New Paradigm New Practices and New Professionalism Needed to Meet Modern World Library Challenges (original) (raw)
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Building and Using Digital Libraries in the Developing World
Education Journal, 2013
Given the several problems faced by developing countries on their struggle to access print-based publications, digital libraries are seen as the great hope as they enable access to a vast panoply of resources, anytime and anywhere. However, building such libraries in developing countries is a real challenge since these countries usually face several difficulties, such as low computer and Internet penetration rates, poor ICT infrastructures, lack of qualified human resources, lack of financial resources, etc. Thus, it is imperative finding alternative mechanisms of building and accessing digital libraries that best fit the specificities of these countries. It is also important to understand how digital libraries are used in these contexts. This paper features the process used for building a digital library in a developing country, characterized by scarce access to print-based publications and serious difficulties in accessing ICT resources. The challenges, the solutions and the adopted methodological framework are highlighted and can be useful for other digital library projects in the developing world. The paper also presents a comparative study on the usage of the created digital library when compared with a traditional library with the same content, and introduces a user study on the possibility of using mobile phones for accessing digital libraries in this context.
Global Technological Trend in Academic Libraries
2021
The advent of Social Media Technologies (SMTs) has remodelled contemporary academic libraries in unprecedented ways as developed countries are metamorphosing from providing library services from the conventional labour-intensive systems to embrace some easy dynamic technologically SMT driven systems which is the global trend in service delivery. But the reverse is the case in Africa and likewise in Nigeria where there is a dearth of research on SMT culture, cognizance of these technologies, acceptance, and implementation in academic libraries. It is on this premise that this study examined the use of SMTs for a globalised library services in the University of Ibadan and Babcock University in South West Nigeria. The study adopted a post-positivist research paradigm and a mixed-method research approach with a survey research design. The population for the study comprised all academic librarians coupled with 4th-year level Computer Science students in the selected two universities. Whi...
SA Journal of Information Management, 2017
Introduction and conceptual background The purpose of university libraries is to support research, teaching and learning in universities. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) play a crucial role in the development of academic libraries. ICT has been defined as a diverse set of technological tools and resources that can be used to communicate, create, disseminate, store and manage information and knowledge in the global context (Blurton 1999:46). Also, UNESCO (2002) acknowledges that ICTs consist of a range of technologies that are applied in the process of collecting, storing, editing, retrieving and transferring information in various forms. They comprise both old and new technologies such as telecommunication technologies comprising telephony, cable, satellite, television, radio, computer-mediated conferencing and video conferencing; digital technologies such as computers, information networks, Internet, World Wide Web, intranets and extranets; and software applications (Anunobi et al. 2011; Ofori-Dwumfuo & Kommey 2013:92). Background: Presently, libraries, especially academic libraries, have increasingly used information and communication technologies (ICTs) to automate their core functions in order to implement efficient and effective library operations and services. This now requires library and information professionals as knowledge workers to intensify managing both explicit and tacit knowledge for the organisational growth of the libraries. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the use of ICT facilities that support knowledge management (KM) in academic libraries in Nigeria and South Africa. Methods: Both quantitative through survey and structured questionnaires and qualitative by content analysis and interview research methodologies were applied in the initial study. The qualitative approach of content analysis was applied to literature review, and key informants were also interviewed. One hundred and thirty-two professional librarians and six key informants across the sampled academic libraries in the two countries were targeted for information. The study sampled only six academic libraries, three in each country, which renders generalisation difficult. This article largely focuses on quantitative aspects of the study in the reported findings. Results: Availability and accessibility of ICTs for KM among the sampled libraries were not uniform, even within one country. Infrastructural support has affected some of the university libraries to a great extent. The knowledge and skills for using ICT for KM were largely adequate, but varied within the libraries and librarians as well. The challenges facing the libraries border on inadequate infrastructure and professional staff, but irrespective of the challenges faced, libraries have devised strategies for coping and rendering services. The study has provided new information relating to the use of ICT facilities and services for KM in academic libraries that calls for rigorous continuing education for re-skilling the librarians. The changing user behaviour also calls for major attention. Government support for academic libraries with policy and funding is still crucial. Conclusion and recommendation: The study concludes that because ICTs have had robust histories as used to support information services, both staff and students' information needs to be met in a variety of ways in academic libraries. This would help to foster and improve the understanding of how librarians manage the organisation in present-day library operations. We recommend that staff development be intensified to enable how librarians could cope with changes and new technologies for modern information services being encouraged and acquired. This article provides a unique long-term survey on the use of ICT facilities and services, strategy and structure in an academic and/or university library services.
The Library: Changing Role and services in 21st century's information societies
Conference: ICT and Library in Higher Education : An Indian Perspective, 2020
Libraries have existed for many years however in today’s digital world, wherever we've at our fingertips access to associate endless assortment of knowledge, a brand new customary of knowledge accomplishment has emerged. The libraries of the twenty first century offer a hospitable common area that encourages exploration, creation, and collaboration in societies between students, teachers, and a broader community. The study focuses on role of library and library professional in changing landscape of information societies and role of libraries in this changing moment. Also a short discussion about 21st century’s advanced library services with few challenges faced by libraries in this changing scenario.
