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Giving credit to where it is due is common across cultures. In research, researchers widely express their gratitude to those who would have contributed to their studies in one way or the other under the acknowledgements section. In most cases, the selection of who to acknowledge remains the prerogative of the author. The purpose of this study was to review acknowledgements in Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) with a special focus on the acknowledgement accorded to the library and librarians at the North-West University in South Africa. This was done in order to determine the perceived value of librarians as partners in the research process by postgraduate students. The study followed a two pronged approach in which bibliometrics and survey research methods were used. In the case of the bibliometrics, ETDs completed between 2012 and 2018 were reviewed. Regarding the survey, both print and online questionnaires were used to gather data from postgraduate students. Excel spreadsheets and QuestionPro software were used to analyse the data. The study findings indicate that supervisors of research work topped the list of acknowledgees followed by family, friends and colleagues. The library/librarian acknowledgements, were among the least with only 15% of ETDs giving gratitude to the library/librarians. However, like in previous studies, it was observed that library/librarians were mentioned in other parts of the ETDs, apart from the acknowledgements section. The results further indicate that the majority of the surveyed participants, held acknowledgements in high esteem. The paper will go a long way in adding value to a body of existing literature which is largely from the developed world. It may also stimulate interest for related studies in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries have adopted information technology be that IT-enabled content development, content management tools, content access and delivery tools or long term presentation tools. Libraries are always in the fore front where the adoption and usage of new technologies are concerned. Internet of Things (IoT) is enabling objects to collect data and transfer the data over a network without human intervention by using internet, sensors, and RFID. It is being used in various fields and is still emerging. Various innovative solutions are created. This paper explores the concept of IoT, its historical background and its potential applications in libraries. Some of the challenges which will be faced by the library professional while implementing it are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an attempt to understand and evaluate the use of Sub-Divisional Library by the students of various Government, Government Sponsored and Private Schools of Kalimpong, West Bengal with respect to their demographical detail, purpose and frequency of using library, meeting required information by the libraries, difficulty in getting information, library collections and staffs, and their overall satisfaction to the services provided by the library. Hence a survey of 81 students of various schools across the tiny hilly station Kalimpong was conducted through structured questionnaire and out of which 73 questionnaires were duly obtained with a response rate of 90.12%. The results call for building functional and sound subdivisional library to attract more students for its optimal utility and in meeting the information needs of students which ultimately augment the image of public librarianship in the expanse. The findings are valuable insights for anyone seeking to know more about the library usage and perceptions of school students towards the public library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This proposal interprets the importance of library network and the concept of engineering college libraries networking to facilities information resources sharing and support activities in libraries has become a quintessential in Andhra Pradesh, India. This paper deals with an idea to motivate for networking and resource sharing JNTUH, JNTUA,JNTUK affiliated to Engineering College Libraries. The present study briefly highlights some of the objectives, functioning essentials, benefits, drawbacks, services, future prospects and implementation phase of completeness of proposal networking formation as crucial for "APECLIBNET". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of information and communication technology has paved the way to the development of electronic devices and has changed the traditional libraries to digital libraries. In which digitization of library collection has become a common activity. Digitization has opened up new audiences and services for libraries, that needs to be integrated into the plans and policies of any institution to maximize its effectiveness. With the help of digital technology institutions can share their research output globally by access and disseminate research information. This paper aims to explore and identify the role of digitized collection of the top 20 universities in the world according to the "Times Higher Education" World Rankings 2015-16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries not only acquire, organize, retrieve and disseminate information but also provide some services such as references services, current awareness, selective dissemination of information, document delivery services and inter-library loan services. Others include internet, audiovisual, reprographic, customer relation and user education services. The sole aim of these services is to satisfy the information needs of the users and clienteles of the library. The catholic religious who are studying to become priests have information needs not only for their academics but also for their pastoral training, which is given a greater priority towards their eligibility as priests. Therefore, they need to have different library services provided to meet their needs. This has necessitated the library to provide more services to them such as internet, inter-library loan, reprographic and current awareness. How satisfied are the catholic religious with the services being provided by the library? This is the focus of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In marketing any product or service, everything like human expertise, service attitude, and Information resource is closer to the patron. A library's service strategy and principles must be clearly interconnected to its users. Marketing plays an important role between products and