Readiness for digital reference service (DRS) in university libraries

Abstract

The paper reports a research study aimed to explore the readiness for digital reference service (DRS) of university libraries of the province of Punjab, Pakistan, in terms of organizational awareness, willingness, planning and strength of resources. This descriptive research employed the survey method. The survey instrument (questionnaire) was reviewed by a panel of LIS experts of national level and was worded to achieve an official organizational response to probe the status. Thirty-eight libraries of Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognized universities participated in the study. The findings reveal that only a few libraries were at a level of DRS readiness while the others were adopting this system at a slow pace.

Keywords

digital reference service university libraries Pakistan

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abu Bakar

A B

(2009) Virtual reference service in the Muslim world: Opportunities and challenges. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available at: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/∼mbolin/bakeri2.htm

Ani

O E

Esin

J E

Edem

(2005) Adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in academic libraries: A strategy for library networking in Nigeria. The Electronic Library 23(6):701–708.

Breidenbaugh

(2006) Budget planning and performance measures for virtual reference services. The Reference Librarian 46(95):113–124.

Breznay

A M

Hass

L M

(2003) A checklist for starting and operating a digital reference desk. The Reference Librarian 38(79/80):101–112

Campbell

(2000) Clinging to traditional reference services: An open invitation to Libref.com. Reference and User Services Quarterly 39(3): 223–227.

Cichanowicz

E M

(2003) Live reference chat: From a customer service perspective. In: Kimmlely

Heise

(eds) Virtual reference services: Issues and trends. New York: Haworth Press, (pp. 27–32)

Dent

V F

(2000) Technology provides innovative reference services at University of Michigan libraries. Research Strategies 17(2–3):187–193.

Dorner

D G

(2009) Public sector readiness for digital preservation in New Zealand: The rate of adoption of an innovation in records management practices. Government Information Quarterly 26(2):341–348.

Dunn

Morgan

(2003) Going where the students are. The Reference Librarian 38(79):201–213.

10.

Gollin

Pinder

(2003) The adoption of self-check technology in UK academic libraries. New Review of Academic Librarianship 9(1):42–58.

11.

Haq

(1993) Reference services in Quaid-e-Azam Library. In: Asghar

Qarshi

A H

Rizvi

J A

(eds) Hallmarks of library and information services Pakistan Lahore: PULSAA, (pp.79–84).

12.

International Federation of Library Associations (2005) IFLA digital reference guidelines. Available at: http://www.ifla.org/VII/s36/pubs/drg03.htm

13.

Janes

J, Carter D

Memmott

(1999) Digital reference services in academic libraries. Reference and User Services Quarterly 39(2):145–150.

14.

Johnson

Burke

(2003) Invoking digital reference. Community and Junior College Libraries 12(1):35–43.

15.

Kenney

A R

Buckley

(2005) Developing digital preservation programs: The Cornell survey of institutional readiness. Available at: http://worldcat.org/arcviewer/1/OCC/2007/08/08/0000070511/viewer/file3612.html#article0

16.

Khan

(2006) Reference librarian’s service and customer satisfaction. Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal 37(2):30–37.

17.

Khatoon

K A

(1969) Reference sources and services of the Karachi University Library: A survey. Master’s thesis, University of Karachi.

18.

Kong

L M

(1995) Reference service evolved. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 21(1):13–14.

19.

Kresh

D N

(2000) Offering high quality reference service on the Web: The collaborative digital reference service (CDRS). D-Lib Magazine 6(6):1–6.

20.

Kresh

D N

(2001) Libraries meet the World Wide Web: The collaborative digital reference service. ARL, 219: 1–3, Available at: http://www.arl.org/resources/pubs/br/br219/br219cdrs.shtml.

21.

Kresh

D N

(2003) Virtually yours: Thoughts on where we have been and where we are going with virtual reference services in libraries. The Reference Librarian 38(79):19–34.

22.

Majeed

(1998) Evaluation of reader’s services of the Punjab University Library. Master’s thesis, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

23.

Malik

Mahmood

(2009) Web search behavior of university students: A case study of the University of the Punjab. Webology 6(2).

24.

Massey-Burzio

(2002) Facing the competition: The critical issues of reference service. College and Research Library News 63(11):774–775.

25.

Matheson

(2004) Library LAWLINE: Collaborative virtual reference in a special consortium. The Reference Librarian 41(85):101–114.

26.

Mirza

M S

Mahmood

(2009) Web-based services in university libraries: A Pakistani perspective. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available at: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/∼mbolin/mirza-mahmood.htm

27.

Naseer

M M

Siddique

(2008) Library and information services in digital perspectives. Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal 29(1):28–36.

28.

Rafi

(2006) An appraisal of reference and information (RandI) services of Quaid-e-Azam Library: A case study. Master’s thesis, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

29.

Reference and User Services Association (2004) Guidelines for information services. Available at: http://www.ala.org/rusa/stnd_consumer.html

30.

Rehman

Mahmood

(2010) Status of reference and information services in university libraries of Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal 41(3):2–15.

31.

Rehman

Shafique

Mahmood

(2011) A survey of user perception and satisfaction with reference services in university libraries of Punjab. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available at: http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/rehman-shafique-mahmood.htm

32.

Ronan

J S

(2003) Staffing a real-time reference service: The University of Florida experience. In: Kimmlely

Heise

(eds) Virtual reference services: Issues and trends New York: Haworth Press, (pp. 33–48).

33.

Saddique

(2006) Status of the services of the Information Resource Centre, University of the Punjab: An appraisal. Master’s thesis, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

34.

Saleem

(2002) Historical development of Quaid-e-Azam Library: A case study. Master’s thesis, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

35.

Stormont

(2001) Here there and everywhere: Live virtual reference. Collection Management 26(2):79–87.

36.

Trump

J F

Tuttle

I P

(2001) Here, there, and everywhere: Reference at the point-of-need. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 27(6):464–466.

37.

Warraich

N F

Ameen

(2008) Perceptions of library and information science professionals about National Digital Library Programme. Library Hi Tech News 25(8):15–19.

38.

Zaidi

(1975) A survey of the Punjab University libraries. Master’s thesis, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

39.

Zanin-Yost

(2004) Digital reference: What the past has taught us and what the future will hold. Library Philosophy and Practice 7(1):1–13. Available at: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/∼mbolin/zanin-yost.htm