Research on Information Seeking and Use in Pakistan: An Assessment
The paper describes the beginning of research activity on information needs and presents an analysis of the literature on information needs in Pakistan to discover that no research has so far been published. It reviews 14 student-research projects produced from 1975 to 1982 at the University of the Punjab which have remained unpublished; Laments the loss of impetus given to this topic in 1974-75; and urges the LIS academics and practitioners to promote and conduct research on this critical topic.
Management information systems for water and sanitation agencies: a conceptual framework
Contribution to a special issue on information in the water and sanitation sector. Presents a conceptual framework for management information systems (MIS) in water and sanitation agencies, with particular reference to the situation in Pakistan and other Asian countries. Explains the need for MIS and identifies their characteristics. Describes the planning process in water supply organizations and the information needs of such organizations. Presents proposals for developing MIS for water agencies in three phases, and outlines a plan of action for phase I
Status of Library Research in Pakistan
Library rcsearch in Pakistan is assuming much greater importance in the dcveloping countries, and is likely to be a major concern in the coming years. A numbcr of factors may bc attributed for consciousness towards this end. These may be summamed äs: (a) the Institution of library education at the graduate and postgraduale level leading to a master's degree and even doctoratc in Library Science (b) the growth in library resources (c) the greater usc of librarics and the changing requirements of library users and finally (d) the impact of innovations and changes emanating from the international schemes (e.g. UBC, ISBD) and other international influences. In addition to these factors there is one more important factor i.e., the need to adopt sound tcchniques due to the failure of existing processes and methods, devised and introduced under the Anglo-American influence, to meet the present day needs of indepcndent countries. With the growth in publications and ever increasing reader population the problem has been more seriously feit in rccent years. Attention to this effect was drawn by Prof. Cantwell Smith, äs early äs 1965, who suggested the »adaptations, innovations, extrapolations, even transformations« in the existing Systems for better organization and servicing of materials of the Oriental countries. Smith's remarks, in fact, were directed to librarians responsible for meeting the requirements of a handful of specialists interested in area study programmes; on the other band the librarians in this part of the world are confronted with a dual problem i.e. the problem of organizing and servicing the classical and modern multilingual collections äs well äs meeting the altered expectations of an ever growing rcadcr population with generally no experience of library use. This makes ground for research aimed at working out concepts and procedures, keeping in view the above noted dispositions, which will make possible the effective and efficient organization and servicing of all types of materials. Like in other developing countries, the libraries in Pakistan are faced with a variety of issues bibliographic, technical and administrative. But unfortunately very littie attention has had been paid so far to the solution of such