related users through the application of different promotional techniques, such as products and service-oriented programs, book talks, book exhibition, study circle, and use of social media, etc. Marketing the information means acquiring, displaying, and storing the right information to the right reader at the right time in the manner and format desired by the users by saving their precious time. Information available in libraries should be user based, and in a suitable medium capable of being retrieved to the level of users' satisfaction. Thus, marketing tools and techniques play a vital and pivotal role in the identification, the anticipation of user needs and dissemination the same to the end-users'. The present paper is an attempt to study the essentials of marketing management, philosophy, and methods in the field of LIS products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study looks at the composition and growth of world publications output on Library 2.0. The total world output on Library 2.0 during 2004-14 cumulated to 186 papers; and the world output witnessed 6.67% quinquennial growth from 2004-2009 to 2010-14, There were 1183 citations to 186 papers since their publication. In all 65.31% publications received 1 to 30+ citations per paper during 2004-14. Top 10 most productive countries, (out of forty) contributed 80.1% publication share and 94.77% citation share. Social sciences accounted for the highest publications share (79.57%), followed by computer science (46.77%), business, management & accounting, arts & humanities, engineering and medicine and decision science (less than 5% share each) during 2004-14. Top 31 most productive organizations (out of 163) and top 34 most productive authors (out of 180) contributed 39.78% and 39.25% publications share respectively and their citations share was 40.41% and 32.97% respectively during 2004-14. Amongst 186 global publications on Library 2.0, 151 had appeared in 74 journals during 2004-14. Among the 30 highly cited publications (citations per paper from 10 to 139), the largest number (14) came from the USA, 6 from the U.K., 3 from Spain, 2 each from India and China, and 1 each from Finland, Slovenia, Swaziland, Australia, Germany, Norway and Pakistan. These 30 highly cited publications involved 65 authors, 41 organizations and were published in 23 journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elderly people are of intrinsic value to societies. Their health is Africa's wealth. Unfortunately, Africa has serious health burden raging from diseases, poverty ignorance that hardly support healthy ageing. Development indicators from World Health Organization and the World Bank provide glaring evidence that Africa countries are far behind other regions of the world in health conditions of the citizens. This paper discusses the benefits that accrue from having a healthy old age population. Such includes poverty reduction, stress free ageing, assisting in taking care of young ones. It examines the role of information in enhancing healthy ageing in Africa. The paper identified public libraries as very important institutions to take up the challenges of provision of adequate and timely health information for the elderly citizen in Africa. While it acknowledges the challenges public libraries in many African countries face, it also provided strategies the libraries could adopt to perform this onerous task. Several recommendations were made; namely, adequate funding of public libraries, employment of librarians with translations skills, ICT application in public libraries, among others. The paper concludes that African countries should reposition their public libraries to facilitate the provision of relevant information that would support healthy ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to study the current status of the various Assistive Technology facilities available for the people with disabilities in National Capital Region Libraries, India. Design/methodology/approach: Survey methodology has been used as the basic research tool to collect the data with the help of questionnaire from various institutions/libraries serving the people with disabilities. Findings: The study depicts the lack of Assistive Technology facilities in National Capital Region libraries. The study concludes that there are negligible amount of Assistive Technology facilities for the deaf/hearing impaired and locomotor impaired users in the institutions/libraries. Research limitation: The total number of 15 libraries was selected for the study as there were many libraries that do not have the sufficient Assistive Technology facilities to serve the people with disabilities. Research implication: This study will prove useful for the LIS professionals and the research community to provide an insight into the current status of the Assistive Technologies available in National Capital Region Libraries, India. Originality/value: This paper identifies the current status of the Assistive Technology facilities available for the people with disabilities in National Capital Region Libraries as there is almost no literature and research available which is relevant to this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the use of KMC Health science Library Portal by the postgraduate students and faculty members of Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), MAHE, Manipal. A total of 60 questionnaires were administered to 45 postgraduate students and 15 faculty members of MCOPS, Manipal. All the filled in questionnaires were returned by the respondents, and hence the response rate is 100%. The findings indicated that faculty members use the library portal more frequently than the postgraduate students. 