What can we make out of ICT course in library and information science

OJIBAH OBIAGELI CHINEZE




WHAT CAN WE MAKE OUT OF ICT COURSE



Information and Communication technology tend to apply Micro electronics-based technologies to the activities-acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination of information – which form the essence of library service. However, the basis of ICT is simply to help us improve the way we deal with information in all areas of our lives. Information technology can have a major impact on 4(four) areas which , taken together, make up Library Service: (a) raw material (b) Operational Processes (c) Management Processes (d) Customers Interaction



(a)Raw Material- The raw material of library service is the library’s stock-a collection of physical artifacts, usually in the form of print- on – paper (books, journals, etc) including other media (sounds recordings, photographs etc). Traditional library systems are geared to identification and retrieval of these artifacts. But IT can convert all theses types of information-carrying artifacts into digital data for the purposes of storage (eg optical disc), processing (eg computing), transmission (eg data communication networks) the traditional focus on an artifacts,. Its format and its location-on library holdings, collection development, and bibliographic records – is replaced by a focus on information content and electronic access.

(a) The operational processes of libraries which involve a vast number of routine transactions (eg as books are issued, returned, reserved, become overdue etc) ideally suited to information. Circulation. Control systems, cataloguing processes, systems for the ordering and acquisition of stock and for serials control can all be automated – increasing through one ‘integrated’ computer system – in order to improve efficiency and productivity. Records are no longer duplicated and staff are saved much of the clerical drudgery needed to maintain manual paper-based library systems

(b) The management processes of planning and control can be considerably enhanced by IT. An integrated system can provide important stock management information. A distributed net work of terminals (e.g for circulation system or library catalogue) can provide an opportunity for communication by electronic mail.



In addition, basic business application software packages (word processing, spreadsheets etc) can be used in the library office, as in the any other type of organization.

(c) Information technology can change the nature of customer interaction in three ways (a) by spending up routine processes at the library counter

(b) by widening the choice of available information sources and services

(c) by making library service more accessible



• Other benefits

• Access versus ownership- internet offers opportunities to give real meaning to these terms by facilitating rapid access to information resources external to the library.

• The internet offers a potential to save money, shelf space, and library staff time while simultaneously, increasing the rapid provision of information to patrons , in effects, helping address the issue articulated by Melvil Dewey in 1877, “problem before us… is to make libraries better – their expenses less”.

• Rather than relying on the library’s own holdings, the customer can have access to remote stores of information using online or video text network



Reference

Bob Mckee. Planning library service. London: 1989, pp130-132.



Gorman G.E and MILLER R.H, Collection Management for 21st Century: A Hand book for librarians. Westport: 1997, P.31.