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Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective

  • June 2009
Authors:
Muhammad Sajid Mirza at International Islamic University, Islamabad
Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Khalid Mahmood at University of the Punjab
Khalid Mahmood
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Abstract

This study is a content analysis of websites of 56 General University Libraries (GULs) of Pakistan. Content included existence of library website, hyperlink on university home page, type (static or dynamic) of library website, and six categories of library and information services. The six categories included general information, web OPAC, reference service, collection, circulation, and document delivery service/Inter Library Loan. Results indicate that web-based services in GULs of Pakistan are in their infancy. LIS professionals must recognize the significance of web-based library services and take initiative provide web services to library users. Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), LIS educators, and professional associations should provide training opportunities to librarians to develop required skills.
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Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln Year 
Web-based Services in University
Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective
Muhammad Sajid Mirza∗Khalid Mahmood†
∗International Islamic University - Pakistan, m.sa jid@iiu.edu.pk
†University of the Punjab, khalid@dlis.pu.edu.pk
This paper is posted at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/283
“Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective,” Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Dr. Khalid Mahmood. Library Philosophy and Practice 2009 (June)
1
Library Philosophy and Practice 2009
ISSN 1522-0222
Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective
Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Senior Librarian and Lincoln Corner Coordinator
Central Library
International Islamic University
Islamabad, Pakistan
Dr. Khalid Mahmood
Professor and Chairman
Department of Library andInformation Science
University of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Introduction
Libraries use their websites to provide services to users without their physical presence. Some
libraries provide only minimal information about their collections and services, while many offer more
WebOPACs, access to online databases, e-books, virtual reference service, electronic reserves, Web-
based user education tools, virtual tours, etc. National Digital Library Program, Pakistan Education and
Research Network (PERN), and Research Repository of Pakistan are significant initiatives of Higher
Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), which promote technology and research in the country. Those
initiatives have helped university libraries to be in a better position to provide state-of-the-art resources
through traditional and modern systems. Many university libraries have developed their websites or are in
the process of development.
There were many studies available on the design of library websites, role of library websites,
web-based library services, and case studies of individual library websites in the international library
literature. Rhodes and Chelin (1999) surveyed 68 university libraries in the UK and found that almost
three quarters of the libraries make use of the web for user education. He suggested that web-based
instruction is unlikely to completely replace traditional methods, but it can be used to supplement and
extend existing provision. Halub (1999) stated that the librarians of Cedars-Sinai Health System have
considered while maintaining and creating web-based library services: the design of website; offer what
services you can; but weigh the advantages of providing the services against the time required to
maintain them; make the content as accessible as possible; promote your website and make friends in
other departments, especially information services. Ahmed (2002) found in a survey of seven Arabian
Gulf university libraries that almost all the libraries are offering web-based services in one way or the
other. Feldman and Strobel (2002) recommend that for advancing web-based services it is essential to
initiate self-service circulation or librarian-mediated online reference. Saeed (1999) studied use of the
Internet in 29 university libraries of Pakistan and found that there were only two university libraries with a
web OPAC. Mirza (2007) surveyed six federally chartered general university libraries and found that
reference service was being provided electronically by four (66.67 percent) university libraries, while three
(50 percent) were providing electronic document delivery service.
“Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective,” Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Dr. Khalid Mahmood. Library Philosophy and Practice 2009 (June)
2
University libraries are a hub of knowledge and information services in their institutions and are
usually established along with their mother institutions as an integral part. According to HEC (2008), there
are 124 general and specialized universities and degree- awarding institutes throughout the country
including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administrated Northern Areas (FANA) in public
and private sector. The first university library established in the country is Punjab University Library
(1882), Lahore, which is also the largest library with a collection of 500,000.
There is no study of web-based services offered by the university libraries of Pakistan. This first
study measures the extent of web-based services offered by the general university libraries in Pakistan.