60% of postgraduate students and 66.7% of the faculty members stated that KMC Health Sciences Library portal had influenced their research process. The findings revealed that postgraduate students and faculty members of MCOPS, Manipal are satisfied with the quality, contents, and arrangement of links and layout of the library portal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the awareness and use of cloud computing technologies among the library professionals in the Kerala University Library system, India. A survey was conducted using questionnaire among the 102 library professionals employed in the central and departmental libraries of the University of Kerala. The study revealed that 42.16% of the library professionals did not have much idea about cloud computing technology. Analysis showed that Facebook and Google Apps like Gmail, Google Doc etc are the cloud computing technologies used by majority of the respondents. It is also worth to note that the library professionals in Kerala University Library are using cloud computing technologies without being aware of doing so. Library professionals' awareness of cloud service models is relatively very low. Web OPAC and Journal Discovery Service are the areas known to the respondents in applying cloud computing technologies in libraries. Out of 102 respondents, 14.71% of the library professionals in the University of Kerala have average skill in using these technologies. The findings of the study throw lights into the need of providing training for the library professionals in handling technology enriched library services to the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to broadly explore intellectual property in the context of the library complex, this research examines the patents produced by companies that provide goods and services to libraries, as well as patents associated with international libraries. This paper also surveys the trademarks and copyrights held by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This research suggests ways in which development of intellectual property by U.S. libraries might evolve in the future, with evidence obtained primarily through the searching of online databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the actual use of the physical space in Kenneth Dike Library by the students' population, the role these spaces are playing for learning and for related services in the university of Ibadan academic environment. It looked at the suitability of available spaces and suggestions for improvement. Survey method was adopted for the study with 94.5% response rate. It found that quite study space is what attracts majority respondents to Kenneth Dike Library. What emerged was that academic pursuits remain the most common activities in the library space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the importance of indigenous knowledge in development process, this paper investigated the efforts of selected federal university libraries in South West, Nigeria in indigenous knowledge collection development and preservation. The study adopted a descriptive survey design that involved the use structured questionnaire, unstructured interviews and observation as instruments for data collection. Seventy six (76) professional librarians constituted the target population of the study; therefore seventy six (76) copies of questionnaire were administered to the professional librarians in the selected university libraries. The data collected using the questionnaire complemented by interview and observation were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings from the study revealed the tremendous efforts of selected university libraries in IK collection development and preservation in the libraries as the study revealed the existence of IK materials. It also established that dearth of fund and linguistic problem were the challenges facing the collection development and preservation of IK in the selected university libraries. It therefore recommended that the university libraries should liaised with the international bodies for financial support for the sustainability of IK resources collection development and preservation in the libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study is to determine the perceptions of open access system among the library professionals, and the factors they consider while selecting open access journals for publication. The both printed and online questionnaire was designed for data collection. A total of 116 LIS (Library and Information Science) professional's responses were collected through both online and offline questionnaire from different academic libraries in Odisha. The study shows that majority of the LIS professionals of different academic institutions of Odisha are aware about open access routes. The results of the study revealed that majority of respondents are aware about open access routes and they have considered open access publication as Scholarly Literature. But majority of authors do not support to pay Article Processing Charges (APC) for getting their research papers published through Open Access journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the Role of Libraries and Librarians in Open Educational Resources (OER) in selected public university libraries in Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to find out the level of OER awareness among librarians and the role played by libraries and librarians in OER in Tanzania. The study also identified challenges encountered by librarians in promoting access and use of OER. Fifty two librarians of different ranks and academic qualifications from four public university libraries participated in this study. These were selected using simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected through a self administered questionnaire and documentary review. Data collected was analyzed using Excel and SPSS version 18.0. The findings show that librarians are aware of the concept OER and also play multiple roles in promoting awareness on OER and its integration in university websites to facilitate their accessibility and use The study further revealed that limited awareness on existing OER and lack of policy guidelines on the use of OER are major challenges facing librarians in promoting access and use of OER. The study recommends more OER awareness creation campaigns and formulation of institutional OER policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this era of Cyberage, the information requirements of the users have grown so immensely that no individual library can fulfill their information demands on its own. This has urged the need for cooperation between libraries and information centers for sharing of their resources and information through networking. Thus consortia are considered as a vital move towards library cooperation. A library consortium combines the purchasing power of its members and thus helps to fulfill the requirements of users of all member libraries to greater extent. In a short span of time, numerous consortia have been formed all over the globe. With enormous increase in number of consortia, communication among the various consortia has become critical. Thus, a consortium of consortia was formed in the USA, known as the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) (Huarng & yu, 2011). The paper explores the consortia of different countries participating in ICOLC. Various features (viz., number