Perception of Semi-Professionals in using ICT in Manipal Academy of Higher Education Libraries

Ashish Kumar Rao; Mahabaleshwara Rao; Shivananda Kukdel Bhat

doi:10.14429/djlit.38.5.11191

Ashish Kumar Rao Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India
Mahabaleshwara Rao Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India
Shivananda Kukdel Bhat Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.38.5.11191

Keywords: Semi-professionals, ICT applications, Perception, Implementation of ICT, MAHE libraries

Abstract

Application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the best practices observed in libraries as it enables automation and modernisation of library services. Today’s environment is digitally driven and library semi-professionals play an important role in providing up-to-date information to the users using modern technologies. The objective of the present study was to assess the perception of semi-professionals with respect to the use of ICT in Manipal Academy of Higher Education Libraries by them. 58 Library Assistant working in the seven constituent institutional libraries of MAHE at Manipal campus were included in the study and data were collected using questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that EasyLib, the library automation software, and Electronic Public Access Catalogue (EPAC) had most impact on the role of semi-professionals (84.2 %) in providing ICT enabled services to the users. More than thirty percent (31.5 %) of the semi-professionals were of the opinion that ICT has considerably changed their duties and responsibilities. Semi-professionals are also of the opinion that they are now in a position to provide faster, more accurate and up-to-date information services to the users in their libraries. The findings of the present study support a need to implement the appropriate technologies in the libraries as they support the semi-professionals in their library housekeeping activities as well as in providing effective library services to the users.

Author Biographies

Ashish Kumar Rao, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India

Ashish Rao K. obtained MSc. Library and Information Science Student at the Department of Library and Information Science, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, offered his BA (Journalism and Communication) from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. Presently he is working at College Libraries.

Mahabaleshwara Rao, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India

Dr. Mahabaleshwara Rao is currently working as Associate Professor and Senior Librarian at Dept. of Library & Information Science and Health Sciences Library, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka. He holds MA and MLISc and has completed his Ph.D. degree in library and information science from Mangalore university, Mangalore. Dr. Rao has 25 year professional experience. He has attended many conferences, seminars, workshops and presented 36 paper in National and International Seminars/Conferences. He has 19 paper to his credit published in National and International Journals. He has also chaired sessions, delivered preliminary sessions speech and participated as resource person in panel discussions in conferences/seminars and refresher course. He has edited 2 books. His areas of interest include Health sciences librarianship, web resource and information literacy.

Shivananda Kukdel Bhat, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal – 576 104, Karnataka, India

Dr. Shivananda Bhat K. obtained his M.L.I.Sc from Mangalore university and PhD. from the university of Mysore. Presently he is working as Chief Librarian in the Health Sciences Library of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal and as Co-ordinator & Associate Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. He has published several papers in peer- reviewed journals and conference proceedings. His current areas of interest include information literacy, innovative methods in search strategies, and scientometrics.