Changing Roles of Librarians in Digital Era

K. K. Gupta, Senior Technical Assistant, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

kamalkantg@sify.com

Dr. M. R. Rawtani, Associate Professor & Former Head,

Deptt. of Library and Information Science, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

mr1@bsnl.in

Abstract : With the information technological changes library

scenario is rapidly changing towards information centers. In

this electronic age the librarian of the future must be

equipped with a wide range of personal and transferable

skills in order to manage the changing environment in which

he works. 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/readers and choosing

automated library management systems.

Keywords: Digital Libraries, Librarianship

1 Introduction

The library in our country was originally conceived as Pustakalya or

Granthalaya i.e., a storehouse of books and literature meant for

dissemination of knowledge to its users. The libraries were expected to

store in a systematic manner the literature, records, books and

encyclopedias so as to facilitate their users to have an access to the

knowledge contained in these publications. A librarian was supposed to

maintain the records of the library through well-defined accession and an

issue and return system. He was also required to preserve the records,

books etc. so that it could be utilized over a long period of time. The

Librarian therefore, was considered as the custodian of the rich intellectual

wealth kept in the library.

The libraries of 21st

Century have to be conceived not merely as the

storehouse of knowledge but an effective mechanism to facilitate

dissemination of knowledge, promoting and sharing intellectual property.

In essence the libraries of electronic age have to be an effective support

mechanism for dissemination of knowledge.

2 New Roles of Librarian

In addition to the professional skills, the librarian of the future must be

equipped with a wide range of personal and transferable skills in order to

manage the changing environment in which he or she works. Management

and interpersonal skills will make librarians more effective managers of

networked resources and services. As Hastings says "it is more important

that digital librarians possess particular personal qualities rather than

specific technical expertise."

It is needless to say that in modern times the library professionals are not to

stick their heads in the sand. The information professionals must change

and adapt to the new electronic information environment. He or she must

learn about new technologies and be aware of the strengths and weaknesses

of them. Librarians should not feel threatened by computers and technical

developments but should move forward with the new technology and take

a pivotal role within organisations.

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 automated

library management systems. Skills in information organisation are more

necessary in this age of information explosion. Library and information

professionals have a key role to play in this era. For example, librarians are

well equipped to take intranet projects through the various stages of design

and maintenance, as they understand their users and their organisations’

information needs and have the range of skills to manage the knowledge

effectively.

The role of the librarian in this context is to help users find the information

they require then provide them with the tools to assess and use the

resources for their individual needs. Creth suggests that librarians achieve

this by "actively seeking out users in a variety of settings" and by making

"full use of information and multimedia technology" by offering

instruction in a variety of formats (including Web based instruction and

online tutorials).

3 User Education on the Internet

As the Web is increasingly becoming the first place that students will look

for materials the role of information professional, as intermediary, will also

grow in importance. As librarians working with this medium, it is up to us

to introduce the strengths and weaknesses of the Internet as any other

library resource during our user education programme. Just as a traditional

academic library offers a programme of "user education" to students and

teachers to maximise the benefit they receive from the library, Indian

libraries working in the Internet environment in conjunction with the

developing networked user education help people get more from this very

rich information service. It is our experience that many users do not realise

how rich a source, the Internet, can be used to find many research and

teaching materials. Traditional library user education in a university,

college or school offers users:

Library tours - to become familiar with the layout of sections of the

library,

Library induction sessions - to learn about the services available

and to learn how to use them,

Subject guides - to identify the key information resources for a

particular discipline,

Support from subject librarians - to get specialised help, and

Information skill development - to learn transferable skills in

information handling,

By applying a traditional library role such as user education and the

knowledge of the best resources available for their subjects in the Internet

environment an Internet librarian is well placed to provide a

comprehensive Internet information seeking skills.

4 Role as Intermediary

The librarian acting as an intermediary will have greater access to library

and external files than before, with the ability to add to and manipulate

them. These will include the order and receipt files as well as information

databases. The technical support staff will oversee the data on the system

to achieve overall efficiency and security as well as providing the

information worker with accurate and up to date information on which to

base decisions. The ability of the selector to obtain information rapidly

within the electronic environment and make the relationship between the

user and the information librarian and between the information librarian

and library management will help the users largely in finding the

information they require. In the present day the information librarian plays

an intermediary role, not only between the user and information, but also

between the library management structure and end user.

5 Role in Web publishing

Librarian can help bring scholarly information to the web in a number of

different ways. Firstly, we can be very assertive in prompting web

publishing. This can take the form of encouraging others to publish their

material on the issue of web publishing to the forefront of the campus

administrative agenda. Secondly, we may be actually publishing full text

articles on the web. These articles can be placed on home page or placed in

prominence on the library web server as an advertising message. Thirdly,

librarian may be indexing these web publications. Full-text indexing has

often proved to be less than helpful in term of precision and recall issue.

These published articles deserve at least the base intellectual access point

of author, title, and subject. Fourthly, we may keep adding value to web

publication through internal and external hyper links. These links make the

web just another intellectual platform. The value added aspect of the web,

especially its almost universal accessibility, its immediacy, and its

hypertext nature make a powerful and compelling argument for the concept

of scholarly web publishing.

6 Role in information management

In the area of information management, the librarian-

is responsible for the overall design, graphics, functionalities, and

technologies of the site,

mounts, maintains, and updates significant portions of the site,

maintains a master list of all subscription databases on the site, with

appropriate links, "about" files, etc.,

maintains aspects of the Citrix database project,

in close coordination with the Head of Library Systems, oversees

and coordinates the technical needs of the site with Academic

Computing,

oversees the expansion of the directory tree,

coordinates the inclusion of all new Web builders into the site,

solves technical problems for Web builders contributing to the site,

link checks the site, mounts reports on the staff Intranet,

maintains the staff Intranet, assists in planning for a "true" Intranet

Maps SAMBA to staff PCs as requested to create a user-friendly

Web building environment,

maintains subject resource pages,

maintains the Webmaster e-mail account, and

works with Library Systems and others to plan for Web

technologies that might be maintained within the Libraries.

7 Trains, instructs, supports staff and users in Internet-related topics

and technologies

The librarian of today-

1. teaches HTML to library staff; serves as the primary HTML

support for the University Libraries,

2. provides bibliographic instruction to staff and users on using the

Internet for research, Internet-related software, non-Web Internet

technologies, etc.,

3. solves Internet-related problems that occur on public and staff

workstations, and that with remote users,

4. creates/maintains informational handouts for the reference of

Internet workstations,

5. creates/maintains a large number of Web-based Internet tutorials,

6. coordinates the reference of Internet workstation area,

7. contributes to choosing the layout, furniture, equipment, and

workability of this area with the Head of Reference and Library

Systems, and

8. maintains signage, posting of use policies, etc.

8 Coordinates the introduction and upgrading of Internet-related

software

The librarian is-

1. responsible for testing, recommending, and training for each Web

browser upgrade,

2. responsible for the same with Web browser plug-ins and viewers,

3. recommends other Internet-related software as needed, and

4. meets regularly with other librarians, faculty and staff to ensure

effective communication on issues and new developments; plans

and revises services in response to needs.

9 Conclusion

The library professionals and those, working and managing modern

information system are required to possess the knowledge and skill to

handle challenge of 21st century. They are required to constantly update

their knowledge and skill base so as to work in today’s information and

knowledge system. Librarian can show the users that they still have the

human and oganisational skill to fulfill their true purpose in society.

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