Mumtaz Ali Anwar

User perceptions of library effectiveness in Malaysian agricultural libraries

This study investigated those factors that contribute positively in shaping users’ perceptions of library effectiveness. A questionnaire‐based survey of five major agricultural libraries in Malaysia was conducted. It was found that the adequacy of collections, services and facilities were closely linked to the perceptions of library effectiveness. Certain other factors contributing positively to the perception of library effectiveness were the adequacy and effectiveness of library promotion, involvement of users in the selection of library materials, convenient library location, participation in user education programmes, availability of assistance for using library resources and facilities, and subject background of library professionals. The paper suggests that for any reliable library effectiveness study, all factors associated with user satisfaction should be investigated together.

Information Seeking Behaviour of Kuwaiti Journalists

This study investigated the information seeking behaviour of working journalists in Kuwait using a self-administered questionnaire. The 92 respondents were mostly male, Arabic speaking, and expatriates. In terms of the type of information, they place emphasis on fact-checking, general and background information. Information is obtained by using a wide variety of both informal and formal sources. ‘Human’ sources, Internet, and ‘press releases’ are considered high in terms of both importance and satisfaction. The availability and use of ‘in-house electronic library of stories / reports generated by their colleagues’ is not only very limited but is also not satisfying. They consider their information searching skills very important for their work and are willing to go through training if it were provided to them. Lack of time is their top ranking problem. Several recommendations are made for improving the existing situation.

Developing working LIS professionals in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: a study of the perceptions of deans and directors of academic libraries

This paper reports the results of an investigation in current continuing professional development practices, perceptions of academic library employers about skills that need to be developed in their staff in the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries. A mailed questionnaire was used to collect data from 15 publicly funded academic institutions; 13 responded. Analysis shows that a systematic staff development program is generally lacking. Current continuing professional development activities focus on immediate institutional needs. Information and communication technology skills preferred relate to automated systems, electronic resources, networking, and multimedia applications. Writing and research skills related to measurement and evaluation, studying information needs, and report writing received higher ranks. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations which are made in order to improve the situation.

Information‐seeking behavior of the social sciences faculty at Kuwait University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the information‐seeking behavior of the social sciences faculty at Kuwait University.Design/methodology/approach – A survey method was used for this study. The data were collected using a structured, peer‐reviewed questionnaire self‐administered to 77 faculty members, with 54 returns.Findings – It was found that these respondents heavily depend on books and journals for teaching and on a larger variety of materials for research purposes. Their use of informal sources is comparatively less than formal sources. Journals and books are considered the most important sources to meet their needs. Among the informal sources, conferences, subject experts, and colleagues are given higher importance than librarians and government officials. Journals and books are used more frequently than raw data, technical reports, and manuscripts and primary materials. Their satisfaction level with all the sources is positive but higher for journals and books. The level of sat...

Current state of science and technology in the Muslim world

Reviews the current state of science and technology in the Muslim world in the light of the CASTASIA 1968 and the International Conference on Science in Islamic Polity 1983 recommendations of allocating 1.0 percent of GNP for R&D. The data presented indicates that the Muslim countries have not been able to achieve this target. OIC countries on the average spend 0.45 percent of their GNP on R&D as compared to 2.30 percent by OECD countries. Egypt which leads the Muslim countries spends 0.86 percent of its GNP on R&D as compared to 2.27 percent by Israel. Indonesia spends 0.17 percent as compared to 1.78 percent by Taiwan. Annual growth of R&D expenditure in a few Muslim countries, especially Turkey and Malaysia, is very encouraging. Muslims are also far behind in terms of R&D manpower. OIC countries have 8.5 scientists, engineers and technicians per 1,000 population as compared to 40.7 of world average and 139.3 for OECD countries. The contribution of Muslim countries to world science literature is also meagre. Forty-six Muslim countries contribute 1.17 percent to world science literature as compared to 1.66 percent by India and 1.48 percent by Spain. Twenty Arab countries contribute 0.55 percent as compared to 0.89 percent by Israel alone. Contribution to science literature is also analyzed on the basis of total population, literate population, and GNP per capita. Growth of science literature in many Muslim countries is faster than OECD countries.

AQAK: A Library Anxiety Scale for Undergraduate Students

The library environment has drastically changed since 1992 when Bostick’s Library Anxiety Scale was developed. This project aimed to develop a scale specifically for undergraduate students. A three-stage study was conducted, using students of Kuwait University. A variety of statistical measures, including factor analysis, were used to process the data. A test re-test was undertaken to estimate the reliability of the scale. The resulting scale, named AQAK, consists of 40 statements clustered into five factors which are: (1) Library resources, (2) Library staff, (3) User knowledge, (4) Library environment, and (5) User education. This new scale with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.904 is 90 percent reliable. The gender of the participants, the type of high school attended, and the college where they are studying have no relationship with library anxiety.

Developing competencies for medical librarians in Pakistan

OBJECTIVE To identify competencies for medical librarians and get these validated from head librarians and employers. METHODS The survey method was used. A structured questionnaire, listing 84 competency statements, covering eight areas, prepared after extensive literature review, expert scrutiny and pilot testing, using a 5-point Likert scale was distributed among the head librarians and chairpersons of library committees (CLC) in 115 medical libraries. RESULTS Sixty seven (58%) useable responses were received from head librarians and 63 (55%) from CLC. Of the 84 competency statements 83 were validated by the head librarians, 44 receiving four or higher mean score while the other 39 statements getting mean scores in the range of 3.97 and 3.06. The CLC validated 80 statements. Only 27 statements received four or higher mean score from CLC while the other 53 got mean scores in the range of 3.97 and 3.22. CONCLUSIONS Medical librarians are required to be well versed with all those competencies which are needed for general librarianship. In addition, they are expected to have adequate knowledge of health sciences environment including medical terminologies and concepts. Sound knowledge of some competencies specific for medical libraries is an additional requirement for library personnel.

From doctoral dissertation to publication a study of 1995 American graduates in Library and Information Sciences

This article examines the publishing activity of 54 individuals who received their doctoral degrees from American universities in 1995 and the publications that were derived from their dissertations. Publication data covered two five-year periods, 1991-1995 research-in-progress and 1996-2000 postdoctoral period. One third of the graduates did not publish anything during these 10 years. The mean number of publications for all graduates came to 0.54 per year. Only one half of these graduates produced publications out of their dissertations. The mean number of publications derived from their dissertations came to 0.85 for all graduates. Only one of these publications was the result of student/advisor collaboration indicating a very low level of such activity.

Resource‐sharing among major libraries of Kuwait

Focuses on resource sharing in Kuwaiti libraries, which, due to many factors, has now become an economic and information provision necessity. Presents the results of a survey of 17 libraries in Kuwait. It was found not only that the current resource‐sharing activities are at a minimal level, but also that all libraries do not actively participate in these. However, librarians consider resource‐sharing very important for their libraries, are aware of its benefits, and know the hurdles in developing a resource‐sharing network. They are willing to participate in such a network if one was developed. Recommends that the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters should create a National Task Force to develop a detailed plan for a national resource‐sharing network. Proposes that the National Library should be designated as the coordinating agency for this network and suggests the establishment of a permanent national committee, with representation from all major libraries, to be responsible for policy making.

The Profile of the Librarian; A State-of-the-Art

There is an extensive body of literature on the professional librarian. These writings provide a basis for describing the social profile of the library profession. Some aspects of this profile, however, are based on fiction rather than facts. In this review, some aspects of the profile of the librarian will be explored. Since almost all of the studies reported below originate in the United States, what follows is essentially the profile of the American librarian.