empowering library and information professionals and library end-users of academic libraries in...

Empowering Library and Information Professionals and Library End-Users of

Academic Libraries in Changing Environment

Issues and Challenges

Dr. Manoj Kumar SinhaReader and Head of the Department

Department of Library and Information Science Assam University (A Central University)

Silchar-788 011, (Assam)E-mail : [email protected], [email protected],

[email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]





April 10, 2023 Refresher Course on Modernisation of Libraries in Digital Era, October 3-23, 2012

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Break-Up of Paper • Introduction• Paradigm Shift of Library from Traditional to ICT

Enabled Library – Development of Information Infrastructure in

Academic Libraries – Format of Knowledge Resources – Web 2.0 / Library 2.0 – Aims and Objectives of the Paper

• Academic Libraries • Concept and Definition of Empowerment • Changing Role of Library and Information


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Break-Up of Paper • Role of Library Networks and Other Professional Associations for

Empowering Library Professionals and Library End- Users – Role of INFLIBNET– Orientation and Refresher Course organized in Universities under UGC Sponsorship– Short Term Training Programmes by other Professional Associations / Bodies – Organizing Training and Seminar, Workshops and Conferences by College ,

University , and – Institutional Libraries / Department of Library and Information Science

• Steps Taken for Empowerment of Library Professionals and Library Users: A Case Study of Assam University, Silchar

• • Library Professionals Agencies Extending ICT Trainings

• Suggestions and Recommendations

• Conclusion


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Introduction : ICT • University Libraries are playing an important role in extending support for

teaching –learning process, research and development activities and other academic endeavour.

• At present the focus of teaching –learning process has been shifted from the class room teaching to library oriented teaching where users are required to supplement their class room teaching from the library resources available in their departmental library / central library for the examination preparation, assignment, projects and research activities.

• Therefore it is imperative for library users to know the printed as well as electronic resources available in their departmental library and central library to make optimum utilization of knowledge resources available to give best output to the university in particular and society in general.

• In order to make them fully aware we have to empower our library users to exploit the knowledge resources which are available with us both in traditional as well as in digital formats.


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Paradigm Shift of Library from Traditional to ICT Enabled Library

• ICT is a buzzword of today's Society and ICT has changed the society into information society and our way of life;

• It has penetrated in everywhere and its makes our life comfortable and easy;

• ICT is a product of information age and technology. It has been regarded as a vehicle for future development, opportunities, challenges and competition that enables information to be collected and used;

• In this history of human civilization, no scientific discoveries had as comprehensive impact as ICT has;

• Internet is one of the most important and complex innovations of mankind. It is a powerful means of communication, dissemination and retrieval of information. It is a network of network connecting thousands of smaller computer networks together so that other networks may share information present in one network.


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Paradigm Shift of Library from Traditional to ICT Enabled Library

• The traditional libraries have started using ICTs and becoming computerized libraries where all library transactions are being carried out by computer system using appropriate library application software;

• The present day library is regarded as hybrid library where traditional as well as computer-based library services are being provided;

• Many classical libraries have evolved to hybrid libraries;

• Most of these hybrid libraries are not on the road to evolve towards completely digital libraries, they make efforts to provide information services with both hard copy as well as digital documents, which brings many challenges to most of the librarians, irrespective of their function in the system.


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Development of Information Infrastructure in Academic Libraries

• Adequate information infrastructure is required in any university/ technical / special institutional libraries for sharing of information at regional, National and International or global level;

• INFLIBNET has supported the 142 Academic Libraries (especially University and Institutional Libraries) to develop adequate ICT Infrastructure

• Resource Sharing amongst the University Libraries and other Institutions of higher learning has been given importance and many consortia agreement has been evolved for accessing to E-Resources

• Indian university and institutional libraries are in hybrid stage where both computers based and manual library and information services are being offered to their clientele ;


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ICT Infrastructure in University Libraries of India

• According to a survey on ICT application of university libraries in India conducted by Sinha, 2004 B, the actual implementation of the INFLIBNET programme has been taken into account;

• This study reveals that most of the university libraries covered under this programme (142 university Libraries) have developed adequate information infrastructure for extending computerized library and information services (Sinha, 2004) ;

• Besides this, about 171 university libraries have been covered under UGC-INFONET E-Journals/ Digital Library Consortium Programme, which is under direct monitoring of INFLIBNET for access to 5000+ scholarly e-journals and electronic on-line databases for the academic community for quality research output.


