THE IMPACT OF ICT ON LIBRARIES IN ARTS AND COMMERCE COLLEGES IN MADHYA PRADESH
Keywords:
Automation Progress, Specialized Software, Book Collections, Library Management Systems, College Libraries.Abstract
This study assesses the extent of library automation in Government First Grade Colleges in
Madhya Pradesh. It found that a significant portion of librarians (57.91%) have less than 10
years of experience, suggesting a need for enhanced training programs [1]. Additionally, the
study identified varying levels of hardware and software infrastructure across the colleges,
with many lacking specialized software for efficient library management. While automation is
ongoing, only 39.05% of the libraries are fully automated, indicating that progress is still in
its early stages. Regional disparities were also evident, with rural colleges showing more
advanced automation than their urban counterparts. Furthermore, the size of book
collections was found to influence the level of automation, as colleges with larger collections
tended to have more automation. The study highlighted that priority has been given to
automating core modules such as Acquisition, Circulation, and OPAC, but comprehensive
automation remains a challenge. The findings underscore the importance of investigating the
barriers to automation, including financial, technical, and resource-related challenges, and
suggest the need for a more cohesive, region-specific approach to library automation.
Addressing these challenges will be crucial for improving the overall library management
systems and making them more efficient and user-friendly.
