Diljit Singh Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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1 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at Status of information technology applications Muhammad Ramzan Lahore University of Management Sciences Library, Lahore, Pakistan, and Diljit Singh Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 573 Received April 08 Revised June 08 Accepted 8 June 08 Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and determine the levels of information technology (IT). More specifically, the paper focuses on the status of computers and other commonly used hardware, , internet, library software, automated user services, expenditure on IT and online resources available in academic of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The data are collected through a questionnaire survey of 288 (sample of 682) academic across Pakistan. A total of 29 (76 per cent) valid responses are used for data analysis and interpretation using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Findings The paper finds a low level of IT availability, especially the absence of computers, and internet in few. Similarly, the are far behind to achieve excellent IT levels. It is found that need to be fully automated using standard library software/management systems. However, access to online resources through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is found extensive and comprehensive. The data indicate the need to enhance IT expenditure. Practical implications The findings can be utilized to evaluate the status of different IT tools and applications. The statistical data are very useful and authentic source for planning to improve the IT infrastructure, library automation and in reducing the gap in levels of IT application in different type of. Originality/value This is a first comprehensive study that provides a complete picture along with statistical data regarding (computers and other common hardware, software, , internet, other information access technologies, applications and online resources available) in academic of Pakistan. Keywords Communication technologies, Academic, Library automation, Pakistan Paper type Research paper Introduction Information technology (IT) has demonstrated its impact on the library resources, systems, services and operations. It is well acknowledged in the library literature that the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) have provided one of the best innovations in the history of and it is changing the shape of and role of librarians at an unprecedented pace (Lewis, 07). The user information seeking behaviour is also changing at a fast rate. The library catalogue or portal is not the first choice for many of the faculty, students and researchers for information searching (Haglund and Olsson, 08). IT allows easy integration of various library activities, increases efficiency in acquisitions, access to data, cataloguing, classification, information retrieval and dissemination. It eliminates uninteresting and repetitive work, helps to avoid duplications of efforts, increase the The Electronic Library Vol. 27 No., 09 pp q Emerald Group Publishing Limited DOI 0.08/

2 TEL 27, 57 range of services, provides marketing opportunities, facilitates cooperation and the formulation of networks and resources sharing in. These technologies enable users to have remote access to information and data from a variety of places, provide more up-to-date information and speedy, easy, around the clock access to information. New technologies also help increase circulation, remote access to bibliographic and full-text data, increases circulation of materials, provides unlimited information from different sources and facilitates the reformatting and combining of data from different sources (Robinson, 99; Cochrane, 992, Mutula, 07). In this study, IT/ICT or library automation refers to all the computer and related hardware, software, , internet, library management systems, electronic databases, compact disc-read-only-memories (CD-ROMs) and other information access technologies involved in the recording, storage and dissemination of information through the. Such information management, network and communication technologies have become indispensible tools to perform different library functions and to provide innovative services. Various writers (Frey, 06; Lewis, 07; Rowlands and Nicholas, 08) have predicted that in the future, new trends would emerge in communications, storage, archive of data and records, fast replacement of hardware, software, other information technologies, changing user information habits and lifestyle, pressure for instant access, globalization of knowledge and the transition of from information centres into centre of culture. To meet these growing technology challenges, the library leadership needs to continuously improve and innovate the IT infrastructure, applications and services. A number of studies have been conducted in different countries to determine the level of IT application in their (Siddiqui, 997; Davarpanah, 0; Uddin, 03; Gulati, 0; Younis, 05; Jain and Babbar, 06; Adetunji, 07; Haneefa, 07; Raza and Nath, 07; Hayati and Jowkar, 08). The above studies reveal that in these developing countries are at very different levels of. To contribute to the corpus of literature, this paper presents the availability of different kinds of hardware, software, network infrastructure, information retrieval systems, online resources and expenditure made on IT in academic in Pakistan. Evolution of IT in Automation in first began in the 960s and in the 970s, started adopting software applications and machine readable cataloguing. In the 980s, networking technologies, optical discs, CD-ROMs and communications technologies were introduced. The primary objective of the early technology applications was to automate circulation, acquisitions and the catalogue to bring efficiency and effectiveness in library operations and services. The 990s witnessed revolutionary changes in the application of ICT in such as the internet, world wide web protocols, information retrieval standards, integrated library systems and online databases. The 00s are an era of digital, virtual collections, paperless environment and round the clock instant remote access to unlimited resources. The rapid advancements in computers and telecommunications, exponential growth of information and media, availability of online databases, reduction in hardware and software costs, passion of using the internet, provision of cost effective communication mechanism and growing user demands are the major factors responsible for the increasing use of IT in around the world (McCallum, 03; Moyo, 0; Jain and Babbar, 06; El-Sherbini and Wilson, 07).

