Application Of Information Technology In Libraries Research Articles

Innovation in using IT: understanding the impact of knowledge absorptive capacity on academic librarians

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the effect of organizational levers and information technology (IT) absorptive capacity on librarians' innovation.Design/methodology/approachThis survey-analytic study investigated the librarians who were working in the libraries of the medical sciences universities in Iran. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire distributed randomly among the members of the sample. The SEM and the LISREL software for data analysis were used.FindingsIt was found that the librarians' job autonomy and fairness of rewards had an effect on acquiring new knowledge and applying transformed knowledge. Although the results did not confirm the effect of the librarians' job autonomy on knowledge assimilation and transformation, they showed a direct and positive effect of fairness of rewards on knowledge assimilation and transformation. Furthermore, this study confirmed the effect of acquiring and applying new knowledge about the library IT on enhancing the librarians' innovation. The effect of knowledge assimilation and transformation, from the application of IT in libraries, on the librarians' innovation was not confirmed.Practical implicationsLearning about the effect of organizational levers on librarians' knowledge absorptive capacities, in terms of applying technologies, to create innovation is an important issue. This will elucidate the gaps of disregarding the effect of organizational levers and librarians' knowledge absorptive capacities on librarians' innovation, and will pave the way for better planning to achieve the libraries' innovative goals.Originality/valueThis is among the few articles that have helped to fill the existing theoretical and research gap in knowledge absorptive capacity in Library and Information Science (LIS). In addition, this article has made a valuable contribution to understanding the role of IT knowledge absorptive capacity as a mediator variable between the organizational levers and librarians' innovation.

Librarians’ attitudes towards application of information technology in academic libraries in Pakistan

Introduction. This study investigated librarians’ attitudes towards application of information technology in academic libraries and interrelationship between their attitudes and different factors of their professional and personal traits. Method. Primary data was collected from 288 academic librarians working across Pakistan. Analysis. Answers from 219 valid questionnaires were used for data analysis through frequency runs, cross-tabulation, Pearson correlation coefficient, and t-test.. Results. The findings revealed, overall, that respondents showed slightly positive attitudes towards information technology. However, several librarians were confused over the ownership of information technology applications in libraries. A significant relationship was determined between librarians’ information technology attitudes and availability and usage of information technology in libraries, expenditure on information technology, librarians’ expertise in information technology, their awareness about new technologies, experience in computer usage, information technology training, academic qualifications, and experience as librarians. No significant relationship was found between librarians’ information technology attitudes and library budget, size of libraries, type of libraries, location and librarians’ gender. Conclusions. One of the outcomes of this study is that the information technologyattitudes of librarians have been found to be positively associated with the libraries’ information technologyavailability level and librarians’ expertise in information technology. Therefore, a significant effort is needed to enhance the librarians’ positivity towards application of information technologyin libraries. This requires librarians’ exposure to, and experience of latest technologies. Librarians’ role in information technology-related decision making needs to be enhanced.

IT in special libraries in Bangladesh: a case study

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the current status of special libraries of Bangladesh and their ability to adapt information technology (IT) in various library operations and services.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on the case study method. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the special libraries of Bangladesh to uncover the status of using IT by those libraries.FindingsBeing a developing country, Bangladesh is confronted with certain problems to introduce IT‐based services and other facilities in the special libraries. The study has revealed the embryonic state of IT in the special libraries of Bangladesh.Originality/valueThe paper is an original case study on the application of IT in the Special Libraries of Bangladesh. It will help web researchers to obtain a precise picture of the application of IT in these libraries. It will also help researchers to acquaint themselves with IT applications in libraries in a third world country.

Levels of information technology (IT) applications in Muslim world libraries

The utilisation of information technology (IT) has become an indicator of a country's wealth level. Countries, which fail to prepare for information technology and do not use it properly, are likely to lose their global competitiveness. Muslim countries have paid little attention to leverage the benefits offered by the IT use in their library and information centres. The first part of this paper reports the status of information technology applications in libraries and information centres of Muslim countries. The second part of the paper reports the level of hardware, software, and IT‐based resources available in libraries and information centres in Pakistan. The third part of this paper discusses the problems hindering the wider use of information technology in libraries and information centres in Pakistan. Based on the findings of the survey and documentary research the final part of this paper puts forward overall suggestions to solve the problems hindering the wider use of information technology in libraries and information centres in general, and in Muslim countries in particular.