Use of WhatsApp for Effective Delivery of Library and Information Services

Mohd Shoaib Ansari; Aditya Tripathi

doi:10.14429/djlit.37.5.11090

Mohd Shoaib Ansari Govt. Kaktiya PG College, Jagdalpur C.G.
Aditya Tripathi Banaras Hindu University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.37.5.11090

Keywords: Social networking, Mobile instant messaging, WhatsApp, Service delivery, Library services

Abstract

Information communication technology playing a major role in transmitting idea, thought and information between one to another. Social networking websites are a good example of communication network and it is a social structure that lets the user interact and work collaboratively with other users. WhatsApp is a free instant messenger application that allows users to send text messages and multimedia files. In this paper, an online survey was conducted to measure usability of WhatsApp for service delivery in the libraries and information centres. A random sample was selected from social networking sites from all over India and an online questionnaire was used to gather information from respondents. Findings indicated that respondents showed a positive attitude toward getting services over WhatsApp. Most of the respondents believe that use of WhatsApp can improve alert services (CAS, virtual reference, notifications) and libraries can utilise their potential for providing better user services.

Author Biographies

Mohd Shoaib Ansari, Govt. Kaktiya PG College, Jagdalpur C.G.

Mr Mohd Shoaib Ansari, received his BA (Economics) and MLISc (Library & Info. Sci.) from Banaras Hindu University, in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Currently pursuing his PhD from same university. Presently working as Librarian Govt. Kaktiya PG College, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. His areas of interest are : Community information, library services, traditional knowledge and cultural preservation.

Contribution in current study, he has carried out this work as a part of his doctoral dissertation.

Aditya Tripathi, Banaras Hindu University

Prof. Aditya Tripathi is a Professor and Head of Department of Library and Information Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. His areas of interest are Multilingual information retrieval system, design and development of digital libraries, e-learning, web technologies, automated indexing tools, machine readable cataloguing, metadata, semantic web, xetensible markup language, etc.

Contribution in current study, he has supervised this study and given his input to improve the review and data analysis.