Role of technological innovations in improving library services

Har Kaur¹* and Preeti Sharda²

¹Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32-B, Chandigarh, India.

²Regional Institute of English Sector 32-C, Chandigarh, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: harkaur@rediffmail.com. Tel: 9417868371.

Accepted 22 January, 2010

   Abstract

This paper elaborates on how technological innovations have led to the improved information management and library services. Information technology (IT) and Information Communication Technology (ICT) have changed the information seeking behavior of the users and services being provided by the librarians. Journey from print phase to the era of Electronics (E) has been discussed. How information needs have been changed from asking for a book or a journal to an article or a topic with the provision of E-resources has also been discussed. A survey has been conducted to know the changes in the information-seeking behavior and needs of the medical professionals and librarians in this era of “E”. Increase in the demand of E-resources by the users as well as librarians have been observed with the growth of knowledge to use these resources. In spite of some problem in using E-resources almost every user need E-resources in one or the other form. Provision of E-resources has shown a rapid growth in research. This information explosion, increasing needs of users, lack of self sufficiency and financial crunch has led to the formation of consortia all over the world.

Key words: Changing information needs, electronic databases.