Academic literature on the topic 'Digital libraries'

Digital library dealt with information communication technology (ICT) infrastructures that is different from manual library infrastructure. Digital library is the growing demand in contrast to manual library, which demanded for systems' librarians or digital librarians. The collected data from seven libraries in Nepal to examine the availability of Systems' librarian manpower provided no light of hope. Those libraries were selected using convenient judgmental sampling through a short interview with currently available librarians about the concept of a Systems' librarian. Digitally skilled and responsible for digital data management personnel was defined as systems' librarians who have the necessary knowledge and skills in library software, networking, data entry, and troubleshooting of ICT-related issues. The study found that out of the seven libraries, only two had systems' librarians, yet their designation was not pin-pointedly named as' systems' librarian'. While others lacked the required manpower. The study also revealed that there were no Systems' Librarians in any of the libraries. The respondents' attitudes and perceptions towards the Systems' Librarian concept varied, with some accepting it as adaptable, acceptable, and appreciable. The study recommended for the recruitment of Systems' Librarians in Nepal as the library’s resources adopted the concept of paperless and library-without-wall. The lack of concerned manpower to look after electronic resources could lead to serious problems, and it's time for the Nepal Library Association and stake holders to advocate for the specialized manpower for the post of Systems' Librarian (also called digital librarian) and generate skilled manpower.

Information repackaging is one of the library's efforts to meet users' information needs in the new normal era. Libraries need to prepare various strategies in providing repackaging products as a library service innovation. This research aimed to describe various aspects and stages of library strategy design in information repackaging in the New normal era. The research used a qualitative approach through literature studies research methods. The results showed that libraries and librarians in the new normal era needed to pay attention to various aspects and stages in designing a digital information repackaging strategy. Aspects of the information repackaging strategy include determining the source of packaging information, types of information repackaging products, and information repackaging methods. Libraries carry out information repackaging strategies by making information repackaging the library’s flagship program and the librarian's main job, understanding the information behavior of the library's native digital users, disseminating digital information packages through social media and collaborative networks, changing the librarian’s role into social librarians and public knowledge and implementing a Marketing and Public Relations (MPR) strategy to disseminate information repackaged products to users. The head of the library plays an important role in supporting librarians in carrying out information repackaging activities. This research concludes that the librarian strategy of repacking information in the new normal era is needed to improve library services that are more creative, interactive, and innovative, in accordance with the user's information needs.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the essential digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries. The study identified useful training programs for university librarians to acquire digital competencies. It examined their digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries in universities of Pakistan. This study also evaluates their digital knowledge in applying security measures to protect digital contents. Design/methodology/approach The quantitative research method was used to conduct this study. Research questions and hypothesis were developed to achieve the objectives. In-depth review of related literature was conducted to draft a list of essential digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries. It was circulated among the panel of experts to get their valuable feedback to make a final list of digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries. A questionnaire was developed to measure the status of digital competencies of university librarians in Pakistan. It was pre-tested on 20 respondents before applying to the whole population. SPSS software was used to analyze data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to achieve results. Findings The findings of the study showed that digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries fall into three main categories: digital competencies for developing digital libraries; digital competencies for managing digital libraries; and digital competencies to protect digital contents. The results revealed that training programs offered by Higher Education Commission (HEC), library associations, library schools, in-house trainings, use of online tutorials and trainings offered by skilled professionals are highly important and useful for university librarians to acquire digital competencies. The study concluded that the university librarians working in HEC recognized universities in Punjab province possess basic level of digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries. Their digital competencies vary on the basis of their university type, i.e. public and private sector. Research limitations/implications This study measures digital competencies of university librarians in Pakistan. The study has practical implications for librarians, library schools, library associations, university libraries and HEC. Practical implications This study has practical implications for librarians, information professionals, libraries and library schools. The results are useful for librarians to get knowledge of digital competencies which are essential for developing and managing digital libraries and protecting digital contents. They can develop their digital competencies in identified areas. This study has identified useful training programs for university librarians for acquiring digital competencies. The university librarians should use these programs to gain needed digital skills. Social implications Librarians can get knowledge of digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries to face the challenges of digital age. Originality/value In contrast to previous research work on investigating computer skills, information and communication technology skills, technological skills and general digital skills, this study particularly identifies the essential digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries. It helps library and information science schools, library associations, training groups and university libraries to offer adequate training opportunities in identified areas to meet the challenges of the digital age.

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has been measuring the level of digital literacy in Indonesia annually since 2020, but the measurement of the digital literacy index does not yet include the scope of libraries. This research focuses on developing a framework for the digital literacy index specifically for libraries, referring to the digital literacy frameworks of UNESCO, ITU, DigComp 2.1, and the DQ Institute. It also measures the digital literacy competencies of librarians and library users in specialized libraries. The objective of this research is to provide recommendations regarding the mapping of digital literacy competencies of librarians and library users based on the measurement results in order to improve the national digital literacy index. Specialized libraries were chosen because the majority of their services are provided digitally, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The method used in this study is a quantitative method through surveys conducted with library users and librarians in specialized libraries in Indonesia. The results of this study include a specialized digital literacy index framework for the library environment, as well as the mapping of digital literacy among librarians and library users based on the developed index framework. The recommendations based on the findings provided in the conclusion of this paper emphasize the importance of enhancing librarian competencies through training or workshops, and curriculum adjustments to support the improvement of the digital literacy index for library and information science programs at universities.