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Format of Knowledge Resources • Knowledge resources are changing from printed to electronic format;

• As a result many libraries are currently experiencing a fast transition from print to electronic format while developing collection of an academic, Technical/ Special Libraries;

• The collection development method and practices of acquiring library resources have changed in order to cope with the electronic version publications;

• The role of library and information professionals also needs to be changed to provide best services to the end users.


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Format of Knowledge Resources • The Internet has given rise to the development of electronic versions of printed

library reading materials like books, journals, repost, conference proceedings, monographs etc., which have brought changes in the collection development policies of academic libraries and the role of librarians is vital in the selection and procurement of relevant electronic resources judiciously within limited available finance;

• The electronic resources can be access over Internet, which may be ownership or access right for the journals subscribed. On-line access is available along with subscription with printed volumes. Electronic resources include e-journals, e-books, CD-ROM/ DVD Databases, On-Line Databases etc.

• There has been a trend in academic libraries for adopting consortia model for accessing to electronic resources over Internet. The consortia approach for subscribing to e-journals and databases has been gaining momentum in India also and different models are being coming up ad some are running successfully. These e-journals consortia are, UGC-INFONET E-Journals / Digital Library Consortium, INDEST Consortium, FORSA Consortium, CSIR Consortium and IIM Consortium.


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Web 2.0 / Library 2.0 • In recent years the Web 1.0 and Library 1.0 have been

transformed into Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 due to drastic progress in the areas of web technology.;

• The library users are also transforming them as per the latest technologies which are making them more personalised and interactive.;

• Therefore the modern library must adopt the emerging technologies like Web2.0, Library 2.0 by using its tolls like Blog, the RSS feed, the concept of social networking and personalize services for effective library and information services;

• Accordingly users must be empowered to using library services offered by the libraries through theses tools.


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Aims and Objectives of the Paper

• To highlight an overview of the modernisation of academic libraries in ICT era;

• To highlight changing format of the library resources ;

• To examines the types of computer based services being offered by the academic libraries;

• To examine the Role of Library and Information Professionals in managing Academic Libraries and Technical Libraries especially in Assam University Library;


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Aims and Objectives of the Paper

• To find out the various methods for empowering library Professionals and Staff in academic and Technical Libraries ;

• To discuss the role of INFLIBNET, DELNET and other Agencies for offering In-Service Training to Library and Information Professionals for managing modern libraries ; and

• To suggest ways and means to provide pro-active library and information services to the end users of modern library and information centers.


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Concept of Empowerment

• Empowerment is a buzzword generally used that either generates enthusiasm or disinterest;

• Major changes in libraries in recent years have resulted in the need for new or expanded skills and abilities;

• These changes include the implementation of new technologies such as computer-based cataloguing, automated circulation systems, and online access to machine-readable bibliographic databases, and the development and formalization of personnel policies and procedures;


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Concept of Empowerment (Contd..)• Increased students expectation and demands have also kept all

media centre and library staff challenged, and working longer hours.

• In the past, staff development and in-house training of any type were merely considered luxuries in many libraries.

• Previously, although library administrators generally agreed that continuing education, staff development and training were essential goals of any organization, but in reality, staff development and training programmes were perceived by both staff and administration as a self contained unit to separate entity, rather than an integral part of library activities and the development of every individual in the organization.


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Concept of Empowerment(Contd..)

• It is only until the recent decade that staff development and training have received increasing emphasis, as is indicated by the numerous articles, conference papers, and committee discussions on the tropic;

• Nowadays, even library staffing patterns have been further complicated by the need to adapt to the proliferation and infusion of many more new technologies, as technology becomes increasingly complex, it requires more expertise to plan, install, and maintain it;

• Faced with the prospect of extinction, most librarians have chosen to redefine their roles, their mission, and their profession.


