Page 71 - DLIS102_LIBRARY_AND_ITS_USERS

Library and its Users

Notes The Challenge in Information Services

Information has become more complex and expensive. The traditional services, such as reference
service, current awareness services, and selective dissemination of information need be supplemented
by “Selective Elimination of Information,” the evaluation of information to separate quality information
from junk. In this context, the basic challenge is to convince and convert traditional users into users of
Internet-based resources and services. Information literacy can contribute to developing information
technology (IT) related competencies among end-users as it includes basic computer and network
literacy. The aim of information literacy is to make information users capable of locating, retrieving,
and using information.

The Changing Academic Library
During the recent economic recession, money for education and libraries in India became very tight,
requiring cuts in serial subscriptions and book purchases for academic libraries. At the same time,
subscription prices were soaring, as were the costs and number of databases and journals available.
Library planning is now essential in order to maximize available resources and take advantage of
emerging technologies. Academic libraries in India should now implement a Library Planning and
Action Initiative (LPAI).
To accomplish the goals of the LPAI, a planning team should be established in every academic
library. An advisory task force must be formed to work closely with the planning team. The advisory
task force members could be chancellors, vice-chancellors, other academic administrators, academic
librarians, a representative from the Librarian’s Association, information technologists, and other
faculty including representation from faculty governance bodies.

The Need for User Education

1. User education is essential. It helps publicize library services. It improves the image of the
library. Above all, user education and training are the best ways to implement Ranganathan’s
five laws of library science.
2. User education and training are often fee-based, because developing the infrastructure for
the network environment is very costly. The world still appears to be suffering from an
exponential increase in all kinds of information – bearing material. Even if much of this is of
little value, it still has to be shifted to find the required information.
Several new methods of information transfer, such as mechanized information retrieval systems,
are being developed, giving rise to new aspects of user education. Both educational and research
topics are becoming increasingly multidisciplinary in nature, thereby drawing information from a
wider range of sources. Not being able to find necessary information delays research or decisions.
Lack of awareness of information leads to duplication of effort. Various estimate of the extent and
cost of this have been made.

Planning of User Education

The establishment of the UNISIST programme within UNESCO as an Inter-Governmental programme
to stimulate and guide voluntary Co-Operation in the flow of S&T information at the national, regional
and international levels, and the launching of national information systems, such as NISSAT in India,
has focused attention on the need for training the users in the effective use of information.
The UNESCO General Information programme (PGI) has been making organized efforts to promote
user education and training programmers through organizing seminars, workshops, and developing

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