Libraries Urged To Embrace ICT To Stay Relevant
By P. Marilyn

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education, Awang Haji Daud bin Haji Mahmud, yesterday called for a change in the traditional role of librarians or information officers.

He said they should be more dynamic, possess the ability to multitask and align their expertise and provision of services in Information Communication Technology (ICT) which is regarded as vital in today's library services.

Speaking during the official launching of Electronic Resources and Information Services (e-RIS) for Institute Technology Brunei's (ITB) Library, the Permanent Secretary said the role played by academic libraries was vital and proactive in supporting the teaching, learning and research process of an institution through developing the users' or students' information skills and creating ready access to knowledge concerning the students' areas of studies.

He said the role of libraries in an academic enterprise is dedicated to maintaining the importance and relevance of the academic library as a place of intellectual stimulation and a centre of activity on campus.

"Though access to information is increasingly decentralised, and computer labs now compete with libraries as campus gathering points, librarians must demonstrate to the campus community that the library remains central to the academic process."

"It is well regarded as the nerve centre of an academic institution," said the Permanent Secretary.

Libraries, he added, should provide varied and up-to-date resources that suppOrt their mission and the needs of the users. And librarians should collaborate frequently with academic staff and participate in information literacy instruction, he said.

Information literacy skills and user education should be integrated across the curriculum and into appropriate courses with special attention given to information evaluation, critical thinking, intellectual property, copyright and plagiarism.

The Permanent Secretary also spoke of the importance of access to library resources to be provided in a timely and orderly fashion.

"Library collections and the catalogue for assessing them should be organised in such as way that is unified and easily accessible to all users.

"Provision should be made for interlibrary loan, access to virtual electronic collections and document delivery to provide access to materials not owned by the library," he added.

The Permanent Secretary therefore sees a significant need for library personnel to undergo continuous training in order for them to be adaptable to any crucial developments happening in the information and library world.

"As the profession becomes progressively challenging, we have to ensure professional education of new librarians and re-educating existing librarians with skills and knowledge to support new roles in a Digital Information Age, especially roles involving teaching and library promotion," he said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Related News: ITB Launches Its Third E-Govt Project

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