Changing Roles of Librarians in Digital Era

K. K. Gupta, Senior Technical Assistant, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

[email protected]

Dr. M. R. Rawtani, Associate Professor & Former Head,

Deptt. of Library and Information Science, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur
[email protected]

Abstract : With the information technological changes library

scenario is rapidly changing towards information centers. In
this electronic age the librarian of the future must be
equipped with a wide range of personal and transferable
skills in order to manage the changing environment in which
he works. Information professionals within libraries are
playing an increasing role in dealing with information in
electronic formats by creating Web pages to promote their
services to external customers/readers and choosing
automated library management systems.

Keywords: Digital Libraries, Librarianship

1 Introduction

The library in our country was originally conceived as Pustakalya or

Granthalaya i.e., a storehouse of books and literature meant for
dissemination of knowledge to its users. The libraries were expected to
store in a systematic manner the literature, records, books and
encyclopedias so as to facilitate their users to have an access to the
knowledge contained in these publications. A librarian was supposed to
maintain the records of the library through well-defined accession and an
issue and return system. He was also required to preserve the records,
books etc. so that it could be utilized over a long period of time. The
Librarian therefore, was considered as the custodian of the rich intellectual
wealth kept in the library.
The libraries of 21 st Century have to be conceived not merely as the
storehouse of knowledge but an effective mechanism to facilitate
dissemination of knowledge, promoting and sharing intellectual property.
In essence the libraries of electronic age have to be an effective support
mechanism for dissemination of knowledge.

2 New Roles of Librarian

In addition to the professional skills, the librarian of the future must be

equipped with a wide range of personal and transferable skills in order to
manage the changing environment in which he or she works. Management
and interpersonal skills will make librarians more effective managers of
networked resources and services. As Hastings says "it is more important
that digital librarians possess particular personal qualities rather than
specific technical expertise."

It is needless to say that in modern times the library professionals are not to
stick their heads in the sand. The information professionals must change
and adapt to the new electronic information environment. He or she must
learn about new technologies and be aware of the strengths and weaknesses
of them. Librarians should not feel threatened by computers and technical
developments but should move forward with the new technology and take
a pivotal role within organisations.

Information professionals within libraries are playing an increasing role in

dealing with information in electronic formats by creating Web pages to
promote their services to external customers and choosing automated
library management systems. Skills in information organisation are more
necessary in this age of information explosion. Library and information
professionals have a key role to play in this era. For example, librarians are
well equipped to take intranet projects through the various stages of design
and maintenance, as they understand their users and their organisations’
information needs and have the range of skills to manage the knowledge
effectively.
The role of the librarian in this context is to help users find the information
they require then provide them with the tools to assess and use the
resources for their individual needs. Creth suggests that librarians achieve
this by "actively seeking out users in a variety of settings" and by making
"full use of information and multimedia technology" by offering
instruction in a variety of formats (including Web based instruction and
online tutorials).

3 User Education on the Internet

As the Web is increasingly becoming the first place that students will look
for materials the role of information professional, as intermediary, will also
grow in importance. As librarians working with this medium, it is up to us
to introduce the strengths and weaknesses of the Internet as any other
library resource during our user education programme. Just as a traditional
academic library offers a programme of "user education" to students and
teachers to maximise the benefit they receive from the library, Indian
libraries working in the Internet environment in conjunction with the
developing networked user education help people get more from this very
rich information service. It is our experience that many users do not realise
how rich a source, the Internet, can be used to find many research and
teaching materials. Traditional library user education in a university,
college or school offers users:

Library tours - to become familiar with the layout of sections of the

library,
Library induction sessions - to learn about the services available
and to learn how to use them,
Subject guides - to identify the key information resources for a
particular discipline,
Support from subject librarians - to get specialised help, and
Information skill development - to learn transferable skills in
information handling,
By applying a traditional library role such as user education and the
knowledge of the best resources available for their subjects in the Internet
environment an Internet librarian is well placed to provide a
comprehensive Internet information seeking skills.