geo-political zone of Nigeria. Two objectives and research questions respectively were stated to guide the study. Two hypotheses were also tested in the study. The study adopted a correlational design, and the population of the study was 98. Sample of the study was census which involves the use of the entire population. The instrument for data collection was researcher’s structured modified 4-point Likert rating scale. The data collected for the study were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) technique, while the hypotheses were tested for significance statistically using Spearman Rank Correlation analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between staff promotion and job satisfaction of librarians in libraries of federal universities in South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The findings further revealed that there is also significant relationship between staff job security and job satisfaction of librarians in libraries of federal universities in South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria. The study recommended that staff promotion should be done regularly and as at when due to motivate the librarians to work hard in their workplaces. It is also recommended that librarians job security should be guaranteed at all times to ensure that they put in their best in the performance of their official duties to the benefit of their libraries. Keywords: Job satisfaction, Librarians, Federal Universities, University libraries.

University libraries must play an important role in assisting the improvement of scientific research capabilities in the field of economics and management disciplines. For this reason, most university libraries have taken some measures, such as establishing a subject librarian system and building digital resource libraries. However, the subject librarian system in some university libraries is not perfect, the quality of information services is not high, the role of academic exchange platforms is not fully utilized, and there is less organization of training in scientific research methods and skills. To enhance the scientific research capabilities of economics and management disciplines, university libraries should enhance the service capabilities of subject librarians, use digital technology to provide precise subject services, build academic exchange platforms, normalization of training.


 Libraries are increasingly becoming involved in digital humanities research beyond the offering of digital collections. This article examines how libraries in Europe deal with this shift in activities and how they compare with libraries in other parts of the world. This article builds on the results of surveys conducted in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States and the United Kingdom, and compares them with a survey conducted in Europe. We found that European libraries are mostly active in research supporting activities, such as digitisation and storage, while US libraries often include analysis in their activities. Funding comes from the library’s main budget and non-structural funding in a variety of forms. Staff working in DH roles has a diverse range of titles, with various forms of librarians being the most used. Analytical staff such as GIS specialists are only found in the US survey. All surveyed libraries agree that the biggest skill gap amongst their staff is in technical skills. When looking towards the future, European libraries see the role of digital humanities (or digital scholarship) within the library grow and are making plans to facilitate this change within their organisation by positioning themselves as an attractive research partner, by opening and increasing their digital collections and by improving the internal workings of the library.

The advancement in technologies coupled with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and its associated technologies such as artificial intelligence, AI, robotic technology, virtual/augmented reality, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, and the likes have entered into the academic and other types of libraries have all brought changes into the digital environment of academic libraries. In light of this, this chapter examined the current digital environment of academic libraries. The chapter discusses the concept of the digital environment and academic libraries, describes digital components in academic libraries (old versus new), describes the impact of the digital environment on academic libraries, identify the new knowledge and skills required for academic libraries users’ and librarians’ functionality in the digital environment of academic libraries, and identifies changing formats ofthe environment of information material; the technological issue; the changing role of librarians; a collection of virtual information, archiving or preserving the virtual information; accessing of virtual information; special skills needed for librarians in building a virtual library; the cost factor of information technology; and the likelihood of job loss by the librarians as current challenges associated with the digital environment of academic libraries. The chapter recommends based on the findings that Academic librarians and studentsshould work to develop in-demand skills and continuously learn to use tools that reveal their capabilities and expertise to function in the digital environment of academic libraries and to provide efficient and effective information service. The academic librarians should anticipate and integrate new technologies to redesign access and delivery mechanisms to maximise utilisation of information and to minimise the costs of supporting such services. Keywords: Academic libraries, Digital environment, Digital literacy, Digital skills, Advanced technologies, Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

The advancement in technologies coupled with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and its associated technologies such as artificial intelligence, AI, robotic technology, virtual/augmented reality, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, and the likes have entered into the academic and other types of libraries have all brought changes into the digital environment of academic libraries. In light of this, this chapter examined the current digital environment of academic libraries. The chapter discusses the concept of the digital environment and academic libraries, describes digital components in academic libraries (old versus new), describes the impact of the digital environment on academic libraries, identify the new knowledge and skills required for academic libraries users’ and librarians’ functionality in the digital environment of academic libraries, and identifies changing formats ofthe environment of information material; the technological issue; the changing role of librarians; a collection of virtual information, archiving or preserving the virtual information; accessing of virtual information; special skills needed for librarians in building a virtual library; the cost factor of information technology; and the likelihood of job loss by the librarians as current challenges associated with the digital environment of academic libraries. The chapter recommends based on the findings that Academic librarians and studentsshould work to develop in-demand skills and continuously learn to use tools that reveal their capabilities and expertise to function in the digital environment of academic libraries and to provide efficient and effective information service. The academic librarians should anticipate and integrate new technologies to redesign access and delivery mechanisms to maximise utilisation of information and to minimise the costs of supporting such services. Keywords: Academic libraries, Digital environment, Digital literacy, Digital skills, Advanced technologies, Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.