WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF ICT TO THE LIBRARIANS

WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY TO THE LIBRARIANS?




BY



ONUORAH, MERCY



Information Communication Technology is increasingly becoming the trend in the information world, whether it is alone at interpersonal level, that is, among groups of persons sharing more or less the same circumstance or at the institutional level that is among organizations sharing more or less the same activities. Information Communication Technology is exerting tremendous impact in information acquisition and utilization. This has become even more imperative because many libraries and corporate organizations that acquire and utilize information do not operate within the same social, economic, functional, residential and infrastructural conditions.

They therefore need to cooperate to share whatever information they acquire in such a way as to drive maximum benefit at lesser cost without compromising autonomy, efficiency and accuracy.

The internet which is today the most sophisticated and modern way of interactive communication technology, has offered global access to all kinds of information generation and sharing across the word, thus reducing the world to a global village. Through the internet, librarians can record, access, search and retrieve information anywhere in thy world in minutes (Awake, July 22, 1997). However communication technology exists in all kinds of human environment no matter how rudimentary and unsophisticated.

Definition of ICT

At present there is no clearly defined and well understood filed of information communication technology (ICT). This is because the universality of information process, the number of sciences, technologies and disciplines from which it draws and variety of backgrounds of those concerned with them (Ebijuwa, 2005). Ebijiuwa (2005) defined ICT as tools used for collection, processing, storage, transmission and dissemination of information. To Anyakoha (2005) ICT is the electronic means of capturing, processing, storing and disseminating information. American Library Association (ALA, 1983), defined Information Technology (IT) as the application of computers and other technology to the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information. Computers are used to process and store data, while telecommunication technology provides information communication gadgets, which make it possible for users to access database and link with other computers at different workstations.

ICT RELEVANCE TO LIBRARIANS

Today, there is exponential growth in knowledge and information. It has been the traditional responsibility of Librarians to collect, organizes, preserve, and retrieve records of human achievements. With advances in information and communication technologies electronic information in form of electronic books, electronic journals and internet has launched the world into an information era. No institution or organization can still rely on traditional printed information to perform effectively and efficiently. To librarians, information communication technology is a big development that provides tools for managing avalanche of information generated by modern society.

Information Communication Technology provides libraries with capabilities for location of information storage and retrieval of information and dissemination of information. Internet access enables librarians to locate information stored in other computers around the world. With online search facilities, information stored at different locations of the library can be retrieved. With web pages, e-mail and CD-ROM, librarians disseminate information. The digitization of library information resources, which converts print resources to electronic form, information can be accessed from anywhere at homes, offices or workstations connected to the internet easily. Information communication opens up the door of information to all libraries according to their need, sophistication and available facilities. Information technology offer librarians even government greater opportunities to information processing, acquisition, transfer and utilization. It encourages improvement in the existing service, speedier transfer of information, improved management effectiveness and increased staff productivity (Martin and Cullen, 1991).

Information Communication has been very helpful especially among librarians, researchers and academics who have to depend to a large extent on electronic communication instead of the traditional model. Electronic networks offers librarians, researchers and lecturers a wide range of opportunities in the creation, processing, transmission and dissemination of research information, collaboration in research projects, co-authorship of research papers at shortest possible time.

On the professional aspect of the librarian, computers are used to automate manual functions. Acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serials control are now automated with many library softwares available in the markets. Online Public Access (OPAC) is replacing the card catalogue. All these make information services faster, more efficient and effect.

Conclusion

Information Communication Technology reduces the cost of information dissemination and acquisition in terms of labour and time. The efficacy of its efficiency and effectiveness, and the accuracy of its operation is reassuring. Reducing the world to a global village, ICT reinforces the global flow of research and development of information unhindered. The relevance of ICT to the librarian are many. Among them are ease of availability, accuracy of facts, reliability and less expensive in information acquisition.

























REFERENCES



American Librarian Association (1983). The ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science, Chicago: ALA P.183



Anaehobi, E. S.(2006). “Availability of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities in Academic Libraries in Anambra State”. A Compendium of papers presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association, Anambra State Chapter held at St. Paul’s University College, Awka.



Anyakoha, M. W. (2005). “Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Library Services”. Coal City Libraries Vol.2 (1 and 2) 2-12.



Ebijuwa, A.S. (2005). “Communication Technology in the University Libraries: The Nigerian Experience”. Communiqué. Journal of Library and Information Science. Vol. 7 (1 & 2) 23-30.



National Commission for Colleges of Education (2006).”Formation of a Consortium for Colleges of Education Libraries in Nigeria”. Paper presented at Annual Meeting of Committee of College Librarians in Nigeria at College of Education, Akwanga, 13th- 17th February.