of consortia, types and number of libraries participating, legal status and services provided) of participating consortia are keenly studied to have the in-depth study. It is observed that about 55 countries are participating in ICOLC and US is the major contributor (48.53%) as per the number of consortia. All types of libraries viz, academic, public, school and special are taking part in the consortia. These consortia vary in their legal status few are national while some are run by non-profit organizations while few others are administered by co-operative bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no gainsaying that academic libraries are a natural goldmine for the University community and for the general public as a whole. Extant literature has shown that academic libraries are source of enrichment for curriculum and research thus leading to academic productivity and global visibility of the parent institution. The realization of this fact has gone a long way in enhancing the status of academic libraries globally by changing the orientation of library clienteles and also correct the misconception in which they perceive the library as an antique, a reading place and has little or nothing to offer them. Thus, 21st-century academic library is now being viewed as an invaluable resource and a gold mine which is supposed to be harnessed and cherished by library clienteles. The paper, therefore, looks at academic libraries and how her roles have changed due to the technological innovation brought to fore by Social Media Technologies (SMT). An emerging technology which makes academic library pervasive, thus not constraint but time, means and location. The study also takes into cognizance how these technologies can be leveraged for clienteles in accessing the wealth of the priceless resources the library has to offer so as to improve the research output of staff, students and faculty members of these institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to investigate the present status of RFID application, benefits realised after implementing RFID, problems faced during RFID adoption and its implementation in the libraries and information centres of Northern India. Design/methodology/approach - The survey method of research was adopted in this research. In order to assess the required information about the implementation of RFID technology from the librarian/Incharge of the library of the nine selected institutions of Northern India, the data was collected through a questionnaire method. Moreover, the respondents were also interviewed to obtain more information. Findings - The present study shows that all the selected libraries in Northern India are in the initial stages of RFID implementation and they are realizing the benefits of its implementation which include reduction in queue at circulation desk /counter, extended hours of circulation without additional staff, library collection has become more secure, etc. At the same time, library staff is facing some problems with the use of RFID technology. Research limitations/implications - The present study is limited to the Central, State and Deemed universities recognised by the UGC and IITs situated in Northern region of India which have implemented RFID in their libraries. Further, due to time and cost restrictions, it was not possible to cover all type of institutions. Practical implications - It is hoped that the outcome of the present study will give some useful suggestions/recommendations to the librarians who have implemented RFID technology in terms of its better utilisation and at the same time, it will also help the librarians who want to implement RFID system in their libraries. Social implications - Across the world, university libraries are increasingly adopting and implementing RFID solutions to provide better and efficient library services such as self checkout/check-in of library materials, security of library books and efficient tracking of library materials throughout the library. As a small number of libraries in India have introduced RFID, it is high time to study the application of RFID technology in libraries, keeping in view its problems and benefits. Originality/value -After an extensive review of literature, it was found that only a few studies related to the use of RFID in Indian libraries has been undertaken so far. Hence, the present study is very timely and fruitful to examine the application of RFID technology in libraries and information centres of Northern India, as the libraries and information centres in this region are unexplored for such a study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to highlight the role of libraries in the provision of information towards the attainment of the United Nation Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) in Nigeria. With the methodology of simple literature review, the paper made efforts to review related literature on libraries' role in the provision of information for development. The relationship between libraries and the Millennium Development Goals was also discussed. Suggestions were proffered on ways libraries can contribute to the achievement of the MDGs. The challenges faced by libraries were also highlighted. Based on the review of literature, the paper provided some recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for population checks in any country cannot be over-emphasized. This need becomes very important in a country like Nigeria where people depend on speculations for information in all spheres of life. It was reported from the last census that the population of Nigeria is 167 million. This number is alarming in a country which depends on one source of income. The causes of over-population in the country are identified as, cultural beliefs, lack of sex and population education, religious beliefs etc. To avoid the side effects of over-population, which among others are ; mass poverty, increased death rate, unemployment, it becomes eminent that some measures should be put in place to address this issue. Prominent among them is the role of librarians in collecting and disseminating information on population control to the masses.Problems that may impede the execution of this task, like lack of funds, lack of information resources, and lack of government's attention were also discussed in this paper. The paper concludes that if the government pays attention to this project by funding and equipping our libraries, this assignment will be realized. Recommendations were made for improvement in the country's population management [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses censorship and the challenges of Library services delivery in Nigeria.Librarians, through their professional associations, have long been committed to the social justice principle of free access to information. External censorship challenges to library collections threaten this principle overtly. However, censorship can also occur in libraries in various covert and often unconscious ways. This paper also raises concerns about current librarian practices and library censorship processes which can effectively censor library collections from within. In managing the library and its services, the librarian should promote inclusion and should not discriminate against any library user regardless of sex, ethnic group, nationality, social condition, religion or political opinions. It concludes by calling librarians to provide the highest level of service through courteous, prompt, adequate, skillful, accurate and unbiased responses to all requests for assistance to the user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims at investigating how user education is organized, coordinated and implemented in South East Nigeria Federal University Libraries. It also addresses the challenges encountered by academic librarians in the process and itemizes the strategies for enhancing user education. Methodology: Survey method was adopted and the instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. Population of the study was twenty-six and. twenty-six copies of the instrument were administered. All the copies were returned and were found usable. Descriptive statistics involving frequencies, percentages and mean scores were used for data analysis Findings: Only one university library did not have user education policy but all of them had written objectives. User education lectures were compulsory and credit bearing. Responsibility for delivering user education lectures differed among university libraries. Coordination and implementation of user education studies were centered in the university library but the university libraries differed in the manner in which coordination of library user education was handled. Course-related and course-integrated instructions were the means of delivering user education lectures and an examination taken by students before the end of the session was the only means of evaluation of library user education. Hands-on demonstration using workstations, online resources and online databases were not being used during lectures. Practical Implications: Students were not exposed to the current ICT technologies of accessing and retrieving information resources. So, their approach to library usage remained mainly traditional Originality/Value: The value of this paper lies in the identification and recommendation of available critical ICT-enabled library services which could provide students with current approaches to library use. It articulated various categories of evaluation of both the course content and course lecturers in order to improve both the quality of the content of the course and the erudition of the academic librarians Keywords: Academic librarians, coordination, evaluation, Federal University Libraries, implementation, libraries, planning, South East Nigeria, user education. Paper Type: Empirical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since independence Nigeria has been making concerted efforts towards the attainment of sustainable development under the aegis of various development programs, but little success has been achieved, since development is based only on the utilization of the western systems of knowledge. This paper therefore explores ways of achieving sustainable development by harnessing the untapped benefit embedded in the indigenous knowledge systems. Indigenous knowledge which we see as the knowledge systems held by traditional communities and is based on their experience and adaptation to a local culture and environment is relevant for development especially in agriculture, medicine, crafts, theatre, natural resources management arts and music. This paper discusses the prospects and challenges for Nigerian libraries in documentation and communication of indigenous knowledge and recommends that libraries should play a key role in indigenous knowledge organisation and preservation as well as promoting access and sharing to enhance sustainable national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There had been developmental changes in the society because of its dynamic nature. In view of this, the traditional method of discharging responsibilities in most fields of human endeavour is gradually going into extinction and thus, the need to move along with times. This paper therefore focuses on the challenges of modern trends in Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria. The paper discusses the nature and constraints of information service provisions traditionally. It further accounts for historical antecedents of Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria. It also examines the challenges of modern trends in Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria. The paper concludes with suggestions that can allow Library and Information Science Education withstand the modern trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how Nigerian Libraries can leverage on social networking and social media skills to provide dynamic library services in the face of dwindling economic problems in Nigeria. The unprecedented technological advancement of the 21st century, no doubt has impacted on library services globally and in Nigeria in particular. The social media hype has gradually crept into the library profession with social sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube, Library Thing, Ning; it has become evident that our services will need to change to meet the growing needs of our end users. Libraries in Nigeria have been challenged like never before to render more proactive and more value added services to meet the ever changing needs of our patrons. This paper is therefore, an attempt to examine the present scenario in library services delivery with these new and emerging technologies. Challenges faced by Nigerian libraries in the use of these social media are investigated and possible solutions proffered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally created by individual librarians and anchored to a physical space, library displays are often static, limited, and fleeting. However, these displays can evolve into wider, more affective, multi-dimensional, 