COMPUTER LITERACY SKILLS OF LIBRARIANS: A CASE STUDY OF ISFAHAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, IRAN

Abstract

We live in a computer-centric information age. The number of computers in-use including in libraries is growing rapidly. Computer literacy, which is the ability to operate a computer system for performing personal and job-related tasks like using web browsers and search engines on the Internet to retrieve needed information and communicate with the others, is considered as a fundamental part of today's librarians skills. Library managers prefer professionals and librarians who are computer literate because they are more productive and efficient at work than those who are not computer literate. This study assesses the levels of computer skills and computer use experience of librarians in one of Iranian university. Furthermore, it will examine their avenue of computer literacy, software use and benefits derived from computer and the problems associated with computer. The findings showed that majority of the respondents don’t have yet possess a good level of computer skills and even their long duration experience of computer use has not necessarily improved their level of computer literacy skills. It was suggested that in-house and continuous training programs is needed for librarians to be adequately equipped with the computer literacy skills to take advantage of all computerized library facilities and enhance their work productivity