3 In, Pakistan computers were first used by the Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre in 968 to produce the country s first Union Catalogue of Scientific Periodicals. After a span of ten years, agricultural universities and research centre started using computers, with foreign funding. The 980s saw a shift towards automation. In the beginning, computers intimidated librarians but later, some of them cautiously started adopting this state-of-the-art technology. This was the beginning of library automation in the country using database management systems, mostly for cataloguing and inventory purposes. However, only a few academic were able to start automated circulation. The Netherlands Library Development Project (NLDP) for Pakistan, which was started during the 990s, influenced the library automation scenario significantly through the introduction of IT in librarians training, provision of hardware, software development, networking and curriculum development. It helped in accelerate the overall IT environment in, created awareness amongst librarians and removed their hesitation. In addition, it provided a platform for further automation of. However, the Government of Pakistan did not take any initiative to introduce automation in the. The year 992 was important in the history of library automation in Pakistan when the country s telecommunication sector started expanding its services and NLDP established computer-training centres for working librarians. The same year, the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Peshawar organized a conference on Challenges in Automating the Library Services, which helped produce Pakistan s library automation literature. In addition, the Punjab University Library Science Alumni Association contributed two publications to the literature on library education, automation and other issues (Haider, 998, Mahmood, 998, Mahmood, 999, Ramzan, 0). Idrees (995) investigated the status of library automation in 0 of Lahore and found that automation of cataloguing was the dominant activity and computerized documentation system/integrated set for information systems was the most commonly used software. Some 60 per cent of the target had one computer, 0 per cent were using CD-ROM technology, 32.5 per cent had facility and only two out of the 0 were using Barcode Readers for circulation. 30 per cent of the respondent had a network environment, but only one library had an internet facility. Mahmood (998) surveyed 9 university in Pakistan and reported that only 6 per cent (3) were using automated cataloguing and serials control and 0 per cent (2) were using automated acquisition while only 6 per cent ( library) were using computers for circulation, interlibrary loan and library management. A study by Saeed et al. (00) revealed that, only 50 per cent of university had access to the internet and the majority of the had one terminal for this facility. Only three were equipped with more than one computer for internet access. Four years later a study by Ramzan (0) revealed that out of 2 academic and research in Pakistan, 57 (23 per cent) respondent did not have computers in their and 9 (37 per cent) respondents did not have any CD-ROM in their. Only 2 per cent of the respondents had barcode readers while a sizeable number of respondents (37 per cent) were even without a photocopying facility. Only 57 per cent of respondent had , 53 per cent had internet and per cent of the respondent had intranet facility in their. Regarding the status 575

4 TEL 27, 586 Saeed, H., Asghar, M., Anwar, M. and Ramzan, M. (00), Internet use in university of Pakistan, Online Information Review, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp Said, A. (06), Accessing Electronic Information: A Study of Pakistan s Digital Library, International Network for the availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), Oxford. Shafique, F. and Mahmood, K. (07), Librarians opinions about library software: a survey of in Lahore, The Electronic Library, Vol. 25 No. 6, pp Siddiqui, M.A. (997), The use of information technology in academic in Saudi Arabia, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Vol. 29 No., pp Uddin, M.N. (03), Internet use by university academics: a bipartite study of information and communication needs, Online Information Review, Vol. 27 No., pp Younis, A.R.M. (05), Local online information systems in Jordanian university, Online Information Review, Vol. 29 No., pp Appendix Variables Range Weight points Total (Max. weight) Table AI. Libraries IT availability weight Number computers (PC) þ Number of laptops 2- þ Number palm PCs Audio players, back up drives, barcode reader, CCTV camera, CD/DVD players, digital camera, fax machines, microfilm readers, multimedia projectors, photocopiers/printers, scanners (digital), slide projectors television, UPS, USB pen drive, VCR/VCP, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) and others , internet, intranet, internet access through PERN, library software, OPAC library web site, web OPAC, barcode technology 2-þ Yes No Percentage of library operations automated 25% 50% 75% 00% Access to HEC digital library online databases Yes No Libraries IT availability levels Total weight points 00 points Zero Zero Low -2 Average 25-9 Good 50-7 Excellent Over

5 About the authors Muhammad Ramzan is currently a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, and serving as Chief Librarian, Lahore University of Management Sciences in Lahore, Pakistan. He is a member of the Pakistan Library Association, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), member Board of Governors, Punjab Library Foundation, as well as a member of the Board of Studies, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Punjab. He has been a consultant for modernization of some academic, and architect of the National Digital Library Program launched by the Higher Education Commission in Pakistan. He has extensive experience in implementation of state-of-the-art information technology in library information management and retrieval systems, and electronic resources. This paper is based on his PhD thesis submitted to the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Muhammad Ramzan is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: mramzan@lums.edu.pk; mramzaninfo@gmail.com Diljit Singh is an Associate Professor and currently Deputy Dean (Postgraduate) at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His research areas include information literacy, user studies, technology applications and school, and he has supervised more than 5 masters and doctoral students. He serves on committees of the IFLA, International Association of School Librarianship, and has been involved with numerous research, training and consultancy programs at the national and regional levels. 587 To purchase reprints of this article please reprints@emeraldinsight.com Or visit our web site for further details: