largely used social media network among undergraduate students. A majority of the students feel that social media networks are easy to use and they have been using these sites for the past three years. The use of social media greatly helps the students to share knowledge and information with others, to improve their academic grades and to improve their reading and writing skills. A majority of the students spend an hour in using social media networks. Students use their laptops, mobile phones and personal computers to access social media websites. Social implications This study will help to highlight the important role of social media networks in the pedagogical activities of students. Originality/value This study affirms that students do use social media networking sites for academic purposes, which is a good factor to improve their academic skills and grades. Teachers must encourage their students to make the best use of social media networking sites for recreational and academic purposes.

Research paper thumbnail of Evolution of research data management in academic libraries: A review of the literature

Information Development

This study provides insights into the evolution and conceptual framework of research data managem... more This study provides insights into the evolution and conceptual framework of research data management (RDM). It also investigates the role of libraries and librarians in offering data management services and the challenges they face in this regard. The study is qualitative in nature and based on an extensive literature review survey. The analysis of the reviewed literature reveals that the idea of RDM has emerged as a new addition to library research support services. The more recent literature clearly established the pivotal role of libraries and librarians in developing and managing RDM services. However, data sharing practices and the development of RDM services in libraries are more prevalent in developed countries. While these trends are still lacking among researchers and libraries in developing countries. Creating awareness among researchers about the benefits of data sharing is a challenging task for libraries. Furthermore, institutional commitment, collaboration, academic en...

Research paper thumbnail of Use of software for automation of academic libraries in Sialkot

Information Discovery and Delivery

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academ... more Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the use of software for the automation of academic libraries in Sialkot. This study consisted of three objectives, including recognizing the reasons to adopt the software for library automation, investigating the problems faced by librarians while using library software and identifying the satisfaction level with the attributes of library software. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was used to achieve the objectives of this study. A survey was conducted to collect data from the library information science professionals working in the academic libraries of Sialkot. The data was collected from 46 library professionals through a structured questionnaire. Findings The findings showed that the economic cost of implementation, maintenance and the software providing multilingual support were the major reasons for adoption of software for the purpose of automation. In this study, compliance with the internet, noncoo...

Research paper thumbnail of Information and communication technology skills among library and information science professionals: A predictor of enhanced library services

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Sep 30, 2020

The purpose of this study is to measure the information and communication technology (ICT) skills... more The purpose of this study is to measure the information and communication technology (ICT) skills of library and information science professionals considering it as a predictor of enhanced library services. The study also finds out which ICT skill is the best predictor for better library services. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from librarians at university libraries in Punjab, Pakistan. Four constructs – computer skills, information storage skills, information retrieval skills and online utility software skills – were taken as the independent variables and a construct measuring library performance was taken as the dependent variable. After checking all assumptions, a multiple regression was run to predict the dependent variable from the independent variables. Further, comparison among the independent variables was made to check the level of contribution towards library performance. The regression model shows that the explanatory power of ICT skills for enhanced library services is slightly high, which indicates that a higher level of ICT competency among librarians is important for enhanced library services. Furthermore, the beta coefficient illustrates that the contribution of information retrieval skills towards enhanced library services was relatively high compared with the three other ICT skills. The study concludes that ICT skills are a prerequisite for better library services and the professional development of librarians.

Research paper thumbnail of Relationship between Organizational Culture and Knowledge Sharing: A Study of University Librarians

Libri, May 26, 2020

Abstract This paper aims to examine how librarians construe organizational culture based on emplo... more Abstract This paper aims to examine how librarians construe organizational culture based on employees’ satisfaction, good leadership, and organizational support with knowledge sharing practices relationships. The quantitative research method, using a structured questionnaire comprised of three constructs of Organizational Culture (OC), including employees’ satisfaction, good leadership, and organizational support, and six constructs of Knowledge Sharing (KS) (innovation, collaboration, communication channel, trust, loyalty, and ethics), was considered as the most suitable for this study. Correlation research design and Pearson correlation test were used for examining the relationships between OC and KS with respect to academic librarians. The findings disclosed significant relationships between OC and KS among the study participants. Organizational support followed by good leadership style and employees’ satisfaction are the strong predictors of knowledge sharing practices in the context of this study. This study has some practical implications for academic library administrators to consider the role of effective organizational culture in promoting knowledge sharing practices among LIS professionals. This paper is the first attempt to explore the relationship between OC and KS in library perspective.

Research paper thumbnail of Information literacy instruction in the university education: Infrastructure for improving the ability for practical use of information

Journal of Information Processing and Management, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Fourth industrial revolution (4IR): librarians' perceptions encompass the art of thinking skill

Library Management

PurposeThe world is moving toward a new industrial revolution period where digital technology has... more PurposeThe world is moving toward a new industrial revolution period where digital technology has achieved unprecedented developments. The industrial revolution (IR) is a subcategory of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). This paper aims to discuss the 4IR technologies from the perspective of librarians. It investigates the perceptions of librarians about the 4IR.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in the Malaysian academic libraries. A set of eight open-ended questions were designed to investigate the challenges, barriers and business case to encompass the art of thinking skills in information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). The participants were a group of librarians' working in the 4IR with a glimpse of the transformation toward smart libraries. Four librarians' answered the blurred line and fill the gap between life as a librarian and technology as the cutting edge of industry development.FindingsThe findings of this study on the 4IR a...