In the past 25 years the emergence of the Internet had transformed information foraging and professional practice in various disciplines which are research-based and largely contributory to national development. The effects of Information Communications Technology (ICT) had been notable in the professions and skills acquisition agencies. It is significant to observe that globally, especially in the developed countries, LIS professionals have engaged in debates on the propriety or otherwise of integrating ICT in Library services delivery for four decades now. There are challenges of varying proportions which have mitigated ICT's full beneficial adoption for use. This problem was no less visible in the strategic frontier of education and training of LIS professionals. Evaluation of use of ICT in achieving quality service delivery in Libraries and Information establishments became necessary at least to realign with Institutional objectives, vision and mission for well-coordinated positive results in national development. In this perspective, papers have been contributed in this volume indicating actions and various measures needed to fulfill an acceptable level of practice. In doing this, it is natural to engender further debates and valuable exchange of ideas on the propriety or otherwise of the role of ICT in overall Library Development. Professor Olu Olat Lawal Editor-in-Chief
Libraries in the Early 21st Century: An International Perspective. Edited by R.N. Sharma., 2011
The development and use of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the libraries of Nigeria has been a slowly emerging process involving many successes and failures over the past decades. This chapter examines the history of this process while reviewing the challenges to this development that many libraries face because of inadequate infrastructure, and budgeted funding, as well as a lack of leadership and training for capacity building. Strategies for the way forward towards the effective and sustainable inclusion of technology in Nigerian libraries are suggested.
Digital library futuristics: Developing countries, universal access, and information for all
2004
Digital libraries are large, organized collections of information objects. Well-designed digital library software has the potential to enable non-specialist people to conceive, assemble, build, and disseminate new information collections. This has great social import because, by democratizing information dissemination, it provides a counterbalance to disturbing commercialization initiatives in the information and entertainment industries. This talk reviews trends in today's information environment, introduces digital library technology, and explores applications of digital libraries-including their use for disseminating humanitarian information in developing countries. We illustrate how currently available technology empowers users to build and publish information collections. Making digital libraries open to all, as conventional public libraries are, presents interesting challenges of universal access.
Challenges and Opportunities in Building a Successful Digital Library in Developing Countries
International Journal of ICT Research in Africa and the Middle East, 2020
The present research work describes the use of the electronic resources by the teaching community at Mekelle University, Ethiopia. The survey was conducted by using questionnaires to collect the data. The questionnaires were administrated to total 1516 on duty teaching faculties of seven colleges. Including the College of Natural and Computational Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Health Science, the College of Law and Governance, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Language and Social Sciences, College Dry Land Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as nine regular institutes including; the Ethiopian Institute of Technology, the Mekelle Institute of Technology, the Institute of Paleo Environment and Heritage Conservation, the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, the Institute of Geo-Information and Earth Observation Sciences, the Institute of Environment and Gender Development Studies, the Institute of Population Studies, the Institute ...
Information Communication Technology (Ict) and the Future of Library: A Review of Related Literature
2019
Libraries are created as an authenticated and authoritative parlance where knowledge of all human endeavor can be acquired, processed, preserved and made easily accessible by all irrespective of sex, status, religion, race or color. Its primary role is to meet the information need of its users and the society at large. These were achieved previously through conventional means of library services which includes the traditional means of acquiring, storing, retrieving, cataloguing and classification, circulation etc. of information. With the introduction of Information and communication technology library and information services have experienced unprecedented changes and transformation. This paper looked into conceptual background of ICT and library, the impact of ICT in libraries, their setbacks which pose as threats to the future of libraries in this ICT era, and also made possible suggestions on creating an ICT base libraries
ENHANCING LIBRARY OPERATIONS THROUGH THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Although information is being considered as a cultural and social asset, it is a remarkable development that it is now being purchased at high prices. Making these enormous libraries and archives available in a clear and organized manner by using the proper technologies is currently the greatest challenge for all those involved in knowledge management. This paper highlights the strategies for enhancing the performance of library operations through the use of appropriate modern information technology by reviewing the Information Technology (IT) implementation in Nigerian Library, application of modern technology in libraries of information age and strategies by which appropriate technology could be adopted in Nigerian library. Introduction Libraries have provided information services to support the educational, recreational, cultural, economic and technological endeavours over the years. The National Policy on Education (2004) identified the library as one of the most important aspects of educational support services. It is a medium for disseminating information and enhancing literature search and as a tool for the development of intellectual compatibilities and promotion of cultural and social integration. IT offers a wide range of opportunities, which could provide solutions to some of the major challenges of library operation. Rapid advances in modern technologies have greatly improved the capabilities of storage, processing, retrieval, repackaging, communicating, sharing, and managing the explosive growth of information effectively and economically in libraries. The use of IT in libraries has become inevitable in an era of information explosion and the emergence of a wide range of new technologies in order to satisfy the changing complex information needs of users.