Á paper presented at a 2-day Workshop organized by the University Library, Delta State University, Abraka on November 8, 2016

1. ELECTRONIC LIBRARIANSHIP
by
OSHILALU, H. Adeyinka CLN
Á paper presented at a 2-day Workshop organized by the
University Library, Delta State University, Abraka on
November 8, 2016

2. Contents
– Brief on Electronic
– Librarianship as a concept
– Electronic Librarianship
– Comment from the audience on Man
and Library in an Electronic Age
– Librarians in an Electronic Age
– Effect on Library Division
– Man / Library Users in an Electronic Age
– Breakdown of Library Services
– Comment from the audience on
technological effects on Library Services
– How has technology affected each
services (Libraries then and Now)
– Expectations from the Library / Librarians
– Effects of not responding in-time
– Submission (s)
– Ask a Librarian
– Appreciation

3. A BRIEF ON ELECTRONIC
…(of a device) having or
using many small parts, such
as MICROCHIPS, that control
and direct a small electric
current.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
Devices that operate on principles
governing the behaviors of
electrons
Wordweb (2016)
Electron is an elementary
particle that orbits the
nucleus in atoms and is
responsible for the
flow of electricity
Wordweb (2016)

4. Electronic Devices
in Summary…the computer and
several other devices are Electronic
devices because they operate with the
use of electricity.
Electronic devices are
components for
controlling the flow of
electrical currents for
the purpose of
information processing
and system control.

5. Librarianship as a Concept
– What does Librarianship entails?
The professional
administration of Library
resources and services
Collins English Dictionary (2012)
The profession of a
specialist in the care or
management of a library
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (2009)
…profession of a person who is
in charge of or works a Library
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
DEFINITION OF A LIBRARY
1. As an institution set aside: a library is a purposely
built space
2. Systematical acquisition: materials are acquired
following a standard
3. Systematical processing: materials are processed
following a standard
4. Systematical sorting: materials are sorted following
a standard
5. Systematical storing: materials are kept following a
standard
6. Systematical sharing: materials are disseminated
following a standard
7. Information: the institution deals with information
in varying formats
8. Information Resources: the institution deals with
information resources in several formats
An institution set aside for systematical acquisition,
processing, sorting, storing and circulation of
information and information materials.

6. Librarianship as a Concept
SUMMARY
We’ve established the fact that,
Librarianship is all about the profession of
Librarian
as such…
What is the need for the Profession?
* The traditional functions
Acquiring; Processing; Preserving; Dissemination
* Scared Resources – Rich should be able to buy all
* Is Knowledge Divide really an issue?
…Lot of many others
FACTS
1. No man can survive without information
2. Everyone needs information but not all
knows how to get needed information
3. Man usually does not know of some things
needed unstill when he possessed them
4. Information handling is a professional work
5. Proper care for information saves time and
lot of other resources
– Is the need still relevant at this age & time?
THERE IS INFORMATION EVERYWHERE…and I have my
mobile device connected to the INTERNET
YES or NO? either way WHY?

7. INTRODUCTING ELECTRONIC LIBRARIANSHIP
SUMMARY
We’ve established the fact
that, Electronic is all about the
adoption and use of Electronic
devices in it entirety
SUMMARY
We’ve also established the fact
that, Librarianship is all about
the profession of Librarian
As such…
We wouldn’t be wrong to say that
Electronic Librarianship is all about
the adoption and use of electronic
devices in the operations and
services of the Librarian

8. Electronic Librarianship
– Surfaced as a result of the effect of
technology on man and his environment
– Adopted as a result of the profession
being open to change – a growing
organism (Ranganathan, 1931)
– Divided as its practitioners are rational
being
Article on Emergence of Electronic
Resources is a good reference
– Accepted or not, does it make any
difference?
Fact: Man will continuously need
information and it is now left for the
Librarian to be handy or not
– What is Electronic Librarianship?
…its all about adding an “E” to the
various operations and services in
Librarianship
– What is the effect(s) of adding an “E”
and why should it be considered at all?
Fact: The world is changing and it will
continue to change… Practitioners;
Users; Facilities and everything other
things are changing
– E-L has indeed come to stay
Yes or No?

9. Comments from class on the
Undisputable Relationships between;
Man & Information
Man & Library
Library & Technology

10. Man and Information
Man is the source of his own needs
Source(s)
User(s)
Some people serve as the SOURCE and
some people use (USERS) information
and vice versa. It is an endless chain

11. Man and Library
Source(s)
User(s)
Serves as an agent that
eliminate all factors serving as
stumbling blocks to the
information channel
Enables smooth flow of
information from sources to
the needy
The Library
The Library is meant to render
support to Man --- Eliminate factors
that militate against access to timely
and useful information

12. Library and Technology
As an agent meant to eliminate
all factors serving as stumbling
blocks to the information
channel
Adoption and use of Electronic
by Librarians is not optional –
It is a necessity
The Library must adopt the use
of appropriate technology to
meet up to expectations…

