Library and information science collaboration in Pakistan: challenges and prospects
| Pages | 555-571 |
| Date | 08 October 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-09-2017-0096 |
| Published date | 08 October 2018 |
| Author | Amara Malik,Kanwal Ameen |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
Library and information science
collaboration in Pakistan:
challenges and prospects
Amara Malik and Kanwal Ameen
Department of Information Management, University of the Punjab,
Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to explorethe nature and extent of collaboration among library and information
science (LIS) departments, facultymembers and practitioners. It also intends to identify the challenges and
future prospectsof collaboration in Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach –Face-to-face and telephonic semi-structured interviews were
conducted with 17 facultymembers (professors, associate professors and assistantprofessors) from eight LIS
departments.A thematic analysis approach was used to answerthe research questions.
Findings –A thematic analysis of the participants’opinions reveals a weak and informal collaboration among
LIS stakeholders. However, high level of awareness among faculty members regarding the potential benefits of
collaborative activities was observed. Their urge for developing liaison and collaboration with stakeholders is a
positive indication that requires visionary leadership and committed efforts to ensure long term success.
Practical implications –The study aspects discussed may provide guidelines for creating future
planning and growth of professional collaboration in Pakistan.The scope of this study may be extended to
groom national, regional and international collaborative activities in other countries with same conditions.
Though this study is conducted in Pakistan, the findings may be extended to other parts of developing
countrieswith similar context.
Originality/value –It will serve as a guideline for furtherresearch, as it has addressed an untouched area
and reportsoriginal research.
Keywords Pakistan, Research collaboration
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The library and information science (LIS) education in Pakistan is a phenomenon of more
than a century with a historiclegacy of being third one in the world and first in Asia to offer
formal seat of learning in the field at university level in 1915 (Kaser, 1992;Moid, 1968).
Currently, nine universities are offering LIS programs at Bachelor, Master, MPhil and PhD
level. Despite progress and expansion in LIS programs, local literature reported different
problems and challengesincluding scarcity of funds, out dated course content of curriculum,
lack of physical facilitiesand IT infrastructure, shortage of experienced and capable faculty,
gap between academicians and practitionersand absence of accreditation systems (Ahmad
and Mahmood, 2011;Ameen, 2007;Ameenand Warraich, 2014;Haider and Mahmood, 2007;
Ameen and Malik, 2016). The challenges require physical, financial and human resources
and expertise beyondindividual LIS departments. Collaboration canbe used as a strategy to
pool the resources and expertise of LIS departmentsfor future survival and sustainability of
the profession in the country. Collaborative efforts will enable them to take benefits from
each other’s strengths regarding available resources, knowledge and skills by minimizing
the cost and avoiding duplicationof efforts.
Library and
information
science
555
Received29 September 2017
Revised11 April 2018
7 May2018
Accepted22 May 2018
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.119 No. 9/10, 2018
pp. 555-571
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-09-2017-0096
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2398-5348.htm
In many developing regions such as Africa, Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and Asia
pacific region, the LIS experts areactively seeking for collaborative ways due to scarcity of
resources, expertise and facilities(Al-Suqri, 2010;Al-Suqri et al., 2012;Foo et al.,2006;Khoo,
2013;Ocholla, 2008).
Furthermore, the rapid emergence of technological devices has transformed the
information landscape and brought a paradigm shift in the LIS education. Transition from
print to e-collection, physical to virtual services, shrinking budget, competition from other
disciplines, dynamicdelivery formats (e.g. e-learning and online programs)have pushed LIS
academic programs to seek collaborative ways for pooling resources and expertise. LIS
schools in the USA and Europe rightly recognized the need of collaboration to respond
the challenge of training a new breed of information professionals by reinventing
themselves and engaging in the revision of the curricula. They are actively seeking and
fostering collaborative opportunities with other departments to offer joint programs
and new specializations. They extended the scope beyond the institution into national
and international boundaries (Virkus,2007, 2008). The idea of globalization and
internationalization in higher education is also another big challenge that has compelled
to ensure international standards of good quality education through collaboration
and resource sharing among European countries to chase global employment market
(Abdullahi and Kajberg, 2004;Virkus, 2008).
In Pakistan, a few collaborative activities in the form of training workshops among
various library associations, libraries and LIS departments were found to enhance the
skills of LIS professionals (Ullah, 2016). Furthermore, a few empirical studies on LIS
education also identified the challenge of collaboration among LIS depar tment in the
country and South Asian region (Ameen, 2007;Ameen, 2014). Largely, there is scant
evidence from the literature about the extent and nature of any collaboration among LIS
departments, between academics and professionals as well as other disciplines and
departments. The present study is aimed to fill the gap in this respect as well as to
explore the views of LIS faculty to identify the challenges and future prospects of the
collaboration in the country.
Literature review
Collaboration is a term that has been mostly used and emphasized in LIS literature. It is
viewed as cooperation, networking, partnership and alliance aimed at common interest and
benefits or clearly defined outcomes and goalsthrough collaborative efforts (Lin, 2004). It is
about sharing, exchanging and transferring knowledge, skills and techniques to solve
problems faster (Ocholla, 2008).During recent years collaboration has become a very much
talked about area due to globalization. Clark (2007) noted a shift of terminology from
“competition”and “competitiveness”towards “collaboration”,“cooperation”,“partnership”
and “exchange”in the official language of BolognaProcess documents. Published literature
regarding collaboration in LIS field usually discussed the type/level and nature of
collaboration, its benefit and need along with the barriers to initiate and successfully
implement collaborative activities. Furthermore, the studies also discussthe current status,
nature and type of collaborativeefforts in the various countries and region of the world.The
studies regarding collaborationare discussed under the following headings.
Benefits of collaboration
Collaboration essentially entails varied benefits in nature. Aytac (2010) regarded it as
essential for the advancement of LIS field as a science and a profession. He believed that it
would strengthen the ability to achieve the mutual goal of the LIS schools and academic
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