Web-based services in university libraries: a Pakistani perspective.

Mirza, Muhammad Sajid ; Mahmood, Khalid

Introduction

Libraries use their websites to provide services to users without their physical presence. Some libraries provide only minimal information about their collections and services, while many offer more WebOPACs, access to online databases, e-books, virtual reference service, electronic reserves, Web-based user education tools, virtual tours, etc. National Digital Library Program, Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN), and Research Repository of Pakistan are significant initiatives of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), which promote technology and research in the country. Those initiatives have helped university libraries to be in a better position to provide state-of-the-art resources through traditional and modern systems. Many university libraries have developed their websites or are in the process of development.

There were many studies available on the design of library websites, role of library websites, web-based library services, and case studies of individual library websites in the international library literature. Rhodes and Chelin (1999) surveyed 68 university libraries in the UK and found that almost three quarters of the libraries make use of the web for user education. He suggested that web-based instruction is unlikely to completely replace traditional methods, but it can be used to supplement and extend existing provision. Halub (1999) stated that the librarians of Cedars-Sinai Health System have considered while maintaining and creating web-based library services: the design of website; offer what services you can; but weigh the advantages of providing the services against the time required to maintain them; make the content as accessible as possible; promote your website and make friends in other departments, especially information services. Ahmed (2002) found in a survey of seven Arabian Gulf university libraries that almost all the libraries are offering web-based services in one way or the other. Feldman and Strobel (2002) recommend that for advancing web-based services it is essential to initiate self-service circulation or librarian-mediated online reference. Saeed (1999) studied use of the Internet in 29 university libraries of Pakistan and found that there were only two university libraries with a web OPAC. Mirza (2007) surveyed six federally chartered general university libraries and found that reference service was being provided electronically by four (66.67 percent) university libraries, while three (50 percent) were providing electronic document delivery service.

University libraries are a hub of knowledge and information services in their institutions and are usually established along with their mother institutions as an integral part. According to HEC (2008), there are 124 general and specialized universities and degree--awarding institutes throughout the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administrated Northern Areas (FANA) in public and private sector. The first university library established in the country is Punjab University Library (1882), Lahore, which is also the largest library with a collection of 500,000.

There is no study of web-based services offered by the university libraries of Pakistan. This first study measures the extent of web-based services offered by the general university libraries in Pakistan.

Objectives of the Study

1. To find out the number of university libraries having a website.

2. To find out whether the libraries have a direct hyperlink on their university homepage.

3. To investigate whether the university libraries have a static or dynamic website.

4. To measure the extent of the web-based services offered by the general university libraries in Pakistan.

Study Design

In this study, all the general university libraries (GUL), excluding one distance learning program, one virtual, and three universities whose major function is as a regulatory body (N=56) have been included. The information about these universities was retrieved from the website of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad. The methodology is content analysis of the websites of the university libraries. A checklist including name of the university library, province, sector, category, existence of library website, hyperlink on university home page, type (static or dynamic) of library website, and six categories of library and information services was prepared to analyze the contents. There were more web-based services offered by university libraries, but this study has focused on six categories, including general information about library, web OPAC, reference service, collection, circulation, and document delivery service/Inter Library Loan. These six categories were further divided into 33 subcategories. The content analysis work was done during mid-August to mid-September, 2008.

Findings

Library Website

More than two-thirds of the libraries examined have a dedicated or partial website. A partial website is one having information about other facilities or services along with the library. There were 16 (28.6%) GULs without library website, while two (3.6%) GULs libraries have their websites in the process of construction. Data analysis shows that 20 (68%) public GULs and 18 (66.7%) private have a dedicated or partial website.

In most areas, the libraries have a dedicated or partial website at least two-thirds to three-quarters of the time.

Library's Hyperlink on University Website and Type of Website

More than half the libraries have a direct hyperlink on the university homepage, while nearly half have an indirect link from something like "facilities." The same proportion have a dynamic (52 percent) or static (47 percent) website. A dynamic website is one with hyperlinks.

Web-based Library Services

General Information

This category includes an introduction to the library, hours, general library policies, contact information, etc. Nearly all have an introduction, while approximately 20 to 35 percent mention hours, general library policies, contact information, and a staff directory.

Web OPAC

The web OPAC is a significant service offered by libraries through their websites. Less than one-fifth of the libraries have this service.

Web-based Reference and Information Literacy Services

Only 6 (15.78%) GULs provide general information about information literacy/instruction services, while only 5 (13.15%) libraries give general information about reference service. Another five (13.15%) have email reference, while only one (2.63%) has chat reference.

Library Collection and Access to Electronic Resources

This category had seven variables. Forty to fifty percent of libraries provide access to online databases, digital collections, and descriptive information about their collections, while only 4 (10.52%) provide information about "New Arrivals."

