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Emerging information society in Pakistan and the role of libraries
... In the mid of 1999, the number of Internet users was between 60 to 70 thousands, which was expected to reach up to 200,000 with an evident growth of 8-9% per month ( Saeed et al., 2000). According to Mahmood and Shafique (2007), a rapid growth had been seen in the ICT during last few years. In January, 2007, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reported the number of Internet users exceeding 12 millions with 1,898 Internet cities in Pakistan. ...
... Overall conditions of internet usage and introducing any online services were very poor according to this study. Mahmood & Shafique (2007) in their paper, "Emerging information society in Pakistan and the role of libraries" mentioned a very rapid growth, seen in the ICT during last few years.In January, 2007, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reported the number of Internet usersexceeded 12 millions with 1,898 cities in Pakistan having Internet access. There were 160cities in Pakistan which had been provided with wireless local loop services, having 1.57million subscribers, increasing from only 81, 030 within two years, i.e., January, 2005toDecember, 2006. ...
Information and communication technology (ICT) has brought radical and revolutionary changes in all walks of human life during the last three decades. It has played a vital role in the development of a global village. Libraries are also among those organisms which have been affected by ICT and a great deal of impact has been imposed in this field. Advanced countries are naturally ahead in this area like all others; nevertheless, the developing countries are also not far too behind in the use and implementation of these technologies. Internet has not only increased and fastened the communication, but it has also changed the approach, way of thinking and behaviour of human beings. It has both positive and negative effects on the human life at large. This paper examines the Internet access, emailing and instant messaging behaviour, web surfing and usage of online resources by different type of people relevant to library and information services in Pakistan. These different people range to faculty, library practitioners, library support staff with a master’s level education and graduate students of LIS. The paper also presents a brief picture of the time spent online by these people and the online available library tools used by them. The types of websites normally visited during office hours and messengers used for official cum personal communication have also been included in this paper.
... Therefore, IFLA had suggested that national, regional, local governments and international organisations to: a) invest in library and information services as vital elements in their Information Society strategies, policies and budgets; b) upgrade and expand the library networks to get the greatest possible benefits for the people and communities; c) support unrestricted access to information and freedom of expression; d) promote open access to information and address structural and other barriers to access; and e) recognise the importance of information literacy and vigorously support strategies to create a literate and skilled population that can advance and benefit from the global Information Society (IFLA, 2003). Indeed, Mahmood and Shafique (2009) show that the significance of public libraries in the emerging of information societies, libraries should be integrated into the information society for inclusion and consequently, they have seen both an increase in the librarian's responsibilities (e.g visualize their roles and to cope with the changing environment) and the addition of new responsibilities related specifically to create 4A's (Awareness, Access, Affordability and Application) of information based society. ...
This paper presents bio-bibliometric analysis of the contributions of Dr. Khalid Mahmood in the field of Library and Information Science through his publications. The analysis includes geographical and year wise distribution of publications; collaboration for publication; publications by type; language and journal preferences for the publication; and coverage of different subject areas. Results of the study indicate that Dr. Khalid Mahmood is a prolific writer in the field of library and information science. He contributed 115 items including 99 articles, six books, eight conference papers and two papers in newsletters till December 31, 2011. Research work by Dr. Khalid Mahmood is well accepted in developed countries like United Kingdom and United States of America. He used English language to disseminate majority of his research work. He believes in teamwork and about two third of his research work was result of collaboration.
Purpose
– The paper aims to: assess the situation of rural population in Pakistan and information facilities available to them including telecommunications, computers and public libraries; document the community information initiatives in terms of objectives, institutional framework, staff, services, use, finance, technology and lessons learned; understand challenges and opportunities regarding the establishment of multipurpose community telecenters (MCTs) in rural areas of Pakistan; and to propose a model for the establishment of MCTs in Pakistan in terms of policy formulation, planning, management, funding, building, equipment, technology, services, target groups, marketing and sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
– The study is based on literature review and interviews of persons involved in activities of providing information to the rural community in Pakistan selected from the telecommunications sector, libraries and national and local non‐governmental organizations.
Findings
– The paper highlights the role of MCTs in rural development. It assesses the situation of the rural population in Pakistan and information facilities available to them including telecommunications, computers and public libraries. The paper documents existing community information initiatives in terms of objectives, institutional framework, staff, services, use, finance, technology and lessons learned. It presents challenges and opportunities regarding MCTs in rural areas of Pakistan. A model is proposed for the establishment of MCTs in Pakistan in terms of policy formulation, planning, management, funding, building, equipment, technology, services, target groups, marketing and sustainability. The paper also discusses how MCTs can be an alternative to rural public libraries.
Originality/value
– The paper presents a model for the establishment of MCTs in Pakistan in terms of policy formulation, planning, management, funding, building, equipment, technology, services, target groups, marketing and sustainability.
School library development in Pakistan is in its embryonic stage. Only a negligible percentage of schools under government control have some kind of a library. The existing school libraries are confronted with problems of poor collections, lack of proper organization, absence of trained personnel, inadequate accommodation and non-availability of funds. This situation is attributed to defects in the educational system, lack of true concept of school library programme, dearth of children’s literature in indigenous languages, non-existence of school library standards, etc. Suggestions include: formulation of standards, appropriations for school libraries in the regular budgets of educational institutions, introduction of school librarianship as one of the subjects in teachers’ training colleges and translation of selected foreign titles.
Libraries: The information society in action
- F W Horton
Horton, F.W. Libraries: The information society in action. 2005.
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Alexandria Manifesto on Libraries: The Information Society in Action
- Ifla
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Recent Growth Trends in the Telecom Sector of Pakistan
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Sargana, M.A. Recent Growth Trends in the Telecom Sector of Pakistan. 2006.
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Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and ICT Development
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Yaseen, M. Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and ICT Development. 2006.
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Contextualizing ICTs in Pakistan
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