21st century, virtual spaces by incorporating collaborative discourse between multiple librarians, by reaching out to the community for content, and by using technological tools, such as email, Google Drive, Google Images, QR codes, and social media. This paper presents a case study of the life of a library display from inception through execution. By pooling the skills, experiences, and stakeholder networks of two librarians and an MLIS intern, the library's December display highlighting items from the juvenile collection evolved into an engaging third space that allowed for greater interaction between the library and various campus communities and resulted in a 75% increase in the circulation of the juvenile collection. Seeking and incorporating the input of various stakeholders in the creation and voice of the display builds an audience for the display alongside the display itself, and creates a richer, wider, more inclusive community dialogue where all voices are valued and heard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding, leakage, heavy rains, hurricanes, activation of fire sprinklers due to fire are some of the reasons due to which water can enter library premises. It can damage library resources and infrastructure as well as disrupt services for a long time. The paper describes the ways libraries can be prepared for such disasters as well as how to treat resources damaged due to such disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined literacy learning spaces, strategies and opportunities in the information age, with the view of identifying the roles of libraries in creating and enhancing literacy-friendly environment for national development. The findings of this study should guide both the children and adult learners on how best to adopt new strategies to learning, and also welcome them to various opportunities that literacy provides in our contemporary society. It will also equip the librarians to become part of the learning community and, experts in information management. The study was guided by four objectives and four research questions. A descriptive survey design was adopted in this research, with population of fifty (60) staff selected randomly from three different universities. The instrument used to generate data is questionnaire and the data generated was analyzed using frequency tables and percentages. It was found hat there are various strategies of literacy learning available in the information age such as: identifying problems and seeking appropriate solutions, decoding and comprehending information from multiple sources, understanding the meanings and contexts of words and symbol systems, participating in audiovisual conferences, responding to e-mails and working in a virtual environments, etc. The major roles of libraries in creating and enhancing literacy-friendly environment include providing free and equitable access to information for all, identifying user needs and communicating solutions, providing information on community issues such as health, employment, continuing education and local history, and offering relevant and attractive reading materials for all ages and all literacy levels. The major challenges found are inadequate funding of libraries, poor power supply, inadequate professional staff, low knowledge of handling of ICT facilities in the library and inadequate proper training. Nevertheless, a solution was proffered such as adequate funds should be provided by libraries, stable power supply, training workshops, conferences, seminars for the librarians. It was also suggested that libraries should extend heir services to the rural and disadvantaged communities, and also be trained on good handling of information technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to evaluate a Nigerian Library and Information Science journal in order to assess its performance viz-a viz importance index, influence weight and popularity index. Citation analysis was carried out on "Information Impact: Journal of Information and Knowledge Management" ISSN: 2141-4297. The study examined articles and authors published in Information Impact: Journal of Information and Knowledge Management (IIJIKM) over a four year period of 20110-2013. The study revealed that journal is the most preferred source of citation in LIS research. Library Philosophy and Practice, an e-journal topped the list of journals most cited in IIJIKM. A significant revelation of this study is the use of Internet resources, which is fast gaining ground amongst scholars and academics in Nigeria. Findings also revealed that information technology was the most researched subject. There was clear absence of international collaboration among authors published in the journal. Majority of the authors prefer multiple authorship as against single authorship and are mainly from academic institutions especially the University. The paper concludes that the journal influence and popularity index is high in the South, where it is based and Northern part of the country. It is therefore recommended, amongst others that publishers of journals in Nigeria should explore the opportunities and infrastructure provided by international bodies such as INASP to publish their journals online, in order to increase their global visibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted with purpose to explore the elapsed and hidden treasures of Cholistan dessert in South Punjab, Pakistan. It discusses the role of university libraries of South Punjab, museums, Pakistan National library, Pakistan Library Association and HEC, digitization centers and documentation centers. It suggests that grant must be provided for research activities in different aspects of Cholistani Culture including Tribal Folks, Art, Culture, loriyan and old songs. HEC and Punjab government should provide special funds to libraries to support endangered art and culture like Chunri, khusa, paintings, weaving, the famous puppet show of Cholistan, folk songs of Darawar and cultural theatre. New technologies like You- Tube, social networking sites, Facebook, and Web 2.0. etc may be used for public awareness. This paper highlights the splendid culture and architecture of great historical value in Cholistan. The magnificent forts, glorious palaces mosques and shrines of Uch are a living testimony to the grandeur of Cholistan, in the Punjab. Cholistan has some fifty sites and forts of Harappan demeanor. Derawer is situated in a dry bed of lost river Hacra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital libraries, designed to serve people and