ICT IN LIBRARIES: AN OVERVIEW

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have brought revolutionary changes in handling delivering and storage of information. The transition of traditional library collections to digital or virtual collections presented the librarian with new opportunities and challenges. The internet, especially WWW has given the librarian a new dynamic role to play in the society and serve the new information based in better ways than every before, Because of the powerful features of web i.e. distributed, heterogeneous, collaborative, multimedia, Standards and Protocols, architecture, world wide web has revolutionized the way people access information and has opened up new possibilities in areas such as digital libraries, Virtual libraries, efficient information retrieval and dissemination.

Our world continues to become increasingly complex, interconnected, and dynamic. There are more people and institutions; they engage in more relationships and exchange; and the rates of change continue to grow, largely because of developments in technology and the importance of information to human and technical development. We live in an information society in which more people must manage more information, which in turn requires more technological support, which both demands and creates more information. The general consequences of the information society are three folds: larger volumes of information, new forms and aggregations of information, and new tools for working with information.

Rapid changes in information and communication technologies during past three decades have drastically changed the functions and activities of information professionals in libraries. Most functions in modern libraries are being performed using software packages that are now available off-the-shelf. Several libraries have their catalogues available on the Internet with a web-based search interface along with links to resources either acquired through external agencies or created in-house. Most libraries are on the Campus network with CD ROM networks put-in place to serve the information requirement of their academic community. Several libraries have taken-up small-scale digitisation projects for part of their collection. The librarians and information professionals are required to develop skills that are required to use, develop and maintain IT-based services and products used by today’s libraries. The programme deals with new information technologies, their applications in libraries and their products and services. It describes web-based library services, which are modified versions of existing services and technology-driven new web-based library services.


3. Elements of ICT applications in Libraries

Library automation can be defined in simple terms as the use of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the Libraries that are used to replace the manual systems in the Libraries. It has also been defined as a ‘integrated systems’ that computerize an array of traditional library functions using a common database, rapid technological change is forcing a re-examination of what it means to ‘automate the library’. In the broadest sense, automation in the words of Markuson means ‘employment of machines for library process’. In the context of computerization, a library information system may be defined as a set of library transaction, processing systems designed to provide information to library members and to support the operational, managerial and decision making information needs of library staff. It includes computer as one of its components. Although computers have a major role in library automation, telecommunication, networking and multimedia technologies have equally important roles because of the support they offer to library automation. An automated library is one where a computer system is used to manage one or several of the library's key functions such as acquisition, serials control, cataloguing, circulation and the public access catalogue. Thus, a computerized library and information system is a set of functional system encompassing:

Computer Hardware - the physical element of a computer system categorized according to the basic operations they perform: input, processing, output, storage and communications.
Computer Software - provides the step-by-step instructions that tell the computer what to do. Generally software is divided into system software and application software.
Communications - refers to networks including Internet, Intranet and Extranets for electronic transfer of data from one computer to another.
People - the most important part and beneficiary of a computer system, generally categorized as either end-users or developers
Procedures and standards- are descriptions of how things are done, i.e. manuals, documentations, etc.
Data/Information - raw facts (data) and processed data (information) that are used to produce the desired result


Challenges before Libraries

The libraries rapidly evolve into something that looks quite different than it did lust a few decades ago. It is critical that librarians not only become aware of this evolution, but that the actively intervene to help reshape their libraries in ways that are consistent with the core mission of the respective organisations. The integrated automation of basic internal processes such as acquisition, cataloguing and circulation has produced very large efficiency gains. The almost universal use of shared bibliographic data, loaded into local systems from a variety of external sources, has also been a major time-saving development, and has also produced in many cases improvements in the quality of data on offer to users. OPACs have also fulfilled a good deal of their potential. The software programmes have traveled through the technological advances from DOS, UNIX, Windows, LINUX operating systems, and now on to online networks and the WEB, providing applications for every environment. The library automation system, whether the software package came from CDS/ISIS, Libsys, SLIM++, TLMS, Easylib, SOUL or any of the other major suppliers, has become the centre of attention of the librarians and of high expectations of library users. Library automation, which started in late 1970s in a few special libraries, has now reached a large number of the libraries in the country. It is however yet to be reach majority of the libraries of college, school and public libraries in India. The challenges being faced by today’s librarians are:

