Barriers to digitization in university libraries of Pakistan: a developing country’s perspective
| Date | 04 June 2018 |
| Published date | 04 June 2018 |
| Pages | 457-470 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-01-2017-0012 |
| Author | Muhammad Rafiq,Kanwal Ameen,Munazza Jabeen |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Barriers to digitization in
university libraries of Pakistan: a
developing country’s perspective
Muhammad Rafiq and Kanwal Ameen
Department of Information Management, University of the Punjab,
Lahore, Pakistan,and
Munazza Jabeen
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Balochistan, Quetta,
Pakistan, and School of Management and Economics,
Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify barriers that are hindering digitization initiatives in
university libraries of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach – The study opted a mixed-methods research design based on
quantitative (QUAN) and qualitative (QUAL) strands by using a survey research method. The subjects of the
study were central libraries of the universities (both public and private sector) of Pakistan. A self-
administered structured questionnaire was used for QUAN data collection in the QUAN strand. In the QUAL
phase, in-depth interviews of purposely selected 25 library experts from different parts of the country were
conducted.
Findings – Meta-inferences were drawn from the ndings of both QUAN and QUAL strands. Both of the
research designs provided the requisite data to answer research questions of the study. The nding revealed
the barriers which were hindering the digitization activities in university libraries of Pakistan.
Originality/value – The ndings of the study are helpful for funding bodies, university libraries and
university administration. The ndings are also helpful for other developing countries with similar economic
and/or social landscapes.
Keywords Pakistan, University libraries, Digital library, Digitization barriers,
Digitization hindrances, Digitization issues
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Digitization is dened as “the process of converting, creating, and maintaining books, art
works, historical documents, photos, journals, etc. in electronic representations so they can
be viewed via computer and other devices” [Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS), 2002]. Libraries around the world are initiating digitization projects to convert their
contents from analogue formats, mainly in print, to digital formats. The virtual presence of
the library has rendered its physical presence less important (Gannon-Leary et al., 2008).
Libraries feel a dire need to maintain their presence by offering online access to valuable
contents residing in the libraries. As noted by Smith (2008), contemporary users, the internet
generation, do not bother to go down to the “basements or a dark attic” of a library to access
archival material. In the developed world, users expect delivery of information resources on
their desktops, laptops, e-readers and smartphones, only a touch or click away. These trends
Barriers to
digitization
457
Received 12 January 2017
Revised 7 June 2017
29 August 2017
6 October 2017
Accepted 28 October 2017
The Electronic Library
Vol. 36 No. 3, 2018
pp. 457-470
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-01-2017-0012
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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