WEEK 1

Introduction
Concepts & Terminology
What is ICT
IT Trends

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The accelerated adoption and use of ICT has resulted
in the globalization of information and knowledge
resources, and access to these resources is now
available on the desktops of most ICT users.

Using ICT, libraries are also playing a very important

role in facilitating access to global information and
knowledge resources.

ICT is also having an impact on library staff, library

users, libraries and information resources and services
provided to users.

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Why do librarians need to know
about ICT and acquire skill in its
use?

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Developments in ICT have brought
about the merger of the computing,
information, communications,
entertainment, mass media
industries thereby providing a
means of exchanging information in
the digital format used by
computers…

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Information Technology (IT) or Information and
Communication(s) Technology (ICT) is a broad
subject concerned with technology and other
aspects of managing and processing information,
especially in large organizations.

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In particular, IT deals with the use of electronic
computers and computer software to convert, store,
protect, process, transmit, and retrieve information.

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For that reason, computer professionals are often
called IT specialists, and the division of a company
or organization that deals with software technology
is often called the IT department. Other names for
the latter are Information Services (IS) or
Management Information Services (MIS).

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Technology is a word with origins in the Greek word
technologia (τεχνολογια), techne (τεχνη) "craft" + logia
(λογια) "saying".
It is an encompassing term dealing with the use and
knowledge of humanity's tools and crafts.

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Management Information Systems (MIS) are
Information Systems, typically computer-based, that
are used within an organization.
It can be describes as an information system as "a
system consisting of the network of all
communication channels used within an
organization".

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A management information system may also be
defined as "a system that collects and processes data
(information) and provides it to managers at all levels
who use it for decision making, planning, program
implementation, and control."

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An information system is comprised of all the
components that collect, manipulate, and disseminate
data or information.
It usually includes hardware, software, people,
communications systems such as telephone lines, and
the data itself.

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The activities involved include inputting data,
processing of data into information, storage of data
and information, and the production of outputs such
as management reports.

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As an area of study it is commonly referred to as
information technology management. The study of
information systems is usually a commerce and
business administration discipline, and frequently
involves software engineering, but also distinguishes
itself by concentrating on the integration of computer
systems with the aims of the organization.

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The area of study should not be confused with
Computer Science which is more theoretical and
mathematical in nature or with Computer
Engineering which is more engineering.
In business, information systems support business
processes and operations, decision-making, and
competitive strategies.

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What is ICT ?
 Information
Communication
Technologies

ICT are the hardware and software

that enable society to create, collect,
consolidate and communicate
information in multimedia formats
and for various purposes.
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Information and communication technology (ICT) is
“a diverse set of technological tools and resources used
to communicate and to create, disseminate, store, and
manage information” (Blurton 1999:46).

ICT came about as a result of the digital convergence

of “computer technologies, telecommunication
technologies and other media communication
technologies”.

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ICT Trends
ICT - i.e. computer linked to
all facets of society
 Increases level of technology literacy
 Increases demand for better and
faster access to information
 Aggravates discrepancies between
the information rich and information
poor.

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The library will :
be networked
be stocked with a core collection that is
multimedia
have access to global information
become digital
become virtual

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IT Trends
Twiss & Goodridge (1989) postulate the development
of IT follows a clear pattern that can be forecast,
plotted and monitored.

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Technology Performance

IT Trend

Time/Investment 25
Technology Performance

In reality the S-curve

Trend can be used as
A reasonable predictor
of the future

Time/Investment 26
INVENTION RESEARCH DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

TECHNOLOGY
ADOPTION IMPLEMENTATION IMPACT
TRANSFER

START OF NEW
LIFE CYCLE
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100%
New product/
service
Market share

Old product
service

0%
Time 28
Increased production and availability of more
powerful ICT hardware and software
Provision of more efficient national and global
information infrastructures for more efficient access
and delivery of information
Increased production and publication of multimedia
digital information

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ICT made information creation in
digital format possible.
ICT made online access and file
transfer possible
ICT made networking and sharing of
information resources possible

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Shift from Print to
Internet
Digital

ICT has made the transfer of digital information from

remote sites possible
Digital information can be sent in multiple copies
simultaneously over information networks in fractions
of a minute or even of a second. There is no need for
users with PCs attached to the network to physically go
to the library. They can access information via their
PCs.

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Digital information can be cut and pasted from one
document into another
Digital information may be free or cheaper than print
equivalents
Digital information often modifies librarians’ roles in
various ways

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Need for ICT knowledge
Need for ICT skill
Need for ICT tools
Need for continuous learning in the
context of rapidly changing ICT
Library schools must integrate ICT into their
curricula and short courses to produce graduates
who can cope with the changing work environment.
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Creators: developers and producers of
information products and services
Collectors: librarians, archivists and records
managers
Communicators: information workers,
extension workers, subject specialists
Consolidators: reference librarians, information
brokers, analysts
(A Curriculum for an Information Society, 1998)

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Collection development Better document
Resource sharing delivery systems
through networking Better abstracting and
Faster direct indexing systems
communication among Availability of full-text
scientists and researchers materials on the
Virtual vs. onsite Internet
reference service: push Information
and pull technologies management vs.
collection management

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Libraries and librarians must cope with the
demands of an information society. Librarians must
have the knowledge, skills and tools in handling
digital information to be efficient creators,
collectors, consolidators and communicators of
information.

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Librarians with the knowledge, skills and tools
required of information professionals in an
information society will be the key success factors in
enabling the library to perform its role as an
information support system for society.

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