ABSTRACT
Information and communication technologies have influenced every part of the society. We have witnessed changes that were never imagined before. Information is available everywhere. Technologies have given us a chance to get information everywhere. There is also the relevance or traditional library techniques. Synthesis of different perspectives brought by the professionals will allow this new medium a viable one. Modern libraries are full of both print & electronic media. So Library professionals must be trained accordingly to integrate the new technologies and services to the library clients through Education and Training. Networked environment requires basic skills for the Library professionals to serve the client properly. Recognising the need for information, locating, accessing, evaluating and organising it.
Keywords : Technology, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Library & Information Services (LIS), Library professional Trainings.
Influence of ICT is immense. It offers access to the portals for remote resources of books, journals and other electric resources. It facilitate off site electronic access to local & remote resources from home, office or elsewhere. Library staff must be well equipped knowledge of ICT and to do this it requires the following points to be implemented.
Existing automated library services by hardware and software includes processor, server, storage devices, such as – Floppy, CD, DVD drives, Bluetooth, Pod cast, Telecommunication equipments, such as-Modem, Telephone & Fax and other peripherals, such as – Printer, Keyboard, Sound box, Speaker etc.
Library software to perform all sorts of duties such as Accession of books, Cataloguing, Classification, Reference Services, Selective Dissemi-nation of Information (SDI) Services, Routine Library administrative jobs etc.
Online resources assessment & dissemination
Use of Internet resources assessment skillfully & dissemination of it
Know CD-ROM Technologies & Databases available on CD-ROM
Know your library user community
Increase skill on VDO conferencing
In the library there are books & journals of old form and modern electronic forms and synthesis of both of these make a library viable to the library users. Still now there are traditional library collections and we cannot discard them and they have relevance to eater knowledge to the library users and it is very easy to read the hard copy of books, it requires no modern gadgets to read and we must give importance to the following points.
In the electronic library holdings, library is not the owner, it purchase the online matter and use it and process the collection for access and use only. It may be on lease basis also. When lease is over access is not possible.
In the library there must be both printed and electronic books and journals and other electronic resources also. Combination of the library may be well organised. Librarian must balance the two. We can say whether information available on print or electronic is not so important. It is the Content, which is important. I am to quote – “Librarian can not avoid the hardware, software and accessories but if we place too much importance on them, we may miss the content” – Devis, 1997.
Each information format has strength and weaknesses. The main point to consider is the satisfaction of user’s need.
There are changes of technologies very quickly. Hardware, software products have changed drastically. The expert librarian with these technologies offering best services to the clients, i.e. library users. Adopting New Technologies the Librarian requires to consider the following points.
Develop the Library Mission and goal and proceed accordingly
Prepare Budgetary plan to implement it.
Evaluate the present technology and services
Asses the clients need (* Clients need is judged by Questionnaires survey and data derived from it is being used for better library services. Please see the Questionnaire in the attached annexure part.)
Update your technology from time to time
Regular staff training for having the current knowledge in the field and join the Continuing Education Programme (CEP)
Develop the Library Mission & goal & proceed accordingly
Prepare Budgetary plan to implement it
Prepare the Budget to implement Technology plan
Automation costs: It is important to automate the Library services and it involves the installation and operational costs of the integrated State of the Art Library and Information Services
Figure -2 Shows the cost in every aspect
PLANNING AND CONSULTING COSTS: – Hire an expert consultant to assist long range Technology Planning and to prepare all staff properly trained to do all sorts of job.
INITIAL PURCHASE COSTS: It includes purchasing Hardware & Software, preparing library Website and maintaining all sorts of Library services.
HARDWARE COVERS: Servers, Disc Drives, Work stations, Printers, Routers, Switches, Scanner, Modem, UPS, Keyboard, Copier, Pen drives, Telephone etc.
SOFTWARE: Licensing of Vendor’s supplied Software to run the system for proper functioning of Circulation, Acquisition, Cataloguing, Classification, Issue of reminder for over due or lost books, Reference services, Regular Library administrative jobs.
ROOMS AND WEBSITE PREPARATION: Rent for space for website to the service provider. Proper room arrangement to install these for library services. A.C Room costs. Phone Bill cost, Training of Staff Costs etc.
COST FOR PURCHASE OF NETWORK SPECIFIC HARDWARE, CABLE LINE FOR LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN) ETC. – LAN system by Ethernet based network Cable wire for connecting server and working PC terminals.
TCP/IP – Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocols Leased line Broadband phone connection cost. Operating system such as LINUX/ UNIX/MAC/WINDOWS NT-2000 costs for the automation system.
