Information Literacy: Accessibility and Skills among Indian LIS Professionals

Abstract

The radical change in provision of information through the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in this age requires a lot of skills, knowledge and strategies to ensure maximum utilization of information. Beside, varied systems used by libraries and information providers across the world to classify, catalogue and make information available require special skill to access information. Information is very important and critical to every individual especially research students. Today information literacy has become an important academic product and the user should be educated apart from their day-to-day needs. In this context we have highlighted the importance of the information literacy skills among LIS professionals and how the institution will be benefited by implementing the information literacy skills. Traditional information seekers expect instant help this puts tremendous demands on the librarians and information professionals to upgrade their tools and techniques. Hence information literacy and continuous professional education and training programmes are needed for working library professionals. This study shows that most of the respondents belonging to ‘PhD in LIS’, ‘MPhil in LIS’ and ‘UG in LIS’ qualifications felt that lack of knowledge on availability is the prime problem to obtain information literacy. Most of the respondents belonging to ‘UGC NET/SET’ and ‘PG in LIS’ qualifications felt that lack of technical skills is the prime problem to obtain information literacy.