• High cost of Publications
• Shrinking budgets
• Increasing cost of maintenance of Publications
• Shortage of space
• Shortage of trained manpower
• Growth in size of storage
• Increase in processing speed
• Decreasing cost of hardware
• User-friendly software
• New services
• New Products
• Multimedia applications
• Telecommunication revolution
• Library users expect more than they currently receive.
• ICT savvy users
• Google and other modern web destinations set high user expectations

Need and Objectives of ICT in Libraries

The application of information technology in libraries results in increased operational efficiency. The IT increases productivity of library staff. It relieves professional staff from mundane jobs that involves a lot of duplication so that they can be fruitfully used for user-oriented library services. It improves quality of services rendered by the library. Use of information technology ensures ease of functioning, accuracy and economy in human labour with greater speed. The exponential growth of information has made manual system redundant giving way to computerized information storage and retrieval tools making the. Effective and efficient handling of huge quantum of information is only possible by using computers, which have the added advantage of being highly accurate and efficient that adds value to information. ICT applications in libraries has manifold advantages:

Relieving professional staff from routine work: Routine and repetitive jobs are handled easily saving and eliminating drudgery. The time saved from labourious and routine wok could be effectively used for providing new library services.

Increased operational efficiencies: By contributing to efficiency it improves productivity. Many of the library functions like acquisitions and cataloguing are partly clerical and partly professional involving decision making and are tedious. As a result, backlogs in the acquisition section/cataloguing section are fairly common. Computers can help solve this problem by improving productivity.

Multiple Outputs: A variety of multiple outputs may be generated with a single input in automated systems. This feature has provided enormous advantages. Outputs of various sequences and various kinds of reports maybe generated without spending additional energy or resource. For example a database of bibliographic records can be used for generating
accession lists, shelf lists, special purpose bibliographies, searching catalogue, querying, etc. Thus a variety of services, which were hitherto contemplated but could not be offered, can now be provided.

Improves Quality of Services: Application of ICT has opened up new vistas in library services and also has immensely improved the quality of services offered.

Redefining the existing services: ICT offers a new range of products processes and services. Traditional services like current awareness services (CAS) and selective dissemination of information (SDI) can be given to the users very easily.

Instantaneous answers to multiple queries: A variety of queries are posed to library sub-systems, for example, to find out the status of a book recommended for acquisition, the users would like to know the whereabouts of a document through the circulation system, etc. Answering such queries is easy, and instantaneously in an automated system. Decreasing costs, versatility and stupendous processing power of computers have made automation -very cost effective. Reducing of time wasted, immediate access to data and sharing of limited resources are some of the advantages.

Provide new services: Some of the concepts/ services considered Utopian at one time are now a reality. It is now possible to offer a range of new services like instant document delivery, on-line reference service, etc.

Participate in library networks: ICT empowers us to share resources appears only in electronic format (e.g. CD-ROM, Internet resources, databases, etc.) at local, national and global level through high speed library networks.

Application of ICT in libraries has opened up varied means of fast and portable access, encouraged new research routes, refreshed the information consumer-base and redefined the public domain, among other obvious benefits. Use of ICT in libraries is critical to enabling:
• ready access to services, 24/7/365, regardless of geographic location;
• effective resource discovery, online access to digital and digitized content and seamless navigation around content;
• mediated service delivery, adaptive to the purposes and capacities of individual clients;
• proactive engagement of clients with information and ideas through innovative virtual exhibitions and packaging of content;
• interaction and communication between clients – community website publishing services, web based interactive public programs, chat services, discussion lists, and online forums and debates;
• access to a Library system by other libraries and institutions;
• effective and efficient information and knowledge management