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Concept of Empowerment(Contd..)

• According to Christopher (2003) the empowered employees fully realize their potential for achieving a motivated staff, namely the increased competition for funds, customers, staff, and professional librarians;

• The quality of active listening is the building block of effective communication, creating shared vision and trust, defining the role of a library manager in an empowered library, developing team skills, and growing emotional intelligence.


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Defining Empowerment

• The term empowerment covers a vast landscape of meanings, interpretations, definitions and disciplines ranging from psychology and philosophy to the highly commercialized self-help industry and motivational sciences;

• Sociological empowerment often addresses members of groups that social discrimination processes have excluded from decision-making processes through - for example - discrimination based on disability, race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. Empowerment as a methodology is often associated with feminism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(classification_of_human_beings)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism


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The Process of Empowerment• The process of empowerment enables individuals /groups to

fully access personal / collective power, authority and influence, and to employ that strength when engaging with other people, institutions or society.

• In other words, “Empowerment is not giving people power; people already have plenty of power, in the wealth of their knowledge and motivation, to do their jobs magnificently. We define empowerment as letting this power out (Blanchard, K)."

• It encourages people to gain the skills and knowledge that will allow them to overcome obstacles in life or work environment and ultimately, help them develop within themselves or in the society.


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Empowerment includes the following, or similar, capabilities

• The ability to make decisions about personal/collective circumstances;• The ability to access information and resources for decision-making ;• Ability to consider a range of options from which to choose (not just

yes/no, either/or ) ;• Ability to exercise assertiveness in collective decision making; • Having positive-thinking about the ability to make change ;• Ability to learn and access skills for improving personal/collective

circumstance; • Ability to inform others’ perceptions though exchange, education and

engagement; • Involving in the growth process and changes that is never ending and

self-initiated ;• Increasing one's positive self-image and overcoming stigma ; and • Increasing one's ability in discreet thinking to sort out right and wrong


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Changing Role of Library and Information• Naik and Horakeri, 2009 Identified following Roles of LIS Professionals :

• A vision towards information and knowledge rich society;• Library functions in information and knowledge-based society;• Knowledge-based economy – information & knowledge as

drivers to boost the economy;• Information management recognized as an important discipline;

• Information recognized as commodity (information brokerage, information entrepreneurship, fee-based information);

• Integrated and widespread ICT applications;

• Mushrooming of information systems – need for Information System Management;


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Changing Role of Library and Information• Rama Devi (2007) highlights the role of librarians in the

changing era. • Administrator of the Routine Library Work;• Communicator with Users, publishers, suppliers and

authorities;• Manager of man , materials and resources;• Planner of Finance and other Requirements;• Designer and developer of Information Products and Services;• Implementer of new tools and techniques;• Advisor on infrastructure like building, furniture and fixture; • Analyser of environment prevailing in the host institutions in

anticipation of threats and Opportunity; and • Monitor of Library Usage and readership.


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Changing Role of Library and Information• Role of digital/electronic/virtual librarian has changed ;• Librarians are designated as cyber librarians;• Competency- based assessment/training;• Access role replace custodial role;• Customer-focused/customer-centered, user oriented

approach in provision of services;• Strategic alliances, partnership and collaborations;• Librarians need new management knowledge and skills;• Specialized knowledge & skills in library and

information management; and • Trend to develop digital contents to facilitate access.


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Skills and Abilities to be acquired by the Librarians/ LIS Professionals and Staff

• Managerial Skills;• Organizational Skills;• Technical Skills;• Communication and Human Relations Skills/ Public

Relation Skills;• Marketing of Library Products and Services Skills;• Consultancy Skills;• Outreach and Library Development Skills;• ICT Handling Skills;• Teaching-Learning Skills;


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Changing Role of LIS Professionals • Kamila, Biswas and Das (2011) pointed out the different roles of librarians for

managing the changing demands of the library users in the changing environment

• Search Intermediary;• Facilitator of e-resources;• End User Trainer/ Educator;• Web Site designer/ publisher;• Interface Designer for accessing Digital Repositories;• Knowledge Manager / Professionals;• Shifter of information Resources;• Information Architecture;• Information Scientist/ Specialists;• Information Consultants;• Information Marketing Officer;• Information Provider;• Academic and Researchers;• Collection Developer / Manager;• Resource Preserver; • Institutional Repositories Developer; and many more.


