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Use of Web 2.0 and its Implications for LibrariesPerceptions of Information Professionals in Pakistan

Authors

Ata-ur-Rehman

AM Library, National Centre for Physics, Islamabad& M. Phil Scholar, IUB

Farzana Shafique

Lecturer, Department of Library & Information ScienceThe Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB)

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Contents

Introduction and Background of the study Problem Statement Objectives of the Study Research Methodology Findings Conclusion Recommendations Q/A

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Introduction & Background of the Study Early stages of Internet Paradigm shift in Networks ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency

NETwork) Before 1992- US Military Needs, Govt. and Educational

Institutions (Mostly Universities) After 1992- Commercial Companies Static Pages, One way communication HTML Term Web 2.0 - 2004

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Web 1.0 and Web 2.0: ???

Web 1.0 Web 2.0

Static Dynamic

New version features Customization

Personal Website Blogs

Directories (taxonomy) Tagging (folksonomy)

Bookmarking sites Social bookmarking

Companies Communities

Edited and Produced Raw

Advertised Viral

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Web 2.0 : An attitude, not technology*

Src: Davis, I. (2005). http://internetalchemy.org/2005/07/talis-web-20-and-all-that

http://www.zealousweb.net/blog/technology/web-20-technology-applications-world-wide-web

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Problem Statement and Objectives of Study

Wide gap in literature about the usage of these technologies in Pakistan

Emerging technology in all over the world To know the status of current usage of Web 2.0

applications To know the perception of Information Professionals about

these applications To propose the recommendations for usage of Web 2.0

applications in libraries of Pakistan

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Research Methodology

Triangular Method of Research Online questionnaire

Pre-test of tool – 17 professionals 115 responses

Semi-structured Interviews Eight eminent information professionals from Karachi, Lahore,

Islamabad and Bahawalpur Data analysis and Interpretation

Quantitative (SPSS 17) + Qualitative

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Data Analysis / Findings

Personal profile of the Respondents (N=115)

23.50%

76.50%

FemaleMale

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Data Analysis / Findings (Cont)

Frequency Distribution of Respondents’ Professional Positions

10.20%

11%

44.90%

22.90%

3.40%Chief Librarian/Head

Sr. Librarian / DeputyChief Librarian

Librarian/Library Officer

Assistant Librarian

Teaching Staff

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Institutes Frequency Percentage

Academic Library 69 58.5

Special Library 32 27.1

Public Library 4 3.4

Missing 13 11

Total 115 100

58.50%27.10%

3.40%

11%

AcademicSpecialPublicOther

Data Analysis / Findings (Cont)

Frequency Distribution of Respondents’ Institutes

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Web 2.0 Application Usage

Web 2.0 Applications Mean Median Mode Std. Deviation

E-mail Groups 5.69 6 6 0.90

Instant Messenger 4.66 6 6 1.85

Wikis 4.35 5 6 1.76

Social Networking 4.04 4.5 6 1.92

Social Bookmarks 3.49 4 1 2.16

Video Sharing 2.99 3 1 1.90

Blogs 2.75 2 1 1.90

Images Sharing 2.44 2 1 1.72

RSS 2.43 1.5 1 1.75

Micro blogging 2.07 1 1 1.65

Scale: 6=Daily, 5=Twice/thrice a week, 4=Weekly, 3=Fortnightly, 2=Monthly, 1=Not used

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Learning Mode Frequency PercentageSelf Learning / Online Tutorials 89 75.4

Friends / Professional Colleagues 57 48.3

Formal Training 28 23.7

Library Schools 23 19.5

Data Analysis / Findings (Cont)

Mode of Learning

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Possession of Personal Blogs

Frequency Percentage

No 95 82.61

Yes 15 13.04

Missing 5 4.35

Total 115 100

Data Analysis / Findings (Cont)

Personal Blogs

4.35% 13.04%

82.61%

YesNoMissing

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Use of Web 2.0 Applications for Library Services: Perceptions

Web 2.0 applications Mean Median Mode Std. Deviation

E-mail Groups 4.82 5 5 0.45

Social Networking 4.44 5 5 0.70

Wikis 4.44 5 5 0.85

Instant Messenger 4.31 5 5 0.91

Social Bookmarks 4.17 4 5 0.87

Blogs 4.12 4 5 1.02

Video Sharing 4.10 4 4 0.78

Images Sharing 4.06 4 4 0.85

RSS 4.00 4 5 0.96

Micro blogging 3.81 4 4 0.87

Scale: 5=Strongly Agree, 4=Agree, 3=Neutral, 2=Disagree, 1=Strongly Disagree

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Qualitative Data Analysis

Information Professionals’ Views About Web 2.0 Potential Usage of Web 2.0 Applications in Libraries Effects of Web 2.0 Applications on Traditional

Library Services Problems Hindering the Usage of Web 2.0

Applications in Libraries Training Opportunities in this Regard

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Conclusions The use of Web 2.0 applications is increasing among

the information professionals of Pakistan and it is a very positive sign that the users of Web 2.0 applications are from both the sectors (Private and Public)

All the library professionals were found committed and well aware of the usage of these applications to deliver better services to the library users.

It was also found that perception of library professionals about many Web 2.0 applications were not very clear.

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Conclusion…

Instant Messaging (IM), which can be used to provide online reference services in libraries.

Similarly RSS is being used by library professionals of the world for selective dissemination of information (SDI) but its awareness and use by library professionals in Pakistan is significantly low; same is the case of Micro Blogging (Twitter).

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Conclusion… Library professionals in Pakistan can avail the benefits of Web

2.0 applications only by learning the usage of these applications to offer attractive and dynamic services for the users of Web 2.0.

It was found from the interview results that professional associations and library schools can play a vital role in the training of library professionals for the use of Web 2.0 applications.

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Recommendations

Library schools, Professional bodies and National library should realize their role of capacity building of professionals so that the well trained human resource can be developed to cope with the challenges of future era.

Library Schools in Pakistan should integrate the Web 2.0 applications in teaching the IT courses. Thus the future information professionals will get awareness about the potential usage of these technologies;

Hands on practice workshops should be organized by the library schools and professional organizations like PLA, PULISAA or National Library of Pakistan;

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Recommendations… National, academic and special libraries should

include the Web 2.0 components on their websites. Library and Information Science Journals/Newsletters and magazines should be available through RSS on their websites;

Twitter is a very popular service in libraries of the world for the provision of Current Awareness Service (CAS) among subscribers/users. The cellular companies should provide the Twitter Feeds service on Cell Phones in Pakistan as well, so that the real benefit of Twitter may be availed.

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