Web-based Circulation

Web-based circulation services are attractive to patrons. In this study, four aspects of circulation services are analyzed. Table V had shown that descriptive information about circulation policies is provided by 12 (31.57%) GULs on their websites, while 10 (26.31%) also give the membership procedure.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery

Less than one-quarter of the libraries provide descriptive information about ILL and document delivery, while one (2.63%) public sector GUL provides a text-based request form, and there is no use of a web-based request form for this service.

Conclusion

The study shows that web-based services in GULs of Pakistan are in their infancy. There is an urgent need to develop dynamic websites with a direct hyperlink on the university's homepage. LIS professionals must recognize the significance of web-based library services and take the initiative to provide them. HEC, LIS programs, and professional associations should provide training opportunities to librarians. Further research is needed to identify the problems faced by university libraries in introducing and maintaining web-based services.

References

Ahmed, Syed Sajjad. "Managing change to enhance Web-based services in the Arabian Gulf libraries." Online Information Review 26, no. 4 (2002): 265-270

Feldman, Sari and Tracy Strobel. "Advancing your library's web-based services." ERIC Digest , (2002)

Halub, Lisa Parker. "The value of Web-based library services at Cedars-Sinai Health System." Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 87, no. 3 (1999): 256-260

Higher Education Commission. "Our institutions." http://www.hec.gov.pk/

Mirza, Muhammad Sajid. "Electronic Resources and Services in Federally Chartered General University Libraries of Pakistan." Paper presented at PLA Golden Jubilee International Conference (2007)

Rhodes, Helen and Jacqueline Chelin. "Web-based user education in UK university libraries--results of a survey." Program 34, no. 1 (2000): 59-73

Saeed, Hamid. "Internet use in university libraries of Pakistan." Online Information Review 24, no. 2 (2000): 154-160

Muhammad Sajid Mirza

Senior Librarian and Lincoln Corner Coordinator

Central Library

International Islamic University

Islamabad, Pakistan

Dr. Khalid Mahmood

Professor and Chairman

Department of Library and Information Science

University of the Punjab

Lahore, Pakistan

Table I. Library Website

Provinces Yes No Under Construction Total

Punjab 15 4 1 20
Sindh 9 4 0 13
NWFP 4 6 0 10
Balochistan 1 0 1 2
Federal Area 7 0 0 7
AJK 2 1 0 3
FATA/FANA 0 1 0 1
Total 38 16 2 56
Percent 67.9 28.6 3.6

Table II. General Information

Web-based Library Public Private Frequency Percent
Service-General Sector Sector

Library introduction 17 18 35 92.1
 (History, Vision,
 Objectives etc.)
Library hours 10 4 14 36.84
General library policies 9 3 12 31.57
Contact information 7 3 10 26.31
Staff Directory 7 2 9 23.68
Library sections/divisions/ 5 1 6 15.78
 departments
Library news 2 1 3 7.89
Counter 2 1 3 7.89
Library map 1 0 1 2.63
General suggestions / 1 0 1 2.63
 feedback form
Virtual tour 0 0 0 0

Table III. Web-based Reference and Information Literacy Services

Web-based Library Public Private Frequency Percent
Service-Reference Sector Sector

General information about 3 3 6 15.78
 instructional-services/user
 education/information
 literacy
General information about 5 3 5 13.15
 Reference Service
Reference Service using email 2 3 5 13.15
Reference Service using 1 0 1 2.63
 web-chat
Reference Service using 0 0 0 0
 web-form
Text based tutorials for 0 0 0 0
 instructional-services/user
 education/information
 literacy
Web-based/Interactive 0 0 0 0
 tutorials for instructional
 services/user education/
 information literacy

Table IV. Library Collection and Access to Electronic Resources

Web-based Library Public Private Frequency Percent
Service-Collection Sector Sector

Access to online databases 13 5 18 47.36
 journals
Access to digital collection 13 4 17 44.73
General information about 10 5 15 39.47
 collections
New arrival list 3 1 4 10.52
Text based recommendation 1 0 1 2.63
 form
Web-based recommendation form 0 0 0 0
Collection development 0 0 0 0
 policies

Table IV. Web-based Circulation

Web-based Library Public Private Frequency Percent
Service-Circulation Sector Sector

Circulation policies 9 3 12 31.57
Membership procedure 8 2 10 26.31
Patron's access to their 0 1 1 2.63
 accounts
Renewal and reserve facility 0 1 1 2.63

Table IV. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery

Web-based Library Public Private Frequency Percent
Service-ILL/Document delivery Sector Sector

ILL and document delivery 6 3 9 23.68
 policies
Text based request form 1 0 1 2.63
Web based request form 0 0 0 0