ICT Skills for LIS Professionals

Dr. Khalid Mahmood

Department of Library and Information Science

University of the Punjab

Study in 2001

Competencies Needed for Future Academic Librarians in Pakistan

Sample: 70 heads of university and postgraduate college libraries

List of 75 competencies Ranked on a 1-9 scale

Top Ten CompetenciesRank Competency Mean

1 Using relevant developments in information technology like e-mail, Internet, Intranet, multi-media, imaging, interconnectivity, full-text databases, in-house CD-ROM publishing, etc.

8.53

2 Converting the functions of cataloging, circulation, acquisition, serials from manual to an automated mode 8.40

3 Planning for library automation: assessing needs, system specification and procurement of resources, etc. 8.30

4 Training staff and users in using automated systems 8.29

5 Leadership skill 8.09

6 Comprehending the impact of information technology on libraries 8.07

7–8 Managing automated systems (input, file maintenance, backup security, etc. 8.06

7–8 Demonstrating good interpersonal skills and effective verbal and writing communication skills 8.06

9 Developing a sound knowledge of ready reference sources 8.03

10 Designing and developing Web-based materials and documents for online use 8.00

Ongoing Study in 2006Information and Communication

Technology (ICT) Training for LIS Professionals in Pakistan:A Needs Assessment Survey

Sample: Professionals working in all types of libraries, information centers, LIS schools, etc.

137 responses so far

Training Needed (75% - 100%)ICT Skill Percent

Networking (LAN / WAN) 79

Administration of DBMS (MySQL, ORACLE, SQL Server) 77

Bibliographic formats (MARC, z39.5, Metadata) 77

Data analysis (Research) software (SPSS) 77

Indexing Servers (Zebra Server) with Proxy Clients 76

Computer programming (VB, Java, JSP, ASP, JavaScript, PERL, PHP) 76

Digital libraries (Designing and maintaining) 76

Citation software (ProCite, etc.) 75

Training Needed (50% - 74%)MARC Editors (MarcEdit) 74

Web Servers (Tomcate, MS IIS etc) 74

Hardware troubleshooting, Use of data shows 74

Database Management System (WINISIS, MS Access, MySQL, ORACLE) 72

Web designing / Web editors (FrontPage, DreamWeaver, HTML, XML) 69

Barcode technology, RFID 69

Virtual / electronic reference service 68

Data conversion utilities and copy cataloging 66

Inter-library loan systems 65

Graphics software (Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, etc.) 60

Desktop publishing (MS Publisher etc) 58

Electronic document delivery 58

File formats 54

Digitization (Scanner, Software, OCR) 53

Operating system (Administration) 50

Training Needed (Below 50%)Data Compression (Winzip) 48

Digital libraries (Use) 48

Library Management Systems (For cataloging, circulation, acquisition, serials control, etc.) 46

Spreadsheets (MS Excel, Lotus etc) 43

Library electronic tools (Electronic DDC, Classification+, LCSH, etc.) 42

Operating system (Windows, XP, LINUX etc) 39

Presentation (MS PowerPoint etc) 38

CD-ROM / DVD (Use of multimedia encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference sources) 35

Searching online databases (Online journals, bibliographic and indexing databases) 34

Web browsers 31

Internet (Email, Discussion groups, Search engines, WWW) 29

Word processing (MS Word, Inpage etc) 24

Computer basics 16