Objectives of the Study
1. To find out the number of university libraries having a website.
2. To find out whether the libraries have a direct hyperlink on their university homepage.
3. To investigate whether the university libraries have a static or dynamic website.
4. To measure the extent of the web-based services offered by the general university libraries in
Pakistan.
Study Design
In this study, all the general university libraries (GUL), excluding one distance learning program,
one virtual, and three universities whose major function is as a regulatory body (N=56) have been
included. The information about these universities was retrieved from the website of Higher Education
Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad. The methodology is content analysis of the websites of the
university libraries. A checklist including name of the university library, province, sector, category,
existence of library website, hyperlink on university home page, type (static or dynamic) of library website,
and six categories of library and information services was prepared to analyze the contents. There were
more web-based services offered by university libraries, but this study has focused on six categories,
including general information about library, web OPAC, reference service, collection, circulation, and
document delivery service/Inter Library Loan. These six categories were further divided into 33 sub-
categories. The content analysis work was done during mid-August to mid-September, 2008.
Findings
Library Website
More than two-thirds of the libraries examined have a dedicated or partial website. A partial
website is one having information about other facilities or services along with the library. There were 16
(28.6%) GULs without library website, while two (3.6%) GULs libraries have their websites in the process
of construction. Data analysis shows that 20 (68%) public GULs and 18 (66.7%) private have a dedicated
or partial website.
Table I. Library Website
Provinces
Yes
No
Under Construction
Total
Punjab
15
4
1
20
Sindh
9
4
0
13
NWFP
4
6
0
10
Balochistan
1
0
1
2
Federal Area
7
0
0
7
AJK
2
1
0
3
“Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective,” Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Dr. Khalid Mahmood. Library Philosophy and Practice 2009 (June)
3
FATA/FANA
0
1
0
1
Total
38
16
2
56
Percent
67.9
28.6
3.6
In most areas, the libraries have a dedicated or partial website at least two-thirds to three-
quarters of the time.
Library's Hyperlink on University Website and Type of Website
More than half the libraries have a direct hyperlink on the university homepage, while nearly half
have an indirect link from something like “facilities.” The same proportion have a dynamic (52 percent) or
static (47 percent) website. A dynamic website is one with hyperlinks.
Web-based Library Services
General Information
This category includes an introduction to the library, hours, general library policies, contact
information, etc. Nearly all have an introduction, while approximately 20 to 35 percent mention hours,
general library policies, contact information, and a staff directory.
Table II. General Information
Web-based Library Service-General
Public Sector
Frequency
Percent
Library introduction (History, Vision,
Objectives etc.)
17
35
92.1
Library hours
10
14
36.84
General library policies
9
12
31.57
Contact information
7
10
26.31
Staff Directory
7
9
23.68
Library sections/divisions/departments
5
6
15.78
Library news
2
3
7.89
Counter
2
3
7.89
Library map
1
1
2.63
General suggestions / feedback form
1
1
2.63
Virtual tour
0
0
0
Web OPAC
The web OPAC is a significant service offered by libraries through their websites. Less than one-
fifth of the libraries have this service.
Web-based Reference and Information Literacy Services
Only 6 (15.78%) GULs provide general information about information literacy/instruction services,
while only 5 (13.15%) libraries give general information about reference service. Another five (13.15%)
have email reference, while only one (2.63%) has chat reference.
“Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective,” Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Dr. Khalid Mahmood. Library Philosophy and Practice 2009 (June)
4
Table III. Web-based Reference and Information Literacy Services
Web-based Library Service-Reference
Public
Sector
Private
Sector
Frequency
Percent
General information about instructional-services/user
education/information literacy
3
3
6
15.78
General information about Reference Service
5
3
5
13.15
Reference Service using email
2
3
5
13.15
Reference Service using web-chat
1
0
1
2.63
Reference Service using web-form
0
0
0
0
Text based tutorials for instructional-services/user
education/information literacy
0
0
0
0
Web-based/Interactive tutorials for instructional services/user
education/information literacy
0
0
0
0
Library Collection and Access to Electronic Resources
This category had seven variables. Forty to fifty percent of libraries provide access to online
databases, digital collections, and descriptive information about their collections, while only 4 (10.52%)
provide information about “New Arrivals.”