their information needs in the same way as traditional libraries, present distinct advantages over brick and mortar facilities: elimination of physical boundaries, round-the-clock access to information, multiple access points, networking abilities, and extended search functions. As a result, they should be especially well-suited for the disadvantaged. However, minorities, those affected by lower income and education status, persons living in rural areas, the physically disabled, and developing countries as a whole consistently suffer from a lack of accessibility to digital libraries. This paper evaluates the effectiveness and relevance of digital libraries currently in place and discusses what could and should be done to improve accessibility to digital libraries for the disadvantaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural Research Libraries have been established as information support system in recognition of the importance of information in agricultural research and development efforts of Nigeria. It is observed that agricultural sector has not been doing well in recent past and this has partly been attributed to the inability of the libraries to provide relevant and timely information services/resources to researchers and other stakeholders in agriculture and production: this paper stresses major issues, that indicate the performance of agricultural research libraries and information services in Nigeria, including: the nature of library professional, poor reward and accountability value, inadequate funding environment etc. A number of recommendations are made as way forward if the agricultural research librarian is to be more relevant and proactive in providing information services/ resources for research and development in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has affected the libraries to the great extent. Libraries use ICT to maintain housekeeping operations, services, uniformity and extension of library facilities. University libraries of Rajasthan (India) are using computer and associated technology for library activities. This study attempts to reveal the basic infrastructure, use, and privation during the implementation of ICT in University libraries of Rajasthan. The data have been collected using the survey method. The paper encompasses the information about the staff, collection, financial sources, hardware, software, networking infrastructure, housekeeping operations, user's services, training and problems areas encountered during implementation of ICT in university libraries. It is revealed that ICT activities are under developing stage in the university libraries of Rajasthan. The lack of basic management and proper planning and frequently change in ICT are the basic hurdles for successful implementation and development of ICT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This desk research involved review of available literature on funding of Nigerian Academic Libraries (NALs). The aim was to ascertain the existing sources of funds for these libraries, re-appraise the available funding strategies and provide practicable alternatives. Findings show that the surfeit of ideas, captured in literature, has not positively changed the sorry financial state of academic libraries in Nigeria. As a result, these libraries still rely on sporadic but insufficient financial allocations from their parent institutions and periodic disbursements from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET- Fund). Whereas receipts from these traditional sources have remained inadequate, the policy-makers and managers of these libraries are yet to seriously explore alternative funding mechanisms. These funding problems are exacerbated by a noticeable absence of the discipline required for sustained implementation of revenue-generating ventures. This paper presents additional but workable strategies intended to increase the income of Nigerian Academic Libraries (NALs) in the light of contemporary realities. The recommended strategies include, among others, introduction of a special Library Development Fee (LDF), creation of an Emergency Educational Infrastructure Intervention (EEII) Fund and amendment of the Public Procurement Act. A novel fund management regime that places the burden of accountability on library administrators was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decline in Nigeria reading culture since mid 80's till now is a worrisome situation; that speculation is high in a near future, Nigeria polity may completely lose consciousness in reading especially in discovery and rediscovery of new knowledge and in production of quality human resources (capital), which are essential requirement for surviving in present world of fast growing knowledge economy. Respondingly, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on the 20th of Dec., 2010 launched an initiative "Bring Back the Book"(BBB), aimed at revitalizing and restoring reading culture and to make reading materials available, reachable, and accessible to Nigerians. Owing to this, a lot of criticisms arose, querying the neglect of place of libraries, and librarians as the resource person(s). Therefore, this paper is aimed at reviewing the reasons why the initiative -BBB should be promoted and sustained. The importance of reading, the roles of libraries and librarians in promotion of reading and literacy, the challenges of the libraries in the campaign and solutions were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to explore how librarians in Indian Central Universities are using Cloud Computing tools into their daily library services and works. A structured questionnaire was designed & personally distributed as well as mailed to 407 respondents. Responses show that librarians are heavily reliant on cloud computing tools and majority of them are using various devices and want to imply the same to improve library services. Economics, delivery models and service layers and the user`s preference of cloud computing are the core drivers of this phenomena. However, majority of the librarians showed their concern over the security [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The society we live in is in constant need of information to solve its problems. The library serves as the agency responsible for the collecting, processing, managing and disseminating of this information in various formats to meet the varying needs of the users. Information may be needed for education, entertainment, socio-cultural development etc. It is therefore the duty of the librarian to ensure that there is