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Role of Library Networks and Other Professional Associations for Empowering Library Professionals and Library End- Users

• INFLIBNET Centre , Ahmedababd ; • DELNET (Developing Library Network); and • Many Library and Information Science Professional

organizations / Associations have been taking lead role in organizing various:– Short Training Programmes , – In-Service Programme, – Workshops, Conferences ,Seminar , – User Awareness Programme for Access to E-Resources etc for

Library and Information Professionals , Staff and Library Users – for making them empower to provide right information to the

right users at right time and at the same time the library users may be able to identify and locate right information for their academic and research purposes.


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Role of INFLIBNET for Developing Human Resource and Empowering LIS Professionals and End Users

• In INFLIBNET Centre, there has been a separate wing for developing – Human Resources of Indian Academic and

Technical Libraries and other core and working staff for successfully managing the college and university libraries of India.


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Major Activities of HRD Group• HRD Group of INFLIBNET has been Organising following

Programmes :• Training Courses ;• Workshops/Seminars ;• Specialised training programmes/workshops/courses ;• Onsite Training Programmes ;• Tutorials ;• CALIBER (Convention on Automation of Libraries in Education

and Research Institutes); • PLANNER (Promotion of Library Automation and Networking in

North Eastern Region) ;• Preparing libraries for Automation ;• Funding of Universities (through UGC) ; and • Follow up of assistance, and managing the INFLIBNET Centre

Library


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Orientation and Refresher Course organized in Universities under UGC Sponsorship

• UGC Academic Staff Colleges scattered throughout the country in many Universities and Institutions of higher learning have provision for organizing

– One month duration Orientation Programme and – 21 Days Duration Refresher Courses every year. – Some of the prominent Academic Staff Colleges of India are • H.P. University, Shimla;, • Jadavpur University, Kolkata; • North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) , Shillong; • Mizoram University, Aizawl; • Gauhati University, Guwahati; • Calcutta University, Kolkata; • Burdwan University, Burdwan; • Kalyani University, Kalyani; • Sambalpur University, Sambalpur; • Pondichery University, Pudduchery, • Goa University, Goa and many more.• Manipur University, Imphal


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Orientation and Refresher Course organized in Universities under UGC Sponsorship (Contd..)

• These universities have well equipped Academic Staff College which organizes regularly Refresher and Orientation Programme for Assistant Librarians, Assistant Professors/ Lecturer, Asst Professor/ Lecturer (Sr. Scale) and Short Term Workshop for senior Library and Information professionals/ Library Administrators regularly.

• Attending these courses are mandatory for the College Librarians, Assistant Librarians, Sr. Scale / Selection Grade Asst Librarians, College Librarians and Lecturer/ Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science professionals for their placement in higher scales as per the provision of UGC Regulations.

• In this way library and Information Professionals acquire new knowledge and update or refresh their knowledge on the modern trends of library services and activities.


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Short Term Training Programmes by other Professional Associations / Bodies

• DELNET (Developing Library Network) , • MANLIBNET , • other regional and metropolitan library networks ,• Library Professional Associations like Indian Library Association (ILA),• Indian Association of Special Library and Information Centres (IASLIC),• Tamil Nadu Library Association (TLA), • Uttar Pradesh Library Association (UPLA),• Assam College Librarians Association (ACLA), • Assam Library Association (ALA), • Manipur Library Association (MALA) , • Bengal Library Association ( BLA) • Jharkhand Information and Library Association (JILA),• All India Association of Teachers of Library and Information Sciences (AITALIS), • SALIS, • Delhi Library Association (DLA) • Organises short term training programmes pertaining to ICT Application in Library Activities,

Library Automation and Networking, Application of Open Source Library Software (Koha, NewGenlib) , National , Regional Seminars, conventions , workshops and conferences. The library and information professionals are empowered to work in changing environments for managing a modern libraries and information centres of India.


