Abstract
ICT has changed the traditional methods of library activities and services providing new dimensions for teaching, learning and research in higher educational institutions. With the help of ICT tools, it is possible to store, retrieve, disseminate and organize information by creating websites and databases. Information is now published both electronically and by print making it accessible to users according to their demands. The study shows that that out of the total 172 respondents, 53.48 per cent of them belong to the age group of 30-40 years and 20.93per cent of them come under the age group of below 30 years. In this study, 22.58 per cent of the respondents have above 4 hours of access to internet. Majority of the respondents (37.03%) in the age group 40-50 years have above 4 hours of access to internet. The study reveals that librarian take the first position in their overall expertise in system analysis and design, assistant librarian the second, deputy librarian the third, technical staff the fourth and ministerial staff the last.
Top
Suku and Pillai (2005) present the results of a survey to assess the status of automation in the university libraries of Kerala. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from the Librarian/Librarian in- charge of the Central libraries of six universities. The survey mainly cover various aspects of library automation such as information technology infrastructure, in-house activities, information services and their usage, manpower development, and budget. The study also deals with the role of INFLIBNET Centre in supporting the automation activities of university libraries. It is seen that library automation has been rather slow in Kerala due to various reasons like absence of University Librarian in most of the libraries; and lack of adequate qualified professional staff. 50% of university libraries in Kerala introduced comprehensive automation of housekeeping activities. LAN facility is available in all university libraries. All university libraries in Kerala are using computers for their services. All the libraries, without any exception, are using only personal computers for the entire range of automation activities. The survey also reveals that all university libraries have conducted sufficient number of training programs to its staff members before acquiring the new technology.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Web Based Information: Web-based information displays many benefits of multimedia technology. Using today's fast broadband connections, it is possible to stream sophisticated content to a computer anywhere in the world.
Academic Library: An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution which serves two complementary purposes to support the school's curriculum, and to support the research of the university faculty and students.
Internet: The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers. More than 190 countries are linked into exchanges of data, news and opinions.
User Education: Instruction given to the readers / users to help them to make the best use of the library.
ICT (Information and Communications Technology): Is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications.