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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF CURRENT RESEARCH
International Journal of Current Research
Vol. 4, Issue, 03, pp.203-206, March, 2012

ISSN: 0975-833X
RESEARCH ARTICLE
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS FOR LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION
PROFESSIONALS IN DIGITAL ERA
P.J. Rosario Vasantha Kumar
St. Joseph Institute of Management , St. Joseph’s College, Trichy

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: This article analyses the role of libraries and information professionals in a digital library
Received 16th December, 2011 environment. The major focus for discussion is the availability of improved intellectual access to
Received in revised form knowledge sources in a digitized world. With the growing emphasis on use of information
17th January, 2011
technologies, libraries have undergone major structural changes in terms of their collection,
Accepted 19th February, 2011
Published online 31st March, 2012 organization and services. The traditional concepts of libraries are becoming absolute day by day
with the emergence of new digital means of storage and dissemination of information. In the process
Key words: of modernization, electronic resources and digital objects are replacing traditional library collections.
Digital library,
The automation system and services of libraries are adapting new technology like electromagnetic,
Environment, RFID etc.
Electronic resources, Modernization. Copy Right, IJCR, 2012, Academic Journals. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION communication technologies have provided society with a vast

array of new communication capabilities. For example,
It is well recognized that libraries all over the world are
people can communicate in real-time with others in different
undergoing transformation, especially owing to the
countries using technologies such as instant messaging,
development in information and communication technologies.
voice over IP (VoIP), and video-conferencing. Social
Traditional libraries are changing to digital libraries and new
networking websites like Face book allow users from all over
libraries that are being set up are increasingly of the digital
the world to remain in contact and communicate on a regular
kind. As a result, there is widespread interest and
basis. Modern information and communication technologies
consequently, a lot of research and development Activities are
have created a "global village," in which people can
being carried out in this area world over. In India a number of
communicate with others across the world as if they were
institutions are also in the process of setting up digital libraries
living next door. For this reason, ICT is often studied in the
and many scholars and practitioners are conducting research
context of how modern communication technologies affect
on digital libraries. Most of the nations are utilizing these
society.
tools effectively and making their societies knowledgeable
ones. Half of the 147 million people on the net are living in
The importance of ICTs
United States. One fourth of the Australian population has
been connected with wire. In Africa, 1:4000 of the population
ICTs present a revolutionary approach to addressing
is on the Net. China and India have started globalization in
developmental questions due to their unequalled capacity to
information industry and are investing heavily in fiber-optic
provide access to information instantaneously from any
cabling. More over India produced nearly 50000 information
location in the world at a relatively low cost. This has brought
technology professionals over a year. In China, it is expected
down global geographic boundaries faster than ever thought
that, there will be more Internet users than cars by the year
possible. The resulting new interconnected digital world
2002.
heralds the fluid and seamless flow of information, capital,
ideas, people and products. Thus, McLuhan’s notion of a
What is ICT?
Global Village seems more appropriate now than when it was
first 55 coined. The advances made in convergence
ICT Stands for "Information and Communication
technologies, whereby the mode of information available is no
Technologies." ICT refers to technologies that provide access
longer restricted to text but includes real-time audio and video
to information through telecommunications. It is similar
data streaming, have many implications for and applications in
to Information Technology (IT), but focuses primarily
all fields of human knowledge as well as in social, economic
on communication technologies. This includes the Internet,
and political life. In fact, many governments, the private sector
wireless networks, cell phones, and other communication
and civil society members are beginning to recognize the
mediums. In the past few decades, information and
immense potential offered by ICTs in overcoming structural
and historical weaknesses. They argue that ICTs offer the
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
204 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 4, Issue, 03, pp.203-206, March, 2012

developing world the opportunity to ‘leapfrog’ several stages Information professionals are now expected to be aware of and
of development by the use of ‘frontier’ technologies that are capable of using emerging information communication
more practical, environmentally sound and less expensive than technologies, as well as having essential communication skills.
undergoing the traditional stages and cycles of progress to the Professional bodies, such as CILIP in the UK and the ALA in
information society. the US, recognize the importance of continuing professional
development in order to keep skills and expertise up-to-date
Information and communication technology via library for all aspects of work. The necessity of ICT skills has a clear
impact on reference service professionals, with the emergence
Librarianship is purported to have changed more over the last of digital reference services. A research project carried out at
few decades than in its entire previous history. The factors Liverpool John Moores University into the provision of
affecting such change may be divided into four categories: electronic information in Nigeria identified a significant skills
economics, technological, higher education and organizational gap amongst information professionals. Collaboration and
(Farley, Broad-Preston and Hayward 1998). The wide spread strategic management of resources may be key to alleviating
use of ICT in libraries, and especially the development and this problem.
access to digital information resources via the Internet, has
raised a number of challenges and concerns for librarians. Krissof and Konrad (1998) argue that for librarians or users to
These include the impact of ICT on the role of librarians and consider them truly information literate in this day and age, it
the resulting need for new skills and competencies suitable for is essential that they develop both traditional literacy skills and
the digital information environment. According to Chisenga fundamental computer literacy skills. Latham (2000) argues
and Rorissa (2001) the role of librarians in the digital that every librarian should be familiar with all components of
information environment is evolving. Librarians are now an office suite: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and
being expected to possess skills and expertise, in addition to scheduling programmes. Further, librarians should be able to
the traditional library and information management skills choose the appropriate application for the anticipated result,
specifically in the use of ICT, electronic publishing, digital that is, a database for lists repeating the same type of
information management and knowledge management. information, spreadsheets for tracking numerical data, word
Technological changes have resulted in librarians constantly processing for forms, for instance. Library staff, for that
questioning their future and the competencies they will need to matter, should be able to make use of the extended capabilities
survive professionally (Woodsworth 1997). of an application: to create charts, import graphics, and attach
files, and so forth. They should know what is attached to their
Job advertisements today give some clues as to the skills CPU, and how it is attached, and they should be able to
required. A study conducted by Zhou (1994) which perform basic troubleshooting functions: power source,
investigated the market change regarding the demand for monitor adjustments, reboots, printer response, and how to
computer literacy for librarians in academic and public write down error messages. All librarians should be familiar
libraries in the United States from 1974 to 1989, revealed that with installing, configuring, and using a browser and should
computer applications have changed in many aspects the ways be able to discuss intelligently their favorite search engines on
by which libraries provide services. As a result, computer the Web and explain why they use each one. Librarians should
literacy has gradually become an important competency for also be able to discuss when a Web search is preferable to a
librarians in many positions. Woodsworth (1997) suggests that print search, and vice-versa. Beyond the functionality,
technological competencies are the most critical ones for all however, we need to look at ways to use e-mail to expand
librarians, even if they obtained their professional credentials communications within the organization, particularly large
as recent as the early 1990s. Basic competencies for librarians organizations. Due to the penetration of standards, all staff
must include knowing what the Internet is and is not; should be familiar with whichever version of Windows is run
evaluating and using hardware, software, and networks; and within the organization, how to navigate through Windows
understanding basic computer and information science (with and without a mouse), and how to manage files
concepts. According to Marmion (1998) the biggest associated with Windows (Latham 2000). Librarians who are
technology challenge facing the library profession today is Webmasters need to have a working knowledge of HTML
that of preparing our employees to use technology effectively. (Hyper Text Markup Language), tables, browsers, graphic
To meet this challenge, libraries must pay much more placement, CGI (Common Gateway Interface) programming,
attention to technology training and computer skills than they UNIX and Java (Saunders- McMaster 1997). The challenge
traditionally have in the past. Computers, connectivity, and facing libraries is to get their librarians up to speed and to
electronic information are redefining the library profession master the tools they use in working with electronic
and what librarians do. According to Latham (2000) technical information. According to Marmion (1998) while many
literacy is no longer a specialty but a survival skill for all individuals, and even some institutions are already there, as a
librarians. While this skill rapidly obtained a name, “computer profession librarianship is not. Many research libraries, even,
literacy”, little consensus has been developed on precisely are not. Ongoing training is necessary if today’s libraries are
what set of abilities it actually represents. to keep up with changing technology.

ICT Skills for library and Information Professionals: Various ICT Skills for Library and Information
Professionals
Linda Ashcroft and Chris Watts (2005) Changes in the
provision of information brought about through the emergence In the digital era environment today library professionals are
of electronic information resources have created subsequent calls for various skills. Since the study here is skill for
changes in the skills needed by information professionals. handling digital era equipments, the required skill are listed
below:
205 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 4, Issue, 03, pp.203-206, March, 2012

 Operating systems : basics of Dos , digital management skills are seen as essentials parts of a
Windows ,network and UNIX wider concept of information literacy. A broadly based
 Word processing, graphics spread and definition of information skills in higher education reflects
presentation. twin dimensions of the “competent student “and the
 General purpose programming systems “information literate’ person .For the development of the
including the skills in bibliographic database information literate person a model is proposed based on
management system. seven sets of skills developing form a basic competence in
 Interface / interactive tools : HTML, XML, library and digital Era skills. The model attempts to address
visual basic the key question of different levels of higher education work.
 Information retrieval software for online
,CD-ROM and internet Information Management Skills
 Library software packages, acquaintances
with digital library tools. There is evidence of recent growth of activity in UK
institutions in the area of information skills development. it is
In the light of the above , a close look at the use and proposed that the development of the idea of “information
application of ICTs by developing countries is likely to reveal literacy” requires a collaborative and integrated approach to
that expect a few cases in which positive developments have curriculum design and delivery based on close co-operation
taken place, still remains much to be achieved and to between academic library and staff development colleagues.
overcome the identified gaps that are related to conceptual , It is recommended that institution consider more explicitly, as
operational and instrumental in nature .for instance the task of part of the development of learning and teaching strategies,
library automation in developing countries has been slow due the size and scope of their own approach to information
to lack of knowledge of operational skills in using the library handling skills. Good practice from institution at home and
software packages . The information professionals in this broad should be more widely studied. It is recommended that
context have to be accommodated to the basic structure and higher education in India should be more proactive in
content of a library automation software package and related contributing to that debate about the learning implication of
operations. It is stated that this task has been handicapped by “information society. A paper by Sheila corrall , librarian of
some operational needs such as “financial constrains, lack of the university of reading (1998), was a basis for our early
trained manpower , ineffective infrastructure , hardware and discussions. This paper had highlighted the lack of
software cost and so on considering all the above aspects on consideration given to information skills in many of the recent
the need of knowledge and skill in digital era in the light of the publication and discussions concerning the key skills area. The
identified gaps. report of the national committee of enquiry into higher
education (the Dearing report, 1998 ) had emphasized the
Computer skills importance of skill which are “key to the future success of
The library professionals are required to acquire minimum graduate whatever they intend to do in latter life ‘ and had
skills of operating and maintaining a computer system with identified a list of four communications skills, numeracy , the
several works. Stations having a PC – AT /terminal in each use of digital era .and learning how to learn . corral also
section of library like book acquisition. Technical processing, reviews other such lists , which whilst sometimes expanding
circulation, information services section. The minimum the number of skills , largely omit and explicit consideration
required skills are: of information skills.

 Pc operating system effectively. Information skills

 Key board skill to use to terminal
effectively.  Basic skills (use of keyboard , mouse, printer,
 Ability to select ready-made programme file/disk management)
package.  Standard software ( word processing , spread sheets ,
 Ability to handle computer unexpected database ,etc)
emergencies.  Network and social network application (electronic
 Common utility utilization. mail , internet , web browser )
 Common program packages use like word Information handling defined by corral, includes
processor, spread sheet, Lotus 123 etc. information sources, evaluation criteria, navigation
 Programming language knowledge like methods, manipulation techniques, and presentation
BASIC, COBOL issues.
 PASCAL, D-BASE, for application
programme development. Challenges for Library and Information Professionals
 Online searching of bibliographical data
bases from remoter and in house data base.  latest developments in search technology and
how that impacts on the profession
b) Digital management Skills  social networking in an information
environment
Skills in higher education have hitherto conflated “Digital
 use a range of tools to organize and tag
Management Skills” much broader and more directly related
information
to the aims and process of higher education adds a knowledge
 mobile technology and virtual worlds
creation activity. A clear distinction is made between
information skills and digital Era.Both information skills and  Virtual libraries
206 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 4, Issue, 03, pp.203-206, March, 2012

 major shifts in learning and some of the Bluck, R. (1996). Staff development for academic librarians.
emerging information behaviors of the digital In Oldroyd, M. (ed.) Staff development in academic
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