Increase the value of library services:

The use of technology is spread just like a mushroom in every walk of our life nowadays and everyone almost feels really helpless whenever there is a gap in these technologies in our day-to-day life's routine work. Technology has also widened the scope of our working areas as well as our level of thinking but, if we just have glimpses of the days two decades ago in our mind, we hardly used to hear the terms like automation, digitization, content management system, etc. Without the use of technology also, library professionals were able to provide services to their library patrons effectively and the system used to be very strong those days from a user satisfaction point of view. Those days it was really a tough task for any library to market its products & services as the medium of communication was not that much strong in comparison to what it is today. Even then, the libraries were able to disseminate information and assist in research and academic work by providing personalized services, customized services, evaluating different services, etc.

I am trying to draw your attention to the value of library services in the digital era......

We have been using technology to speed up our efficiency but have we ever thought about the value of library services being provided? Does it reach society & its users successfully? And so on...If the answer is 'Yes'......then great and if 'No'.....we must think it over about how can it reach?

In my opinion, social media or networking has been playing a very effective role in maintaining public relations......it is working just like a bridge between two ends.

In order to stay up-to-date in the socially networked environment and meet the growing needs of their users, libraries, therefore, need to adopt new technologies and face the challenges for the delivery of better services.

Active response is expected from all of us for the popularity of social networking sites e.g. most popular Facebook, Twitter, etc., and their expanding role in the creation, use, and dissemination of information by engaging us as a central medium for interacting with library patrons and providing services to meet their information needs.

Public conversations, blog posts, updates, events, and resources must be followed by us and as much as possible, we must extend help. We are supposed to work as active learners and participants of social media and identify the needs of library users and must provide positive solutions by providing relevant information, important links as per their information needs, etc.

To promote the library and its users in knowledge creation, it is urgently required for libraries to adopt social networking tools in their library services. With the help of social networking websites, other libraries can be connected for accessing their OPAC, other relevant informative pages, research guides, e-newsletters, calendars of events, etc.

In order to increase the value of our library services, we must play the roles of the social networking librarian:

• Understanding the nature of social networking sites,  
•  Creating web pages and content,
•  Establishing a friendly user interface over the network,
•  Evaluating and applying information,
•  Assisting users by providing quality online library services.

 

Thanking you

DP Tripathi
NIT Jalandhar

Koha: List of No Dues Certificate in Koha

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Thanks
DP Tripathi 

Do we really deserve to be known as Information Manager/Librarian in Digital Era?

Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, also known as the ‘Father of Library Science in India’ propounded the five laws of library science in 1928 which was later published in the year 1931 in the form of a Book. The law says:

1. Books are for use

2. Every reader his/her book

3. Every book its reader

4. Save the time of the reader

5. The library is a growing organism

Every law has its implications and as per each implication, the ‘SERVICE’ is the key point for any kind of library.

As per the first law ‘Books are for use’, the books available in the library are for use. In another way, if we analyze then it means that books in libraries should not be kept away from the user and it has to be utilized. Then only the first law will be satisfied. There are also some related issues with the term USE such as the physical location of the library, library timings, circulation policy, furniture, and qualified staff.

As per the second law ‘Every reader his/her book’ means ‘Books for All’. The meaning says that every reader should get the books required.

As per the third law, ‘Every book its reader’, it mainly focuses on DOCUMENTS which says that each document in the library has its own reader. Now, it is up-to libraries to find out the methods to attract readers so that each document finds its reader. The most useful method was suggested ‘Open Shelving’ where the readers will be free from any restrictions in order to reach any particular document.

As per the fourth law ‘Save the time of the reader’, the library and its staff are mainly responsible for the recognition of the excellence of the library by meeting the needs of library users efficiently. In another way, we can say that library users should get their books/information quickly as per their demand. It means the staff should have strong skills for reference, technical services and also easy circulation of documents.

As per the fifth law, ‘The library is a growing organism’, the library should be continually changing place for the growth of qualified staff, physical size and collection of the library, and uses of resources effectively.

Due to the advent of technology, the scenario of libraries has changed and many new changes have taken place in libraries everywhere. Now, we are equipped with high-end technological tools with the capability to provide high-end services and highly qualified staff with infrastructure. In other words, over a period of time, we have slowly shifted to the digital world. But, still, the question remains in the mind that

“Do we really deserve to be known as Information Managers/Librarians?”

Are we really providing the services to our library users as per their expectations?

Please check!

DP Tripathi

NIT Jalandhar