availability and accessibility to the required information whenever it is needed. This paper looks at the nature of libraries, the structures of libraries, the literature of libraries and common problems plaguing the delivery of library services in Africa. In order for the library to take its place in information management in Africa, several solutions were suggested. These solutions include: increased funding, ICT skill acquisition, resource sharing and networking etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traced the origin of library and information science education in Nigeria to the advent of new technologies which have brought about tremendous impact in the delivery of services in academic libraries.. The population comprised 17 library educators in library schools in South East Nigeria Federal Universities. A structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection and copies of the questionnaire were distributed to respondents. Thirteen responses were received giving a response rate of 76.47%. The study centered on acquisition and application of knowledge-based and skills-based competencies' assessment. Data collected were analyzed using percentages and mean scores. Findings of the study showed that elements of knowledge such as copyright and intellectual property law, evaluation of information communication tools' interfaces, virtual librarianship and digital technologies were not acquired by 45%, 38.75%, 45% and 6.25% of library educators respectively. Skills-based competencies such as website development and web page development were not acquired by 22.50% and 28.75% of library educators respectively. Challenges confronting library educators with respect to acquisition of competencies as well as strategies to enhance their competencies are addressed. There are conclusions and recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact and use of e-databases at GBPUAT library because a huge amount is invested for the subscription, growth, and management of e-databases. The main aim is to determine the purpose of use of e-databases; and to find out their level of use, level of satisfaction, problems, and instructions/help in accessing of e-databases. To collect research data, questionnaire was administered randomly among 250 registered postgraduate students and research scholars of GBPUAT and 143 filled in questionnaires were returned. Finally, the researcher selected 137 useable questionnaires for the analysis using statistical techniques to derive the result. The study reveals that e-databases such as AGRIS, AGRICOLA, CAB abstract, and agriculture & natural resources were highly used among the postgraduate students and research scholars. The majority of postgraduate students and research scholars got training and individual instruction in accessing databases and most of the research scholars were satisfied with the available databases at GBPUAT library. The study identifies the importance of e-databases and the role of user education program or information literacy program to boost the usage of available databases at GBPUAT library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to discover the status of the job market for library professionals in Sindh Province, Pakistan, and to examine the job titles used in advertisements. Content analysis was applied to discover the status of the job market. LIS professional vacancies from 2004 to 2008 in four leading newspapers were analysed. There were 282 announcements during that time. Findings of the study reveal a lack of consistency in job titles. Academic librarianship predominated in the LIS job market during those years. Most of the job titles do not address the requirements of the job market. This paper is the first study done in Pakistan. It is recommended that library professionals, library associations, and LIS departments to design a uniform descriptive nomenclature and help the provincial government understand the importance and necessity of LIS professionals in national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) movement has brought a series of alternative software solutions for almost all categories of software including Operating Systems, Database Systems, Web Servers, Programming Languages, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Graphics, Games, Networking, and System Administration. FOSS Movement has got a major share in the market of software from its beginning. Libraries are the early institutions which adopted computer packages for management of information and automation of library procedures. FOSS Movement is very popular in libraries around the world. Libraries have been blessed with Free and Open Source Software including Integrated Library Software, Digital Library Management, Content Management, Inter-Library Loan Management, Document Delivery Services, and other web-based services around the world including developing as well as developed countries. FOSS Movement in LIS Profession of Pakistan is not very old. It started in mid of the first decade of 21st century and started the journey slowly. But now after five to six years, it is getting popularity in all type of libraries in the country. The purpose of this study is to explore the current status of FOSS Movement in Pakistan and the efforts made by the individuals or LIS organizations to promote Free and Open Source Software in Pakistan. This paper has also suggested measures to be taken in future to promote FOSS movement. The methodology of this study is based upon the literature review and interviews of some key persons involved in Free and Open Source Software in LIS in Pakistan have been conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the customization of Searchpath which is a modification of Texas Information Tutorial by Western Michigan University. The customization is for Kuttown University's Rohrbach Library. The impulse behind the project, process, project pilot, and the challenges encountered are reviewed.

The article cites a study which examines and reflect on how academic libraries conduct or administer their instructional classroom assessment. The aim of the study was to know what types of questions were asked and how they were delivered to the students. The author identified 320 peer libraries from across the nation who have instruction programs and sent a letter inquiring about the assessment procedures used in their instruction program, and asking them to send a paper or e-mail copy of the assessment tool(s). After the information was collected, the documents were analyzed to look for common themes and ideas.