1. By Collence Chisita & Munyaradzi Shoko
Impact of ICT’s on library and Information Science professionals in Zimbabwe’s academic institutions
By Collence Chisita & Munyaradzi Shoko

2. Introduction
A myriad of possibilities and opportunities for Information Professionals through advances in ICT’s.
Revolutionalisation of all aspects of LIS work
Radical changes aided by the convergence of technology
From mere gatekeepers of information to vigorous disseminators of information.

3. Introduction Cont’d Adapting to ICT’s as a survivalist strategy.
“…The challenge is to maintain, nurture and optimize resources of libraries with the help of new technology. Hence we must be ready ...emotionally, professionally and financially to accept and make good use of new technology” Kawatra(2004)

4. Original Foundation!!

5. New Dawn for Information Professionals
Diffusion of Innovations
Information/Knowledge at the epicentre of development
Transition from traditional to modern –techno driven Information Management
Role of Information Professional at the push for transition
use of integrated library systems to improve service delivery

6. Challenges of the Digital era
High cost of developing ICT infrastructure
Dwindling library budgets,
Poor internet connectivity
High cost of hardware and software
Bridging the digital divide
Turning digital divide into digital dividend
Life wide learning

7. Challenges of the Digital era cont’d
“…the Internet holds the greatest promise for humanity … It offers the best chance yet for developing countries to take their rightful place in the global economy ... ensure access … the gulf between the haves and the have-nots will be the gulf between the technology-rich and the technology-poor…” Kofi Annan (1999)

8. Traditional to techno -driven LIS
From physical to virtually recorded information/knowledge management .
Access to information irrespective of location and format
Progression from paper to paperless libraries
Access to information without regard to location and format

9. Library Consortia ICT’s and the “Information deluge”
Library autarchy (self sustenance)
Formation of library consortia to facilitate resource sharing
Shift from being "all alone" to collaboration .
ICT’s as the engine for the 21st.Century online communities .
“The miracle is this, the more we share the more we have."Nimoy ,L .

10. Major Library consortia for academic libraries
Zimbabwe University Library Consortium (ZULC)
College and Research Library Consortium (CARLC)
ever mounting cost of library resources
diminishing budgets/limited fiscal support
competition from free Web Based resources
digital divide

11. CARLC ZIMBABWE

12. Adapting new technologies
Creation and development of institutional repositories like UZSpace, using FOSS
Enlistment in the OpenDOAR.
Digital repository searchable from any of the major search engines
Enhanced visibility.
Global Accessibility.
Overcoming institutional insularity

13. Going Digital!!!

14. Benefits of IR

15. New Skills for Librarians
digital literacy
negotiating skills,
intellectual property rights (IPR), creative commons
open access initiatives
Publishing.
Content Management
Copyright

16. Major Trends Shift from print to digital collections and services .
From “repository maintenance” to user-centered approach
From a holdings ideology to an access strategy based on content subscriptions .
Formation of consortia for resource sharing
Rising demands of techno generation

17. Digital Library

18. Integrated Library Systems
Millennium Innopac for cataloguing, acquisitions, serial checking, circulation and patron services
Adjusting to ICT Standards and protocols. e.g. Internet Protocols
protocol for the exchange of bibliographic information e.g. Z39
Remote database searching i.e. inter and intra-institutional cooperation

19. Major Challenges
Using ICT’s to broaden LIS and prevent cultural homogenization
Adaptation of business management principles
Adapting to market oriented approach.
Using ICT’s for to promote standardization
Use of ICT’s to break monopoly of information
Democratization of access to information through social media

20. Benefits of ICT’s in libraries
Using ICT’s for “creagement”
Liberating Information professional from repetitive tasks
Facilitating association of dissimilar ideas
Promoting information sharing through social media.
Quantifying usage patterns through OPAC, Web Based Databases and Web sites.

21. Shifting vocabulary and nomenclature
Language as a form of professional identity.
New LIS lexicography e.g.
- Information navigation,
-Information Economy
-evidence based information practice,
-e-resources librarian,
- metadata management,
-e-learning resource management

22. Alignment and realignment
Changing Information Science Landscape
Changing focus areas
Impact of ICT’s
From Library Studies to Library and Information Science
Information and Documentation
Information and Communication.

23. Information Literacy: A new Pedagogy
Information Literacy covering following subjects:
information sources
searching tools
electronic information
searching techniques
management of Information
evaluation of e-resources ,scholarly communication e.t.c
Standardized information literacy manual

24. Education and Continuous Professional Development
Rapid changes in ICT’s call for CPD
CPD to overcome redundancy, and irrelevancy.
Constant renewal of professional skills and knowledge
Learning organizations
Learning culture
Constant review of LIS curricular.

25. New Roles in the Digital Age
Knowledge mediator, information architect, hybrid librarian and knowledge preserver.
Masters of copyright, licensing and electronic redistribution regimes
Enhanced service provision.
Advanced forms of content handling(subject specialisation)
Communication media and KM management centers

26. New Roles in the Digital Age cont’d
“We have new roles to fill. While the format of our resources may change, while access to information may change, while styles of service may change, the vision of high quality, service-oriented, information centers still fits the library's mission. We will serve our user communities best if we incorporate this into the digital library.” MacMillan (1999)

27. Conclusion
Creating digital platforms for IR
open access
E-journal portals
Complementing e-learning through access to e-resources
PPPs and community engagement
Enhancing access to e-resources
“Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance and assimilation” (Gandhi 1948)