13. Technology has indeed come to stay
USERS THEN
USERS NOW

14. Bexar County's Library
was dubbed BiblioTech
(2013) and it’s the first
bookless, all digital
Library in the United
State
Currently has 10,000 volumes
of ebooks; 600 e-readers, 400
computers, 10 laptops and 40
tablets for the public to use
Services Includes a
Circulation Desk; 3m Cloud
Reader; Monthly enewletter;
Book Club; Book Finder;

15. Expectations from Librarians in an E-Age
– Expectations from Librarians in an E-Age
CHANGES UPON CHANGES ARE
EXPECTED
Rather than wait for employers / your boss,
get something started
Rather than wait for users, be on the move
Rather than operating statically, be mobile
Rather than closing for the day, be available
Rather than been rigid, be flexible…
In all…Librarians are expected to work
SMART and become SMARTER by the day.
Be CREATIVE and INNOVATIVE…CHALLENGE
your ABILITIES
Failure to adopt and use technology
when and where expected?
- Loss of interest / trust
- Users dissatisfaction
- Going against the guiding principles of the
profession -
- Boredom on the job
- Information overload (Information users will
be helpless)

16. Effects on Library Division
Before
The two major divisions in Libraries
used to be Technical and Reader’s
Services Section
Now
IT adoption and use has proven to be
worthy enough to introduce a third
division that is very conspicuous in
Libraries of present age
Let’s see next slide for my proposed
organogram to modern library and
information centers

17. MAJOR DIVISIONS IN LIBRARIES
TECHNICAL SERVICE DIVISION
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
UNIT
BIBLIOGRAPHIC SERVICE
CATALOGUING UNIT
RESTORATION / BINDING
SERIALS / PERIODICALS
I.T UNIT
E-LIBRARY
MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY
LIBRARY OUTREACH
OPAC / PAC SERVICES
READERS' SERVICES UNIT
CIRCULATION UNIT
REFERRAL SERVICES
SECURITY UNIT
TOUR / ORIENTATION

18. Effects on Librarians Appointments
Before - Degree alone might be considered
adequate…
Job Title: Assistant Librarian
Qualifications
A candidate for this post should normally
possess a good first degree and a master's
degree in Library and Information Studies or
any other related discipline from a reputable
University or comparable institution of higher
learning.
Candidate must have strong and considerable
proof of continuing research with appreciable
evidence of scholarly publications in reputable
journals.
Candidates must have been registered with the
Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN)
and the Nigerian Library Association (NLA)
Now – Degree is not enough –
Added Advantages
– Hand-on experience (installation, use and
configuration) with Linux Operating System
– Setting-up and management of Institutional
Repository
– Ability to adopt the use of several open source
software in library operations
– Wired and wireless networking skills
Culled from Augustine University Advert for the post of
Assistant Librarian in July 2016

19. Effects on Librarians’ Designations
Before
Circulation Librarian
Technical service Librarian
Cataloguer
Serials Librarians
Research Librarian
Reference Librarian
Now
Multimedia Librarian
Systems Librarians
Electronic Librarian
eLibrarian
Audio-Visual Librarian
…………….class could mention excluded
designations

20. Effects on Library Relation / Cooperation
Before
It has to be physical
It has to be between libraries that
knows each other before
Its has boundary
Now
The world remains a global village
where anything / everything is
possible at any time

21. Breakdown of Library Services and “E”
– Resources Acquisition
– Resources Processing
– Resources Preservation and Conservation
– Resource Sharing

22. Resource Acquisition
Now
- Online via email
- Simply go cashless
- More than enough gadget inputs
Before
- Offline
- Cash / bank issues
- Enough human input
Last request made by a User in AUI and how it was treated

23. Resource Processing
Now
Nothing is wrong in doing Original
Cataloguing but have attempted CIP
and Online Cataloguing?
Before
Is all about Original Cataloguing
Let’s run a quick check on the following website
and establish their respective usefulness in
processing newly acquired titles
1. PORTAL.AUGUSTINEUNIVERSITY.EDU.NG
Augustine University Library Catalogue
2. MYECATALOG.INFO
Oshilalu’s pet project (Nigeria Union Catalogue)
3. LOC.GOV
The Catalogue of the Library of Congress

24. Resource Preservation and Conservation
Now
High resolution scanners for scanning
and other electronic means of
proffering access to the contents of
books is very essential
Before
Laminating, binding and few other
mediums seems to be adequate

25. Resource Sharing
Now
All manner of resources…even the
human resources are up for sharing
Terms like Consortium and others
come into play
Before
Basically in print form

26. Submissions 1
Electronic adoption is very good but
don’t forget the majority that are not
technology compliance

27. Submissions 2
Electronic adoption is very good but
remember that heaven help those
who help themselves
Don’t wait on your employer /
boss…start-up with something…infact,
start with what you have
Electronic adoption is very good but
remember that technology help those
that are open to learning

28. Submissions 3
Electronic adoption should not pose
any for of threat rather than a
challenge to Librarians
Pick up the challenge and get moving

29. Submissions 3
If you fail to adopt it use…such an
individual is gradually going out of
business.
Users are moving, Technology is
not Static and fellow Librarians
are also moving…
Who is fooling who?

30. Ask the Librarian

31. Appreciation and Thanks for your time