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness, use and attitudes of the Indian higher educational institutions students about scholarly open access: an empirical analysis

Library Management

PurposeOpen access is a new scholarly publishing model that has appeared in place of the commerci... more PurposeOpen access is a new scholarly publishing model that has appeared in place of the commercial publishing model. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of awareness, use and attitudes of the Indian students in higher educational institutions about scholarly open access.Design/methodology/approachSurvey method was used in the study. The sample population of the study was 212 Indian students belonging to different higher educational institutions in India.FindingsThe results of the study reveal a gloomy picture about the open access (OA) awareness and use among Indian students. Unfamiliarity with the OA journals and high publication fee were the main obstacles for the students not to publish in OA journals. However, a majority of the students reported their willingness to publish in OA journals in future if the obstacles are removed. A very meager ratio of the respondents had published in OA journals so far. In addition, motivational factors for publishing in OA journa...

Research paper thumbnail of A study of the determinants of postgraduate students’ satisfaction of using online research databases

Journal of Information Science, 2019

In today’s technology-enriched environment, online research databases have become an indispensabl... more In today’s technology-enriched environment, online research databases have become an indispensable tool in learning and research activities. Libraries worldwide have incorporated them as an integral part of their current service delivery. This study intends to determine whether the technology satisfaction model (TSM) validly measures postgraduate students’ satisfaction of using online research databases in an academic library. It further explores the relationships among antecedents within the model. To measure the components of the TSM, the stratified random sampling strategy was used to conduct a survey with 300 postgraduate students from six faculties of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) in Pakistan. The data were statistically analysed using the Rasch model and structural equation modelling (SEM). The results of the study illustrate direct and indirect associations among the exogenous, endogenous and mediating variables of the TSM, with the studied postgraduate students’ compute...

Research paper thumbnail of Open source software adoption for development of institutional repositories in university libraries of Islamabad

Information Discovery and Delivery

Purpose This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR... more Purpose This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR) software’s usage in the university libraries of Islamabad. This study also investigates the views, satisfaction level and challenges of librarians in the adoption and use of IR software. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted to collect data from the Library Information Science (LIS) professionals working in the university libraries of Islamabad. Data were collected from all library professionals of the Islamabad university libraries by using a structured questionnaire. Out of the total 104 LIS professionals, 84 participated in the study with a response ratio of 80.76%. Findings The findings disclose that out of 23 universities recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, 17 (public and private) have developed IRs. Currently, university libraries that have fully implemented the IRs are less as compared with those universities that have partially implemented...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing the perceived research competencies of academic librarians in Pakistan: Implications for work performance

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science

This study aims to investigate the research experience, perceived research capabilities, and role... more This study aims to investigate the research experience, perceived research capabilities, and role of LIS education in reading and doing research. It further explores their preferred educational activities to learn research skills and the impact of research competencies on their work performance. An online survey was conducted through a questionnaire and the data were collected from the librarians working in academic libraries in Pakistan. The findings revealed that a majority of the academic librarians wrote either journal article/s or presented their research in conferences. With regard to research competencies, academic librarians indicated their high confidence in performing discrete steps involved in a research project. However, the participants noted their lack of confidence in knowing which statistical test(s) to run and how to code qualitative data to identify themes and sub-themes. The study also revealed that Library Information Science (LIS) qualification more adequately t...

Research paper thumbnail of Scholarly open access journals in medicine: A bibliometric study of DOAJ

The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Resources, Services and Systems of TEVTA College Libraries in Punjab

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Social Networking Sites and Knowledge Sharing Practices by the LIS Professionals in Pakistan

Poster paper for the 2017 International Conference on Knowledge Management. This paper studies th... more Poster paper for the 2017 International Conference on Knowledge Management. This paper studies the level of awareness and use of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and MySpace. It further explores the purpose, problems and the impact of these social networking sites on library services.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluating the usability of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology library website: a case study

The Electronic Library, 2017

Purpose Library websites serve as gateways to the information resources and services of their lib... more Purpose Library websites serve as gateways to the information resources and services of their libraries. In today’s digital age, the development of websites is inevitable for libraries as a means to provide users with online services at their desktops. This case study reports the findings of a usability study of an academic library website from the user’s perspective. Design/methodology/approach An online survey on the efficacy of the website and statistical reports from Google Analytics were used as tools to assess and track the use of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) Institute of Information Technology’s (CIIT’s) library website resources by national and international users. A sample of 550 users was invited by e-mail to respond to the questionnaire covering various usability features of the website. Findings Findings reveal that users are largely satisfied with the usefulness, convenience, design and quality of CIIT libra...

Research paper thumbnail of Research Productivity of LIS Schools in Pakistan: A Study of MPhil and PhD Theses to 2015

portal: Libraries and the Academy, 2017

This article aims to present a comprehensive review of MPhil and PhD research theses produced by ... more This article aims to present a comprehensive review of MPhil and PhD research theses produced by library and information science (LIS) schools in Pakistan from their beginning to 2015. It also explores the research trends in LIS, identifies gaps, and presents an agenda for future research by LIS scholars. The origin, development, and current status of postgraduate programs in LIS schools are also discussed. Data were collected by using a self-structured questionnaire, by consulting previous research studies, and through personal communication. Findings show that although the number of LIS schools in Pakistani universities has risen to 12, just 5 offer MPhil and PhD programs. A lack of PhD faculty members in LIS departments is the major hurdle to offering MPhil and PhD degrees. However, many Pakistani LIS professionals are pursuing advanced degrees, with 87.5 percent of the total theses produced in the last five years. Up to 2015, 19 library professionals have earned PhD degrees and 125 have achieved MPhil degrees from different Pakistani universities. Moreover, presently a huge number of scholars are enrolled in postgraduate programs at LIS schools. At present, research is primarily conducted by library schools either in the form of Master's theses or on a voluntary basis by individual faculty members. The amount of research and its quality is limited, but still the major areas of research have been crystallized and the foundation has been laid for more serious work on various topics of interest by future researchers.

Research paper thumbnail of Development of Information Commons in University Libraries of Pakistan: The Current Scenario

The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 2015