Technology-Enhanced Library Services and the Librarian's Identity Crisis in Academic and Research Libraries of India

Libraries in India are progressing well in automating housekeeping operations, refining old services and starting fresh ones. There is also an increasing presence of electronic information sources, external and internal, and services based upon them. Libraries have progressively adopted library automation software, CD-ROM data bases, and Web access to electronic journals and digital libraries. With each advance in technology the time of the user to retrieve information has shown a drastic reduction. The emergence and increasing availability of the Internet and Web has led to a lot of information outside the library tempting users to depend less on libraries and to explore these alternate routes to fulfill their information needs. The rise in number and variety of information resources and the inability of most libraries to acquire/ access them also leaves the libraries less able to meet the needs of clients, forcing the library and staff to shy away from their new roles. Largely a service in many institutions that does not enjoy the power of research and teaching staff, the plight of library professionals in many of these institutions results in low morale and underperformance. This paper attempts to look into these issues and the cultures and conflicts faced by users, libraries and librarians in academic and research libraries in India. It identifies the library as a service and access centre, managing and enhancing information in a technology-enhanced environment rather than as a mere repository.