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Digitization and Developing Digital Library and Information Support in Bangladesh: Professional Challenges

Md. Saiful Alam
Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The digital revolution throughout the world has brought about new challenges as well as new opportunities for the information professionals. The information professionals of the developing countries are grappling with problems like weak infrastructure, lack of skilled manpower, financial stringency etc. in implementing information and communication technologies in the libraries and also in the digitization of information resources. This paper explores the problems and potential of ICT and digitization in context of the library and information sector of Bangladesh. An elaborate analysis of various challenges for establishing digital information systems and services in the backdrop of the socio-economic realities of Bangladesh has been presented in the paper, along with indications as to how these challenges could be overcome. The paper ends with the conviction that, if these challenges could be dealt with successfully, the Vision 2021 stated by the Government could be realized in time.

Keywords: Digitization, Information support, Bangladesh

Location: Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Resource inventory

Objectives:

1. To make digital copies of their documents and objects in order to use modern Information Communications Technologies (ICT) to make their information and knowledge easily accessible irrespective of institutional, socio-political and geographical boundaries.

Methodology:

There is no recent institutional statistics supporting neither the actual number of libraries and information centers in Bangladesh nor ICT usage in the existing library systems. According to different personal investigation and survey it has been evident that there exists neither digital library nor any integrated automated library system in the country in true sense of the term. Another fact is that at present around 60% urban based libraries and information centers have brought computer and other ICT equipment in use. Digitization and automated library systems in Bangladesh are still in the infancy level. In the recent times a very few initiatives have been noticed taken by different institutions as project work. These institutions are BANBEIS, BRAC university library, ICDDR,B publication unit, The National Library of Bangladesh, BIDS library etc. The activities of these projects include the acquisition and subscription of e-books and e-journals, digitization of paper based documents through scanning and Desk Top Publishing (DTP), developing database or online repository for metadata and full-text, providing searching and downloading facilities (online and offline), document and user profiling etc. It is to be mentioned here that some academic and research libraries in Bangladesh having online access to e-journal as member of INASP/PERI consortium. The INASP/PERI - International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications /Program for Enhancement of Research Information - consortium is an on-line journal network started in 2006 and Bangladesh has been subscribing its services since 2008.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Library and Information Science Vol.2(1) July 2012 pp.57-66

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Comparing to other sectors, Bangladesh is lagging behind in digitization and establishment of digital information systems. Technology-based library and information systems are still in its infancy in the country. The Establishment of such systems is of difficult, expensive and longterm process. Due to resource constraints, it becomes difficult for many organizations to provide necessary financial support for initial setup. Lack of standard and efficient manpower, in most of the cases, organization has to depend on third party for digitization and hosting them over web. It also sometimes creates misconception among the professionals in digital librarianship, library automation and even technology based information systems. Extreme shortage of electricity, limited network coverage, higher price of internet connectivity, bandwidth, and ICT components are the major infrastructural challenges toward digital information systems. As digitization is a long-term process, socio-political stability is badly required for the success story of digitization programs and to make vision 2021 into reality as a whole. To reach the destination all parties- library authority, library educator, political parties and end users- are to realize its importance, eliminate techno phobia, superstition and work together with care.

Knowledge Management: Journal