ELECTRONIC LIBRARIANSHIP

by

OSHILALU, H. Adeyinka CLN

Á paper presented at a 2-day Workshop organized by the University Library, Delta State University, Abraka on November

8, 2016

Contents– Brief on Electronic

– Librarianship as a concept

– Electronic Librarianship

– Comment from the audience on Man and Library in an Electronic Age

– Librarians in an Electronic Age

– Effect on Library Division

– Man / Library Users in an Electronic Age

– Breakdown of Library Services

– Comment from the audience on technological effects on Library Services

– How has technology affected each services (Libraries then and Now)

– Expectations from the Library / Librarians

– Effects of not responding in-time

– Submission (s)

– Ask a Librarian

– Appreciation

A BRIEF ON ELECTRONIC

…(of a device) having or using many small parts,

such as MICROCHIPS, that control and direct a small electric current.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

Devices that operate on principles governing the behaviors of electrons

Wordweb (2016)

Electron is an elementary particle that

orbits the nucleus in atoms and is responsible

for the flow of electricity

Wordweb (2016)

Electronic Devices

in Summary…the computer and several other devices are

Electronic devices because they operate with the use of

electricity.

COMPUTERSPHONES

Electronic devices are components for controlling the flow

of electrical currents for the

purpose of information

processing and system control.

Librarianship as a Concept– What does Librarianship entails?

The professional administration of Library

resources and servicesCollins English Dictionary (2012)

The profession of a specialist in the care or management of

a libraryMerriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (2009)

…profession of a person who is in charge of or works a Library

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

DEFINITION OF A LIBRARY

1. As an institution set aside: a library is a purposely built space

2. Systematical acquisition: materials are acquired following a standard

3. Systematical processing: materials are processed following a standard

4. Systematical sorting: materials are sorted following a standard

5. Systematical storing: materials are kept following a standard

6. Systematical sharing: materials are disseminated following a standard

7. Information: the institution deals with information in varying formats

8. Information Resources: the institution deals with information resources in several formats

An institution set aside for systematical acquisition, processing, sorting, storing and circulation of information and information materials.

Librarianship as a ConceptSUMMARY

We’ve established the fact that, Librarianship is all about the profession of Librarian

as such…

What is the need for the Profession?

* The traditional functions Acquiring; Processing; Preserving; Dissemination

* Scared Resources – Rich should be able to buy all

* Is Knowledge Divide really an issue?

…Lot of many others

FACTS

1. No man can survive without information

2. Everyone needs information but not all knows how to get needed information

3. Man usually does not know of some things needed unstill when he possessed them

4. Information handling is a professional work

5. Proper care for information saves time and lot of other resources

– Is the need still relevant at this age & time?THERE IS INFORMATION EVERYWHERE…and I have my

mobile device connected to the INTERNET

YES or NO? either way WHY?

INTRODUCTING ELECTRONIC LIBRARIANSHIP

SUMMARY

We’ve established the fact that, Electronic is all about the adoption and use of Electronic devices in it entirety

SUMMARY

We’ve also established the fact that, Librarianship is all about the profession of Librarian

As such…

We wouldn’t be wrong to say that Electronic Librarianship is all about the adoption and use of electronic devices in the operations and services of the Librarian

Electronic Librarianship– Surfaced as a result of the effect of

technology on man and his environment

– Adopted as a result of the profession being open to change – a growing organism (Ranganathan, 1931)

– Divided as its practitioners are rational being

Article on Emergence of Electronic Resources is a good reference

– Accepted or not, does it make any difference?

Fact: Man will continuously need information and it is now left for the Librarian to be handy or not

– What is Electronic Librarianship?

…its all about adding an “E” to the various operations and services in Librarianship

– What is the effect(s) of adding an “E” and why should it be considered at all?

Fact: The world is changing and it will continue to change… Practitioners; Users; Facilities and everything other things are changing

– E-L has indeed come to stay Yes or No?

Comments from class on the Undisputable Relationships

between;

Man & Information

Man & Library

Library & Technology

Man and Information

Man is the source of his own needs

Source(s)

User(s)

Some people serve as the SOURCE and some people use (USERS) information and vice versa. It is an endless chain

Man and Library

Source(s)

User(s)

Serves as an agent that eliminate all factors serving as

stumbling blocks to the information channel

Enables smooth flow of information from sources to

the needy

The Library

The Library is meant to render support to Man --- Eliminate factors that militate

against access to timely and useful information

Library and Technology

As an agent meant to eliminate all factors serving as stumbling

blocks to the information channel

Adoption and use of Electronic by Librarians is not optional –

It is a necessity

The Library must adopt the use of appropriate technology to

meet up to expectations…

Technology has indeed come to stay

USERS THENUSERS NOW

Bexar County's Library was dubbed BiblioTech (2013) and it’s the first

bookless, all digital Library in the United

StateCurrently has 10,000 volumes of ebooks; 600 e-readers, 400 computers, 10 laptops and 40 tablets for the public to use

Services Includes a Circulation Desk; 3m Cloud

Reader; Monthly enewletter; Book Club; Book Finder;

Expectations from Librarians in an E-Age– Expectations from Librarians in an E-Age

CHANGES UPON CHANGES ARE EXPECTED

Rather than wait for employers / your boss, get something started

Rather than wait for users, be on the move

Rather than operating statically, be mobile

Rather than closing for the day, be available

Rather than been rigid, be flexible…

In all…Librarians are expected to work SMART and become SMARTER by the day. Be CREATIVE and INNOVATIVE…CHALLENGE your ABILITIES

Failure to adopt and use technology when and where expected?

- Loss of interest / trust

- Users dissatisfaction

- Going against the guiding principles of the profession -

- Boredom on the job

- Information overload (Information users will be helpless)

Effects on Library DivisionBefore

The two major divisions in Libraries used to be Technical and Reader’s Services Section

Now

IT adoption and use has proven to be worthy enough to introduce a third division that is very conspicuous in Libraries of present age

Let’s see next slide for my proposed organogram to modern library and

information centers

MAJOR DIVISIONS IN LIBRARIES

TECHNICAL SERVICE DIVISION

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT UNIT

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SERVICE

CATALOGUING UNIT

RESTORATION / BINDING

SERIALS / PERIODICALS

I.T UNIT

E-LIBRARY

MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY

LIBRARY OUTREACH

OPAC / PAC SERVICES

READERS' SERVICES UNIT

CIRCULATION UNIT

REFERRAL SERVICES

SECURITY UNIT

TOUR / ORIENTATION

Effects on Librarians AppointmentsBefore - Degree alone might be considered adequate…

Job Title: Assistant Librarian

Qualifications

A candidate for this post should normally possess a good first degree and a master's degree in Library and Information Studies or any other related discipline from a reputable University or comparable institution of higher learning.

Candidate must have strong and considerable proof of continuing research with appreciable evidence of scholarly publications in reputable journals.

Candidates must have been registered with the Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) and the Nigerian Library Association (NLA)

Now – Degree is not enough –

Added Advantages

– Hand-on experience (installation, use and configuration) with Linux Operating System

– Setting-up and management of Institutional Repository

– Ability to adopt the use of several open source software in library operations

– Wired and wireless networking skills

Culled from Augustine University Advert for the post of Assistant Librarian in July 2016

Effects on Librarians’ DesignationsBefore

Circulation Librarian

Technical service Librarian

Cataloguer

Serials Librarians

Research Librarian

Reference Librarian

Now

Multimedia Librarian

Systems Librarians

Electronic Librarian

eLibrarian

Audio-Visual Librarian

…………….class could mention excluded designations

Effects on Library Relation / CooperationBefore

It has to be physical

It has to be between libraries that knows each other before

Its has boundary

Now

The world remains a global village where anything / everything is possible at any time

Breakdown of Library Services and “E”

– Resources Acquisition

– Resources Processing

– Resources Preservation and Conservation

– Resource Sharing

Resource Acquisition

Now

- Online via email

- Simply go cashless

- More than enough gadget inputs

Before

- Offline

- Cash / bank issues

- Enough human input

Last request made by a User in AUI and how it was treated

Resource ProcessingNow

Nothing is wrong in doing Original Cataloguing but have attempted CIP and Online Cataloguing?

Before

Is all about Original Cataloguing

Let’s run a quick check on the following website and establish their respective usefulness in

processing newly acquired titles

1. PORTAL.AUGUSTINEUNIVERSITY.EDU.NG Augustine University Library Catalogue2. MYECATALOG.INFO Oshilalu’s pet project (Nigeria Union Catalogue)3. LOC.GOV The Catalogue of the Library of Congress

Resource Preservation and Conservation

Now

High resolution scanners for scanning and other electronic means of proffering access to the contents of books is very essential

Before

Laminating, binding and few other mediums seems to be adequate

Resource Sharing

Now

All manner of resources…even the human resources are up for sharing

Terms like Consortium and others come into play

Before

Basically in print form

Submissions 1

Electronic adoption is very good but don’t forget the majority that are not technology compliance

Submissions 2

Electronic adoption is very good but remember that heaven help those who help themselves

Don’t wait on your employer / boss…start-up with something…infact, start with what you have

Electronic adoption is very good but remember that technology help those that are open to learning

Submissions 3

Electronic adoption should not pose any for of threat rather than a challenge to Librarians

Pick up the challenge and get moving

Submissions 3

If you fail to adopt it use…such an individual is gradually going out of business.

Users are moving, Technology is not Static and fellow Librarians are also

moving…

Who is fooling who?

Ask the Librarian

Appreciation and Thanks for your time