Relationship between Awareness and Use of Digital Information Resources among University Students of Southern Punjab

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between awareness and use of digital information resources among students of universities in South Punjab. The researcher adopted survey research design and employed questionnaire as a research method to collect the data from respondents. The population of the study consisted on BS, Master, MS, M. Phil and PhD programs students of The Islamia University Bahawalpur and Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from respondents. A statistical package for social science (SPSS-20) was used for the analysis of data. The result of the study found that majority of respondents used university library on occasionally basis and most of respondents give preference to digital information resources over printed materials. Most of the respondents agreed that they consult digital information resources for academic work, assignments and for the use of research purposes. Majority of the respondents had skills to used different database like HEC digital library, HEC Summon, Science Direct, JStore etc. A statistically it was found a strong relationship between awareness and use of digital information resources. The barriers faced by respondents while using digital information resources were; slow internet connectivity, respondents’ low ICT skills and limited access to university information resources etc

Pervasiveness of Library Anxiety among the Students of Library and Information Science: An Assessment

Library anxiety is a real and prevalent phenomenon. Some students feel uncomfortable or discouraging while using or contemplating the use of library. These feelings may affect the academic performance of students, cause library avoidance and impede them from getting the best out of library resources. The present study is conducted with an aim to assess the pervasiveness of library anxiety among the graduate students of Library and Information Science enrolled in public sector universities of Pakistan. . The Multidimensional Library Anxiety Scale, consisting of six dimensions which are divided into 53 statements, was used for this study. The Cronbach’s alpha value of overall MLAS was .88. The findings of the study confirmed the presence of a mild level of library anxiety on all the six dimensions of MLAS among the students of Library and Information Science. The study suggests measures to mitigate library anxiety among the students

Characteristic Assessment of Advancement in Duties of Librarians and Function of Libraries in Data Science Era

Data sciences usually involve data management, its utilization, distribution as well as its re-utilization. All these components need to be focused while targeting data science. Thus data puts a significant burden on research institutes because it is the authority that decides the responsible for the whole course of the procedure. It is of prime importance for data science librarians serving in data-centric age to know regarding LIS principles, theories, and other related skills that are mandatory for management and support of data science. This paper sums up the reviews of researchers regarding the data science era. Moreover, this paper includes diagnostic assessment of data science environment concerning recent advancements in data science and progress in duties of librarians, presentation of detailed data, the function of data science libraries as well as librarians concerning data users. It is supposed to be an exciting era to work in a library as its role is expanding with specific new challenges. It is the need of the current period to educate librarians, library science researchers, and students regarding understanding, utility, and management of data to meet the requirements of data science librarians

Library Anxiety of LIS Students in Universities of Pakistan: A Measurement Using MLAS

The present study was conducted with an aim to determine the level of library anxiety among the graduate students of Library and Information Science enrolled in public sector universities of Pakistan. The Multidimensional Library Anxiety Scale developed and validated by Dr. Doris Van Kampen, was used for this study. The data was collected from 511 students of MLIS studying in different library schools of Pakistan. The collected data was then analyzed statistically by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The findings of the study indicated that graduate students of Library and Information Science exhibited overall a mild level of library anxiety on all the six dimensions of MLAS. There was statistically no significant difference in the level of library anxiety among male and female graduate students of LIS and also in the frequency of library use, on the level of library anxiety. The study also provides recommendations to overcome the library anxiety

Exploratory Determinants Of Service Quality In Academic Libraries: Users’ Perspective

Today’s competitive environment focuses not only on providing high quality goods and services to their customers, but also emphasis to satisfy them at angle of three sixty degree. Libraries are also facing the same change and challenge in this age of information. This study examined the library users’ satisfaction about library services, measured on seven determinants, which were service quality, library atmosphere, staff attitude, technological facilities, electronic resources, user satisfaction and user’s loyalty. Survey research method used to conduct this study and initial data collected through a structured questionnaire. Which was divided into two parts, first was comprised of statements regarding users’ satisfaction with libraries of their concerned universities. The second part was about demographic information regarding the respondents. Before administering questionnaire, the respondents briefed about the questions. The university students were the population for this study, the probability stratified random sampling method used to ensure equal chance for each participant. The collected data analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), along with descriptive statistics ANOVA test was applied for getting answers of research questions. The study concluded, students are satisfied with university libraries staff members’ attitude, found them cooperative, supportive and encourage students to use libraries effectively. The libraries service quality are pleasurable but not up to the expectations. The study concluded, students are satisfied with university libraries staff members’ attitude, found them cooperative, supportive and encourage students to use libraries effectively. The libraries service quality are pleasurable and up to the expectations. The users are not satisfied with library atmosphere, availability of electronic resources to meet users’ anticipations, technological facilities, Online Public Access Catalogs and websites are interactive. To answer research question, dig out high impact factors for student satisfaction are latest technological facilities and service quality. Keyword: Service quality, Digital resources, User satisfaction, Academic libraries, Digital libraries, Resources integration, Pakistan, Library user

