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The purpose of this study is to examine the services and facilities provided by rural public libraries in West Bengal, India. In addition, the study aims to evaluate the perceptions of librarians regarding the implementation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications in these libraries. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather data. The primary method of data collection was a survey using a structured questionnaire, which was administered to a total of 102 rural libraries. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with the respective librarians to bring more objectivity to the results. The findings revealed that rural libraries possess a moderate collection of printed books, newspapers, and magazines. The results indicate that these rural libraries offer a diverse range of services and facilities that benefit their respective communities. However, findings of the study indicated an acute shortage of staff in almost all the surveyed libraries, with this factor, consequently, affecting services. One significant challenge faced by these libraries is the lack of ICT applications. Nevertheless, most librarians expressed positive attitudes towards the implementation of ICT in rural libraries, recognizing their potential to enhance library services and reach out to a wider audience. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the government should provide the necessary ICT tools in order to provide ICT-based library services. The results of this study can contribute to the upgrading and restructuring of rural library collections, infrastructure, services, and facilities in developing countries.

This study aimed to determine the level of ICT self-efficacy among librarians working in the Libraries of Aligarh Muslim University Library System (AMULS). A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a quantitative survey. One of the researchers visited the Maulana Azad Library, Faculty and College Libraries, Departmental and Seminar Libraries, and School Libraries and distributed the questionnaire to librarians. On the other hand, librarians of the AMU regional centers' libraries were contacted through email to complete the survey form. Of the 123 questionnaires distributed to the librarians, 102 questionnaires were received with an 82.9% response rate. Librarians mostly view ICT as having a positive impact on library operations and services. The majority of librarians are skilled in using basic ICT applications. However, they lack the necessary skills to manage ICT-based library operations and services. Inadequate ICT application training and a lack of ICT infrastructure were cited as significant barriers to librarians obtaining ICT skills. This is the first study to examine ICT self-efficacy among librarians in an Indian university. Its findings could aid in the development of strategies for integrating new technologies into libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of social networking sites (SNSs) is growing among higher education students, including healthcare students. Nonetheless, limited research has examined the perceived use behavior among healthcare students in developing countries such as India. Objective: This study attempts to assess the use behavior of SNSs by undergraduate students in the fields of nursing and pharmacy in India through the lens of Connectivism and New Social Learning theories. Method: The study used a Google form to collect data through an online questionnaire. A sample of 483 participants included 258 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students, 161 General Nursing and Midwifery students, and 64 Bachelor of Pharmacy students from various Indian nursing and pharmacy schools. Results: The majority of the respondents prefer to use SNSs for several purposes such as watching academic videos on YouTube, sharing their ideas, thoughts, and current development in their respective fields through WhatsApp, getting job-related information from different Facebook pages, etc. A substantial number of nursing students believed that these SNSs help them build relationships with professionals across the country. At the same time, many students also indicated that extensive use of SNSs might cause sleep difficulties, data privacy concerns, and a lack of focus while studying. Conclusion: To have an impact on how SNSs are used in healthcare education, more attention should be paid to build connectivism between educators and their students on social learning environment, which the findings of this study's suggestions could be put into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is the second most populous country in the world. It has 29 states and 7 union territories. The state of West Bengal with nineteen districts has a well-established public library system. The present study covers the district of Murshidabad which has 160 public libraries, in total. Significantly, three categories of public libraries namely rural library, town/sub-division library and district library exists in whole district. Covering 21 public libraries with representation of all categories of libraries, the present work aims to study the collection development of material. Data for the present study has been collected through well-structured questionnaire. Study also highlights the various aspects which contributed in building collection in studied libraries. Precisely, these are donation from Member of Legislative Assembly, donation from Raja Rammohan Roy Library Foundation, complimentary copies from the authors, etc. Findings suggest that no-uniform growth has been witnessed in surveyed libraries. Keywords: Public Library, Collection Development, India, West Bengal, Murshidabad., Introduction The purpose of any library is to provide service that is relevant to its community. However, this is not possible without proper collection. Public library is public property where [...]

This study traces the genesis of public libraries during the British period; the birth of National Library in India; the growth of public libraries in different districts of West Bengal; contributions of different movements in the evolution of West Bengal Public Library System and the role of Left Front government in the enactment of the West Bengal Public Library Act. The purpose of this paper is to review the significant contributions of the Britishers, European missionaries, social reformers and political parties particularly parties having left ideology in the development of public libraries in the West Bengal province of India. The paper investigates the evolution of public libraries for which authors have consulted literature published in different sources. Some of the important documents collected for this study are Annual Reports being published from the Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Services, Government of West Bengal; Census of India, etc. Apart from these sources, some other primary sources have also been used for this paper. This study contributes to have an insight knowledge in order to understand the gradual development of Public Library System in West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the information literacy regarding the library resources among the postgraduate students at Aligarh Muslim University, and to know their basic needs of information and information search strategies in the library as well as in web based resources. The present study selects the descriptive survey method and covers 329 postgraduate students of five selected faculties e.g. Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Commerce, Faculty of Theology, Faculty of Social Science at AMU. The questionnaire discusses their information searching strategies on OPAC, their search engine preference, awareness of e-resources, level of information literacy skill, needs of information literacy skill etc. The paper reveals that most of the students are aware of the information sources which are available in the library. 'Google' is the most popular search engine to the students. Through this study, the investigators find that there are some valuable suggestions which are made by the users according to their need to improve their information literacy skill such as motivational lectures, workshops, conferences, symposium, project based learning, and online literacy programme. This study may be considered as a unique one which brings out the current status of information literacy skills among the PG students at AMU. It will help recognize the librarian and teachers to instruct students as to where to search the source of information and how to evaluate information to meet their information needs. Keywords Information literacy, Information skills, Innovative Technology in libraries, Web 2.0 Tools, PG Students, Aligarh Muslim University, India., Background information Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a prestigious, premier Central University in India which is located in Aligarh city. It was set up by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as [...]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of district-level public libraries in West Bengal, India. The study focused on staff as well as services against the backdrop of collection development policy. It also investigated the problems faced by librarians and suggested measures to overcome these difficulties. The researchers used a mixed-methods approach – quantitative and qualitative methods – to obtain the data. However, the primary means of data collection was a survey method using a structured questionnaire. Additionally, interviews were carried out with librarians in order to bring more subjectivity to the results. The findings suggest that no selection committees have taken place to recruit new staff in different public libraries; hence, libraries have been suffering from a shortage of staff. Due to severe shortage of library staff, book database has not been completed in Libsys library management software in any surveyed library. Public libraries are established to provide a variety of services to their users. Thus, services are the main product of the public library system. The findings reveal that different kinds of services – such as children's, career guidance and community information services – are provided by the surveyed libraries to benefit their user communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]