THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO LIBRARIANS BY MBAKWE FLOSSIE ADAORAH

THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO LIBRARIANS


                                                                          BY

                                                  MBAKWE, FLOSSIE ADAORAH



Information Communication Technology (ICT) can be defined as the type of technology that links the computer to the global telecommunications network to make it possible for users to acquire process, compare, store and disseminate oral, printed and pictorial information. In effect, ICT embraces all the technologies that enable the handling of information and facilitate different forms of communication between man and electronic systems, and among diverse electronic systems such as radio, TV. Cellular phones, computer networks and satellite systems (Ormes and Depsey: 1977).

In all literature reveals that ICT can be categorized into five namely:

• Capturing technologies – (eg. Keyboards, touch screens, voice recognition systems, image scanner etc.)
• Storage technologies (eg. Floppy disks, smart cards, magnetic tapes, disc etc.)
• Processing technologies (eg the system and application software for data processing
• Personal computer (PC) eg compact disk, reader contains software which provides programming and operating system instruction). It is capable of providing special automatic or graphic processing applications.
• Communication technology (eg. Digital broadcasting, electronic bulleting board, cellular phones etc).
• Display technologies (eg. Digital video disc, CDROM drives, audio CD, printers computer display screen etc.

The Benefit of Information Communication Technology to Librarians

Information communication technologies has widened the scope of librarianship and conferred new roles on librarians, thus improviding their skill, efficiency and status as information workers and enabling them to fulfill their roles as purveyors of knowledge. Suffice to say that librarian have begun to adopt new designations to reflect their new roles ie information scientists, system librarian, digital librarian etc. Librarian now have the opportunity to work in libraries alongside computer scientists, technocrats and information scientists as equals. This is a plus for the profession. There is no doubt that this will induce more respect and support for policy makers and government functionaries for the profession.

Computers are being used in libraries by librarians to automate the various library functions formerly being done manually viz:

Acquisition and budget control

Cataloguing

Circulation (including short loan)

Serials control

Provision of access of online catalogues (Online Public Access Catalogue – OPAC

Reference service

Mis, Management Information System ICT components are also used for electronic mails, electronic boards and electronic conferencing and of course for word processing etc.

Computer are also being used by librarians to network the various operation of the library such as acquisition cataloguing, authority control, inter library, bibliographic projects and international bibliographic projects.

Libraries generate a lot of data and information from their day to day operation eg.:

•  Interaction with users
• Interaction with parent organizations
• Collection development activities
• Library use and maintenance activities.
• Administrative activities.

Data and information so collected are used for measuring effectiveness, trend analysis, resource allocation, personnel decision, strategic planning etc (Burford, 2003

Using ICTs libraries are now able to set up computer based information management systems. According to Lakos (1999) the major function of management information system (MIS) is to provide library managers and staff with data, information, analysis and tools that enhances the effectiveness of and efficiency of library services and assist in decision making process.

Conservation of space: Information communication technology offer opportunity for space conservation. Creation of virtual library offers Nigerian libraries a better means of storage. By digitizing significant portions of their information resources, a lot of space can be conserved. Again ICT make room for joint collection development of libraries. This will minimise the need for every library in Nigeria to acquire information resources separately.

Improved Collection Development: Information communication Technology is bound to impact greatly on the collections of the Nigerian libraries. This will enable them to meet the information needs of their parent organizations and institutions. A lot of electronic resources now abound to which the libraries can ascribe to in addition to digitizing some of the existing bibliographic resources, thereby affording libraries the opportunity to develop a hybrid of collections towards meeting the information needs of their clientele. Again through inter-library loan and resources sharing libraries with small budgets can ration-use and develop focused collections. Furthermore, it is an opportunity for libraries with specialized collections to focus on the development of such collects.

References

Nigerian Library Association. 46th Annual National Conference and AGM, Kaduna 2008.

Driving Access to knowledge: The Cataloguers Perspective in an ICT Era. NLA 2009.

Aina, I.O. (2003) Strengthening Information in Nigeria University Libraries. The Digital Option.

Burke, L. (2001). The future role of librarians in virtual library environment.

@http://www.sla.org/contents/sca/professional/businesscase/octeng/cedjo.ctm.