Table IV. Library Collection and Access to Electronic Resources
Web-based Library Service-Collection
Public Sector
Private Sector
Frequency
Percent
Access to online databases journals
13
5
18
47.36
Access to digital collection
13
4
17
44.73
General information about collections
10
5
15
39.47
New arrival list
3
1
4
10.52
Text based recommendation form
1
0
1
2.63
Web-based recommendation form
0
0
0
0
Collection development policies
0
0
0
0
Web-based Circulation
Web-based circulation services are attractive to patrons. In this study, four aspects of circulation
services are analyzed. Table V had shown that descriptive information about circulation policies is
provided by 12 (31.57%) GULs on their websites, while 10 (26.31%) also give the membership
procedure.
Table IV. Web-based Circulation
Web-based Library Service-Circulation
Public Sector
Private Sector
Frequency
Percent
Circulation policies
9
3
12
31.57
Membership procedure
8
2
10
26.31
Patron's access to their accounts
0
1
1
2.63
Renewal and reserve facility
0
1
1
2.63
“Web-based Services in University Libraries: A Pakistani Perspective,” Muhammad Sajid Mirza
Dr. Khalid Mahmood. Library Philosophy and Practice 2009 (June)
5
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery
Less than one-quarter of the libraries provide descriptive information about ILL and document
delivery, while one (2.63%) public sector GUL provides a text-based request form, and there is no use of
a web-based request form for this service.
Table IV. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery
Web-based Library Service-ILL/Document delivery
Public Sector
Private Sector
Frequency
Percent
ILL and document delivery policies
6
3
9
23.68
Text based request form
1
0
1
2.63
Web based request form
0
0
0
0
Conclusion
The study shows that web-based services in GULs of Pakistan are in their infancy. There is an
urgent need to develop dynamic websites with a direct hyperlink on the university's homepage. LIS
professionals must recognize the significance of web-based library services and take the initiative to
provide them. HEC, LIS programs, and professional associations should provide training opportunities to
librarians. Further research is needed to identify the problems faced by university libraries in introducing
and maintaining web-based services.
References
Ahmed, Syed Sajjad. “Managing change to enhance Web-based services in the Arabian Gulf libraries.”
Online Information Review 26, no. 4 (2002): 265-270
Feldman, Sari and Tracy Strobel. “Advancing your library's web-based services.” ERIC Digest , (2002)
Halub, Lisa Parker. “The value of Web-based library services at Cedars-Sinai Health System.” Bulletin of
the Medical Library Association 87, no. 3 (1999): 256-260
Higher Education Commission. “Our institutions.” http://www.hec.gov.pk/
Mirza, Muhammad Sajid. “Electronic Resources and Services in Federally Chartered General University
Libraries of Pakistan.” Paper presented at PLA Golden Jubilee International Conference (2007)
Rhodes, Helen and Jacqueline Chelin. “Web-based user education in UK university libraries – results of a
survey.” Program 34, no. 1 (2000): 59-73
Saeed, Hamid. “Internet use in university libraries of Pakistan.” Online Information Review 24, no. 2
(2000): 154-160
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  • Sari Feldman
  • Tracy Strobel
Feldman, Sari and Tracy Strobel. "Advancing your library's web-based services." ERIC Digest, (2002)
Electronic Resources and Services in Federally Chartered General University Libraries of Pakistan
  • Jan 2007
  • Muhammad Mirza
  • Sajid
Mirza, Muhammad Sajid. "Electronic Resources and Services in Federally Chartered General University Libraries of Pakistan." Paper presented at PLA Golden Jubilee International Conference (2007)