PURCHASING DATA BASES – On line database purchase costs and for CD-ROM databases costs
Evaluate the present Technology and Services
Figure – 3: Evaluation Sheet
| Services Areas Plan Strategy | Old | New | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cataloguing | Card Catalogue | OPAC (MARC-21 & Dublin core Metadata | Modern technique and quick services. It may be accessed from any where |
| Classification | Dewey Decimal Classification 21st ed (DDC-21st ed) | DDc-23rd ed | Easy to retrieve information |
| Circulation | Browne charging system. It is time consuming, Reader must come to the library for reissue of books | Electronic charging (online) | Easy, time saving, reader may reissue books from outside |
| Administrative jobs | Traditional Paper works, times consuming | Electronic data input in P,C. is very easy. No paper required | Easy, Time saving and data retrieve and printout is also possible |
| Purchasing | Ordering through paper works. It takes much time. Payment through cheque | Ordering by email, Payment through Online Banking | Time saving payment by online and it takes no time and very easy |
| Barcode the collections | Only card catalogue record is there | Electronic RFID barcoding (RFID- Radio Frequency Identification) | Easy to get data about library collection from anywhere, any time |
| Maintaining Bibliographic and other Databases on | Only paper based Bibliographic and other databases recorded | Electronic, online data, CD-ROM databases collections | Easy to get data about library collection from anywhere, any time |
| CD-ROM |
Asses the clients need
Figure – 4 : Client’s need assessment
PRINT AND ONLINE MEDIA COLLECTIONS
CIRCULATION
USERS
ACQUISITION
REFERENCE SERVICES
Document Delivery Services
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE WEBSITE
Access to the Institute Library Website
UPDATE YOUR TECHNOLOGY FROM TIME TO TIME
Institute Library adopted Technology must support the users’ need. Technology is changing day by day, so library must update the technology to support the users’ need and expectations.
Technology must help the Institute to achieve its goal Librarian must be aware of the existing technologies and their convergence to afford improved services to the clients.
STAFF TRAINING FOR UPDATING THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE
To train the library staff for updating their knowledge base the following points must be considered –
I. Give importance on the skills which are important for everyday library operation to dispense the clients’ need
II. Staff must be provided with practical training
III. Be sure that the trainees can use the up to date knowledge which they have gained and utilise it in their own library.
IV. Time to time check your library software, databases, and other equipments which should be updated and train the staff accordingly
V. Refresher courses must be given to the library staff on regular basis and evaluate their knowledge to utilise it in the library.
With the changes of the technology who can change and adopt the new one fruitfully success to achieve the goal of the Institute by better services. So the role of the Library and Librarian is immense and I do hope we must succeed and go ahead accordingly by proper planning.
Boardmand, Edna M. – We need two libraries : One electronic, One book. The Book report, Vol : 14, 1996 p 16-17
Caywood, Carolyn – Selection criteria for World Wide Web resources. Public Libraries. Vol : 35, 1996. p-169
CHOICE online – www. choiceonline.com [Accessed 2008, August 6].
Cohn, John. M., Ann L. Kelsey & Keith Michael Fields. 2000. Writing & Updating Technology Plans : A Guidebook with Sample Plans on CD-ROM. New York : Neal – Schuman.
Davis, Trisha – The Evolution of selection activities for electronic resources. Library Trends. Vol : 45 No. 3, 1997, p 391 – 403.
Dzurinko, Mary K, “Application Service Providers”. Integrated Library System Reports. November, 2000 [Online]www.ilsr.com/asp.htm. [Accessed 2008, August 6].
Hawbaker, A Craig & Cynthia K. Wagner – Periodical ownership versus full text online access : A cost-benefit analysis. The Journal of academic librarianship. Vol : 22, 1996 p105 – 109.
Jacob, M.E.L. 1990. Strategic planning : A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians New York : Neal Schuman.
La Guardia, Cheryl & Stella, Bentley – Electronic databases: Will old collection development policies still work? Online. Vol : 16, 1992, p 60-63
Library-license (www.library.yale.edu/~llicense/warrels.shtml). It is an excellent website which assists the librarians regarding legal terms and licensing issues.
New York State Education Department, “Door ways to Information in the 21st Century: Every New York Library an Electronic Doorway Library” 1998 Online available –www.nysl.nysed.gov /libdev/ edl/ thirdpln.htm [Accessed 2008, August 2].
Oakland (CA) Public Library. 1998. “Technology Competencies for Library Staff”. Fall 1998 [Online] www. Oakland library, org/ techcomp.html [Accessed 2008, August 6].
openchannelfoundation.org. [Accessed 2008, August 6].
Penniman, W. David. 1987. “Tomorrow’s Library Today. “Special Libraries 78, no. 3 (Summer) : 195-205.
Saffady, William- Introduction to Automation for Librarians. 4th ed. Chicago : American Library Association, 1999.
lib.uiowa.edu/a2.search/index. html[Accessed 2008, August 6].
netsci.org./resources/software/index.html [Accessed 2008, August 6].
vcclab.org [Accessed 2008, August 6].
