IMPACT OF ICT ON LIBRARIES : A NEW PARADIGM FOR LIBRARIANS

Abstract

The education and training of LIS professionals has to be such that it empowers them to give a free rein to their potential as they endeavor to offer relevant and efficient services within the current levels of technological sophistication. LIS schools have embarked on this task by incorporating ICT modules in their curriculum. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have changed library and information services globally. The digital revolution driven by ICT innovation has transformed; academic libraries fundamentally. ICT (information and communications technology - or technologies) is an umbrella term' that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and' network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmits or receives information electronically in a digital form. This paper gives brief introduction about KT followed by its need, components, its various activities and services to users are highlighted, the benefits of K'T are specified along with the problems and suggestions, changing role of libraries is discussed and in the end, impact of IC'T on libraries is emphasized.