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February 2003, Vol. 3, No.1
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Guest Editorial
Rashid Saleem Choudhry,
Librarian, Defence Public Library, Lahore.
choudhry_rashid@hotmail.com
The library operation outlook has changed altogether due to increasing amount of reading material, growth in the number of library users, rapidly advancing and merging information technology, requirement of better and friendly environment. The conventional system has failed badly to meet inflow of information and its retrieval in the present era, which is known as the era of information technology. The need is felt that libraries should sought technological aids to facilitate and enhance their services. Realizing the new situation most of the libraries have adopted or moving towards computer based automated acquisition, circulation and accounting system besides computer based off- line catalogue. Library automation gives practical, essential data on technical support system, on-line public access, information retrieval system, inter library leading bibliographic utilities, automation in reference and much more.
When the automation was introduced in Pakistan in 1980's, a very few librarians were familiar with the use of computer. The initial idea was that librarians need not become computer experts, and they should only acquaint themselves to simple basic knowledge of handling. It is no truer for the present day librarian who has to face growing trend of new software development every day. To prove his competency he has to gain know how of internal operation or processing of the computer software development, web designing and much more.
The speed of automation in the field of library in Pakistan is not very encouraging due to obvious reasons that we are developing country and have limited financial resources. But encouraging factor is that with the development of our educational system and establishment of modern academic institutions in private sector, the need of comprehensive and fully equipped libraries is being felt.
It now depend on the librarians that they should take advantage of the situation and make realize their importance with professional development, promotion of services and coordination of available resources. To establish their credibility they have to work very hard with sincerity and enhance their professional ability with special emphases in the field of automation. The young librarians should not hesitate seeking guidance from their seniors who have worked hard in the field of automated libraries. Our Library Science departments in different universities should also revise their syllabi to meet the new requirements. The syllabi must be more practical based rather then theoretical. The outgoing students must be fully prepared and confident enough to meet the current challenges of information technology in the field of library.
To conclude I would like to advise
my profession mate that although environments are not very congenial, the attitude
of the person who matter is not very feasible and cooperative, but still we
have to make our position as " Information Scientists" rather than a conventional
librarian in the days to come or a new breed of electronic information specialist
will be required to reinvent the traditional functions of librarianship.
Govt. College, Nazimabad, Karachi visits the Department of Library and Information Science Islamia University, Bahawalpur
A group of students and teachers of Govt .college
,Nazimabad , Karachi., visited the Univ. Library, Department of Library and
Information Science and other places of educational interest of Bahawalpur.
Mr. Rais Ahmed Samdani led the group.
Mr. M. Zaheer , Director General , National Library of Pakistan .was on a short trip of 3 days in Karachi . He came on official assignment. He visited the Office of Library Promotion Bureau and enjoyed a lunch hosted in his honor by Dr. G. A. Sabzwari ,the president of LPB. He attended a meeting of Bureau . He appreciated the efforts done so far for the promotion of library literature in Pakistan by library Promotion Bureau and ensured his co operation in future.[Contents]