4 Role as Intermediary

The librarian acting as an intermediary will have greater access to library

and external files than before, with the ability to add to and manipulate
them. These will include the order and receipt files as well as information
databases. The technical support staff will oversee the data on the system
to achieve overall efficiency and security as well as providing the
information worker with accurate and up to date information on which to
base decisions. The ability of the selector to obtain information rapidly
within the electronic environment and make the relationship between the
user and the information librarian and between the information librarian
and library management will help the users largely in finding the
information they require. In the present day the information librarian plays
an intermediary role, not only between the user and information, but also
between the library management structure and end user.

5 Role in Web publishing

Librarian can help bring scholarly information to the web in a number of

different ways. Firstly, we can be very assertive in prompting web
publishing. This can take the form of encouraging others to publish their
material on the issue of web publishing to the forefront of the campus
administrative agenda. Secondly, we may be actually publishing full text
articles on the web. These articles can be placed on home page or placed in
prominence on the library web server as an advertising message. Thirdly,
librarian may be indexing these web publications. Full-text indexing has
often proved to be less than helpful in term of precision and recall issue.
These published articles deserve at least the base intellectual access point
of author, title, and subject. Fourthly, we may keep adding value to web
publication through internal and external hyper links. These links make the
web just another intellectual platform. The value added aspect of the web,
especially its almost universal accessibility, its immediacy, and its
hypertext nature make a powerful and compelling argument for the concept
of scholarly web publishing.

6 Role in information management

In the area of information management, the librarian-

is responsible for the overall design, graphics, functionalities, and

technologies of the site,
mounts, maintains, and updates significant portions of the site,
maintains a master list of all subscription databases on the site, with
appropriate links, "about" files, etc.,
maintains aspects of the Citrix database project,
in close coordination with the Head of Library Systems, oversees
and coordinates the technical needs of the site with Academic
Computing,
oversees the expansion of the directory tree,
coordinates the inclusion of all new Web builders into the site,
solves technical problems for Web builders contributing to the site,
link checks the site, mounts reports on the staff Intranet,
maintains the staff Intranet, assists in planning for a "true" Intranet
Maps SAMBA to staff PCs as requested to create a user-friendly
Web building environment,
maintains subject resource pages,
maintains the Webmaster e-mail account, and
works with Library Systems and others to plan for Web
technologies that might be maintained within the Libraries.

7 Trains, instructs, supports staff and users in Internet-related topics

and technologies

The librarian of today-

 1. teaches HTML to library staff; serves as the primary HTML
support for the University Libraries,

2. provides bibliographic instruction to staff and users on using the

Internet for research, Internet-related software, non-Web Internet
technologies, etc.,

3. solves Internet-related problems that occur on public and staff

workstations, and that with remote users,

4. creates/maintains informational handouts for the reference of

Internet workstations,

5. creates/maintains a large number of Web-based Internet tutorials,

6. coordinates the reference of Internet workstation area,

7. contributes to choosing the layout, furniture, equipment, and

workability of this area with the Head of Reference and Library
Systems, and

8. maintains signage, posting of use policies, etc.

8 Coordinates the introduction and upgrading of Internet-related

software

The librarian is-

1. responsible for testing, recommending, and training for each Web
browser upgrade,
2. responsible for the same with Web browser plug-ins and viewers,
3. recommends other Internet-related software as needed, and
 4. meets regularly with other librarians, faculty and staff to ensure
effective communication on issues and new developments; plans
and revises services in response to needs.

9 Conclusion

The library professionals and those, working and managing modern

information system are required to possess the knowledge and skill to
handle challenge of 21st century. They are required to constantly update
their knowledge and skill base so as to work in today’s information and
knowledge system. Librarian can show the users that they still have the
human and oganisational skill to fulfill their true purpose in society.

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