Deanship of Library Affairs

The study reported here explored the reasons for the relatively limited use of the Internet among educated Pakistani adults. A fairly large sample of Internet nonusers from different cities of the Punjab Province with at least secondary school education participated in a survey. Some graduate students and cyber café owners were also interviewed. The results of this study are reported in the main body of this paper, indicating that a variety of cultural, educational, and economic factors are responsible for this state of affairs.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore the library use pattern of humanities faculty members at University of the Punjab, Lahore. Design/methodology/approach -A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to get response from the targeted population which consisted of 90 teaching and research staff of humanities departments. The response rate was 69 percent. Findings -The study reveals that most of the respondents feel themselves good in library use skills, which is owing to their high frequency of library use, not to any formal training. They prefer to use the library themselves, rather than seeking help from the library staff. Respondents found the central library richer in collection than their departmental libraries. Most of respondents were visiting the library for using the reference material or for searching some specific information and they seldom seek help from the library staff. Resources and services/facilities available in the central library were professed to be better than their departmental libraries. Respondents fulfilled their information needs not only from central and departmental libraries of the university but from other libraries in the city as well. They were facing the problem of non-availability of required material due to their heavy dependency on the library resources. Dissatisfaction was also shown with the library staff and technical support. More journals and reference material in humanities were suggested by the respondents, along with better facilities and services. Practical implications -The knowledge about the information needs and library use pattern of users helps the library and information science professionals to develop the library collections, improve the services and upgrade the facilities. Originality/value -This paper provides a case study of how specific kinds of scholars use library services and should be of interest to librarians providing information services for humanists.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to assess the use of electronic information resources and facilities by humanities scholars at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach -A questionnaire survey of faculty from arts and humanities departments at the University of the Punjab was conducted. In total, 62 faculty and research staff participated. Findings -The results correspond with previous studies conducted in other countries. The humanists still stick to the printed information sources but they pay good attention to electronic resources. Most of them have access to computer and internet at office and home. They are regular users of a variety of electronic technologies. Although faced with many problems, the humanists perceive that modern technology made their work easier.

The study reviews the important role of information systems and their impact on educational planning and development. It also attempts to identify gaps in the provision of information needed by educational administrators who are key planners of education enterprise in Pakistan. It intended to determine their views about the development, objectives and needed services of a user centered information system for educational administrators. To achieve these objectives, a literature review, questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted. Thus, the educational administrators (i.e., registrars/deans/chairpersons in universities and principals of schools and colleges) were identified as the target population for the survey and were selected through cluster sampling. The respondents were from the Punjab province and Islamabad Capital Territory. In total, 297 (99%) responses were received and analyzed quantitatively. Interviews of purposively selected educational administrators were also conducted for a more in-depth understanding of respondents' points of view. This triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods helped in understanding the phenomena under study. Recommendations and conclusions are also drawn in the light of findings of the study. The study is the first one of its type that tried to probe the gaps in the process of accurate/valid information supply to educational administrators and planners. This gap is causing serious challenges for education in Pakistan. ª

Purpose -The paper seeks to reveal the current status of software used in the libraries of Lahore, to explore the satisfaction level of the software users, and to find out their problems and suggestions. Design/methodology/approach -The paper reports a survey of automated libraries of Lahore comprising academic (university, college, and school libraries), public and special libraries. Opinions were acquired from the whole population. The data collected were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, and conclusions were drawn along with recommendations. Findings -Most libraries purchased or developed software without any exchange of experience with each other. A variety of software was being used by the libraries of Lahore. No standard tool or directory was available for the selection and evaluation of software, nor was comprehensive literature written and published in a Pakistani scenario discussing the technical and practical aspects of library software. The Pakistani literature available on the topic is not up to date. Research limitations/implications -The research is limited to the automated libraries of Lahore and focuses on the comparison of software and determining librarians' opinions. Practical implications -The comparative analysis of software used in various libraries of Lahore made in this study and the opinions of the software users studied will be helpful for foreign and local vendors of library software. It will also provide guidelines for libraries in developing countries, which are planning to automate their services, in selecting and maintaining software that is most suitable to their needs. Originality/value -No comprehensive survey has been conducted at national or local level to reveal the current status of the software and related problems faced by Pakistani libraries. The current study, although focussing only on libraries in the city of Lahore, can be extrapolated to the country as a whole and should prove useful as an indication of how issues with library software can arise and be handled.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to review the changing scenario of research in Pakistan and the status of demand and supply of library and information science (LIS) professionals with research qualifications to fill the leadership positions in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach -Government reports and websites were reviewed and telephonic contacts made with LIS faculty and senior librarians. Findings -The paper finds that research activities are rapidly increasing in Pakistan, while there is a wide gap between demand and supply of LIS professionals with research qualifications. Originality/value -The researchers have furnished some recommendations for filling the identified gap.

The changing environment of academic libraries in Pakistan demands new competencies for future academic librarians. This study defines and validates competencies for entry-level professionals keeping in view the needs of the next five years. Top-level library managers of selected universities and postgraduate level colleges participated in the study. A scale of perceived importance of each competency was used for validation of competencies organized in six categories: management, resource development, technical service, reference & information services, information technology and general. A distinct preference is noted for information technology competencies. A significant overlap between the opinion of public and private sector librarians is also observed. The validated competencies can be used for the evaluation and revision of the curricula of formal education programs.

Purpose -The paper aims to: assess the situation of rural population in Pakistan and information facilities available to them including telecommunications, computers and public libraries; document the community information initiatives in terms of objectives, institutional framework, staff, services, use, finance, technology and lessons learned; understand challenges and opportunities regarding the establishment of multipurpose community telecenters (MCTs) in rural areas of Pakistan; and to propose a model for the establishment of MCTs in Pakistan in terms of policy formulation, planning, management, funding, building, equipment, technology, services, target groups, marketing and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach -The study is based on literature review and interviews of persons involved in activities of providing information to the rural community in Pakistan selected from the telecommunications sector, libraries and national and local non-governmental organizations. Findings -The paper highlights the role of MCTs in rural development. It assesses the situation of the rural population in Pakistan and information facilities available to them including telecommunications, computers and public libraries. The paper documents existing community information initiatives in terms of objectives, institutional framework, staff, services, use, finance, technology and lessons learned. It presents challenges and opportunities regarding MCTs in rural areas of Pakistan. A model is proposed for the establishment of MCTs in Pakistan in terms of policy formulation, planning, management, funding, building, equipment, technology, services, target groups, marketing and sustainability. The paper also discusses how MCTs can be an alternative to rural public libraries. Originality/value -The paper presents a model for the establishment of MCTs in Pakistan in terms of policy formulation,