Impact and Scope of Open Access Research Data: Perceptions of Library and Information Professionals

This study aims to prove that those scholarly articles belonging to subjects with changing proportions of open-access implementation have an incredible research impact if the research articles are openly accessible online than by paid access. This study also explores the impact of open access research data in Pakistan through the library and information science (LIS) professionals\u27 perception. The foundation of this study includes surveying the research method. The LIS professionals were surveyed to assess their perception towards the possibly better impact of open access research data than non-OA ones. This study indicates that free-access research data have a better research impact and scope than those that have not openly accessible. This study is part of a Ph.D. dissertation. This study\u27s respondents were library professionals working in public sector university libraries of Pakistan, so the library professionals are working in the libraries of colleges, schools, and private sector universities. Data should only be made open and placed online when there is a clear demand for it. Academic institutions should focus on releasing open data. Academic institutions should provide tools that make it easier for the researcher to look inside open datasets

Digital Resources Integration & Data Literacy Perspectives Among LIS Professionals of University Libraries in Pakistan

Purpose: The aim and crux of the study are to determine prospects of digital resources integration (DRI) and data literacy among Library & Information Science (LIS) professionals of university libraries of the province of the Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Methodology: An extensive survey research method was used to prospects about digital resources integrations (DRI) among university libraries\u27 LIS professionals. This study comprised the LIS professionals working in university libraries of the province of the Punjab and Islamabad, Pakistan. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect the data for this significant study. Findings: The findings highlight that LIS professionals understand data analytics tools, methods,s and frameworks about digital resources integrations (DRI). And whether LIS professionals in university libraries of the Punjab and ICT are able or unable to recognize the use of data misrepresenting or misleadingly and practice of DRI. This study emphasizes the lack of data literacy, digital resources integrations (DRI) proficiency, and university libraries\u27 digital divide. Practical and research implications: The study provides the scope of digital resources integration (DRI) proficiency and DRI skills among LIS professionals working in university libraries. The study enhances into consideration about the capability of university LIS professionals to practice the digital resources integrations (DRI) in their libraries. Originality Value: This work is derived from my Ph.D. research dissertation to study of prospects of digital resources integration and which will help fill the gap of literature in Pakistan\u27s context. Keywords- Digital Resources Integration, DRI proficiency, Data Literacy, Digital Divid

Library and Information Services Move Quickly Online in the COVID-19 Pandemics: A Mixed-Method Approach

Information professionals such as librarians are rapidly moving to streamline the resources and services related to Covid-19 for healthcare professionals and the general public through online and virtual services. The study attempts to assess library and information services delivery status and the role of librarians in service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. We adopted an embedded approach of mixed-method design to conduct the study. We assessed the academic libraries\u27 websites of the top five affected countries by a coronavirus to determine the ways of service delivery and evaluate the role of LIS professionals towards library & information service delivery in the COVID-19 scenario. Libraries may assume a significant job responsibility in giving trustworthy services in the Covid-19 pandemics. The results concluded that due to lock-down, librarians are following work from home policy and providing their services through online and virtual ways

Women’s Empowerment and Antenatal Care Utilization in Pakistan

This study aimed at examining the role of women’s empowerment in antenatal care utilization among married women in Pakistan. The population of the study was based on secondary data from the Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-18. A sample of 6,996 married women was selected, and the women reported their antenatal visits in the last five years. The descriptive, Chi-square, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression methods were used for data analysis through SPSS. The results of the study showed that only 15% of women had adequate antenatal visits. Bivariate analysis showed that women who had higher income status, higher education, and were working in managerial positions had significantly adequate antenatal health care (

Perceived Information Literacy Skills among University Students at AzadJammu&Kashmir

The present study was conducted with an aim to determine the perceived information literacy skills among university students at Azad Jammu & Kashmir. A survey research design was used to collect data from the participants. The population of this study was post-graduate students enrolled in public sector universities of AJ&K. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data. A statistical package for social sciences (SPSS-20) was used for the analysis of data. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the percentage, frequency, mean and standard deviation, and the inferential statistic was used to determine relationships among variables. The result of the study found that the majority of the respondents have ability to recognize, understand, locate, evaluate, use, communicate, and manage required information (M=3.77). However, few of them were facing difficulties, while using digital information resources due to poor ICT skills (M=3.62). The results of the study also revealed that a good number of information resources were available in university libraries but they were not properly utilized due to a lack of information literacy skills (M=3.56). Lack of information literacy training and workshops were the main barriers faced by respondents while acquiring information literacy skills (M=3.56). Moreover, it was found that a statistically significant relationship (P= .000) exists between the age of the respondents and their information literacy skills. This shows that the age of the respondents and information literacy skills were correlated with each other. The significance value (P=.001) indicated that the gender of the respondents and their level of information literacy skills were also correlated. Further, the statistical value (P=. 218) indicated that the level of degree and information literacy skills of respondents were not correlated