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Organizing Training and Seminar, Workshops and Conferences by College , University , and Institutional Libraries / Department of Library and Information Science

• The college libraries, university/ institutional libraries, department of library and information Sciences, Institutional Libraries have also started organizing

– Short term training programme ,– Workshops, seminar, conferences for college librarians , University Library

Professionals and staff faculty members from the department of library and information science with the financial assistance received from various funding agencies like

– Ministry of Culture, govt. of India (through National Library, – Central Reference Library, , Kolkata; – IGNCA, New Delhi ) , Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, – North Eastern Regional Centre (NEC) , – University Grants Commission (MHRD) ,– INFLINET Centre, and – many NGO. – Other Private Institutions / Universities have also started organizing Training

Programme , Seminar and Conferences like ICDL (TERI), ETTLIS ( Jaypee University, Shimla), ICLAM( NIFT, New Delhi) etc.

• ICSSR and NASSDOC, DESIDOC, also provides funds for organizing training programmes, seminars, workshops and conferences.


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Steps Taken by Assam University, Silchar for Empowerment of LIS Professionals and Library Users

• Library Orientation Programme• User Awareness Programme for E-Resources/ Internet

Awareness and Training Programme• Organise Workshop, Seminar, Conferences/ Hands –On –

Practice of Computer/ Internet/ E-Resources Usage;

• Empowering Library and Information Professionals – PLANNER -2005 (Organized with INFLIBNET and Assam University,

Library, Silchar during November 2005);

– User Awareness Programme for Accessing to E-Journals ( organized jointly by INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad and Assam University Library during November 2005);


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Steps Taken by Assam University, Silchar for Empowerment of LIS Professionals and Library Users

• National Seminar on Collection Development (NSCD-2011) organized jointly the Department of Library and Information Science , Assam University, Silchar and Central Reference Library (CRL) Kolkata sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India;

• • N-LIST Awareness Programme for College Librarians and Library and Information

Professionals of Assam (Organised jointly by INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad and Rabindra Library, Assam University, Silchar on August 23, 2011);

• • E-Resources Awareness Programme for LIS Professionals ( Organized jointly by

INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad and Assam University Library during November 2005);

• • Librarians ‘ Day , 2009, 2010, 2011 (Organised jointly by the Department of

Library and Information Science and Rabindra Library , Assam University, Silchar).


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Suggestions and Recommendations

• Empowering Library Users for ICT / Internet/ E-Resources Usage;

• Solution of the Problems faced by the Library Users;

• Conducing Users Study;• To Organize User Awareness Programme;• Pro-active Role of Library Professional;• To Develop State-of –the Art ICT

Infrastructure at University;


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Conclusion • In the present day context of information and knowledge

society where information / knowledge has been generation at an exponential rate due to impact of information revolution and electronic publishing, many traditional as well as electronic resources have been published by the world class publishers dealing with the scholarly contents.

• For making optimum and effective utilisation of these resources, the library users associated with academic and technical libraries where users are engaged in active research , there is an urgent need to organise User Education Programme for the Library Users time to time so that they can be empowered to use the available resources and also able to search the desired information from the world of knowledge.

•


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Conclusion• The success of any academic / technical library depends upon the users who can

utilise the resources for their academic and research works for giving more output in terms of knowledge generation, research findings, patent, text books, advanced level books, journal articles and empowered manpower to lead the nation.

• If any library may be very rich in collection is not utilised by the library users effectively, then there is no meaning of investing criers of rupees for the procurement of reading materials and electronic resources.

• Therefore academic and technical libraries should procure library resources judiciously as per their requirement for which time to time we must do user studies to know their actual requirements.

• Therefore the User Study and User Education are important for providing the right information to the right users and right time. Empowering Users in the Digital environment has become an urgent need for the effective utilization of library resources for high quality research output and productivity in terms of empowered human resources.


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Thanks

and

Have A Nice Day