Is it posssible to revamp the image of libraries. Yes....very much so. The onus lies on all working library professionals. Personal interactions with users of libraries reveal these simple expectations:
1. attend to users needs with personal interest and put in the best possible efforts to serve the users needs. these needs can be as simple as searching for a mis-shelved book. a users needs to be convinced that the library professional is putting in sincere efforts to serve her / his needs. in most of the cases this first step in servicing the needs of the users is lost and is invisible in most of the libraries. users feel that we are not doing enough.
2. second important issue is the understanding of the need of the user. this is critical in the user satisfaction index. for a library professional to develop an appropriate understanding of the need has to become familiar with the subject domain of the user. without efforts to research, read and understand the subject domain of the user it is becomes difficult to serve the need. the more specific and focussed the need, the more important it is to spend time in understanding the background of the user. the other reason that this is important is that many a time, users may not be able to formulate a query explicitly.
3. the third issue in this regard is that such needs have to be documented and followed up even after the user has been served with specific information. updating the user with latest information on previous needs creates a very good image of service orientation of the library professional.
4. documenting these services will over period of time provide valuable inputs in improving existing services and also creates a simple KM system that can be used for other similar needs by other users.
all these issues were eloquently taught ib library schools based on dr. ranganathan's philosophy and body of knowledge. it is high time that we revisit our roles and infuse professionalism that is expected from library professionals. these are are the only ways to face challenges of web based resources and services that may put an end to present day mundane librarianship that we are pracitising.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Future of Libraries
A recent walk into a corporate library in Mumbai confirmed my thoughts, though imaginative till that point of time, on the 'Future Library'. A section of videos / CDs / DVDs was outsourced to BigFlix the desi version of Netflix. Collection, staff and management (including circulation) was responsibility of BigFlix. The corporate library had to provide space only. Response was good and people visiting the library had increased and this section was being found to be attractive.
Day may not be far away when many 'libraries' will be outsourced. Literally, other than space, the parent institution or users of the library, will have no other responsibility. Collection development (already with web technologies it is operating in a different paradigm), collection management, user services, staffing, etc would probably be managed by a specialised entity (organisation) that would be responsible for users services, technology adoption, staffing, and all other functions that a library may be performing today. The parent organisation would pay an annual contract amount to this entity for the services provided.
This may look like an extreme situation but I feel is the future. I recently was reading about LSSI (www.lssi.com) which actually does similar work in the US since 1981. If this is the case I do not see why this cannot happen in India. The impact of this on the profession will be tremendous and we will have to gear up for this challenge.
One can argue that this will be a doomsday outcome for the profession. I would differ and look at it differently. We will not be able to stop this development and may see many organisations will be formed in the near future to service such needs. For this to happen in the academic sector, government, may take time but will surely be lapped up by the corporate sector. The state governments and municipalities may also look at this as an opportunity to manage their public library systems.
The lessons from countries like US which adopted this model can be looked at and solutions developed appropriately. One of the main drawbacks of this outsourced model of library is the discontinuity of expertise / loyalty to the institution. The long term benefits that an organisation gets by having its own staff is quite high and indisputable. Hence we may see a model that will have staff on the rolls of an organisation that outsources other functions. This will call for very different skill sets of library professionals for the future.
The idea is to think and be prepared rather than deny and get shocked when these developments actually happen.
Day may not be far away when many 'libraries' will be outsourced. Literally, other than space, the parent institution or users of the library, will have no other responsibility. Collection development (already with web technologies it is operating in a different paradigm), collection management, user services, staffing, etc would probably be managed by a specialised entity (organisation) that would be responsible for users services, technology adoption, staffing, and all other functions that a library may be performing today. The parent organisation would pay an annual contract amount to this entity for the services provided.
This may look like an extreme situation but I feel is the future. I recently was reading about LSSI (www.lssi.com) which actually does similar work in the US since 1981. If this is the case I do not see why this cannot happen in India. The impact of this on the profession will be tremendous and we will have to gear up for this challenge.
One can argue that this will be a doomsday outcome for the profession. I would differ and look at it differently. We will not be able to stop this development and may see many organisations will be formed in the near future to service such needs. For this to happen in the academic sector, government, may take time but will surely be lapped up by the corporate sector. The state governments and municipalities may also look at this as an opportunity to manage their public library systems.
The lessons from countries like US which adopted this model can be looked at and solutions developed appropriately. One of the main drawbacks of this outsourced model of library is the discontinuity of expertise / loyalty to the institution. The long term benefits that an organisation gets by having its own staff is quite high and indisputable. Hence we may see a model that will have staff on the rolls of an organisation that outsources other functions. This will call for very different skill sets of library professionals for the future.
The idea is to think and be prepared rather than deny and get shocked when these developments actually happen.
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