Development of LIS In Maldives
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A robust library and information service sector is essential for any booming economy and also for an information society. The Maldives is a small island developing state that has seen swift progress within the last few decades in terms of... more
A robust library and information service sector is essential for any booming economy and also for an information society. The Maldives is a small island developing state that has seen swift progress within the last few decades in terms of economic development and universal education.
To reap the benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and other developments, in today's information revolution, establishing a strong information culture within the society, among individuals, the community, and nation is seen as an essential component. The information culture of a developing nation can encompass seven key elements including indigenous knowledge, ICTs, information literacy, research & development and publication, library and information services, mass media, and information polices.
These elements are predominantly linked to the information service provision and level of information access. They are very closely aligned with the information sector. The collection, preservation, and dissemination of information in an organized and timely manner have greater relevance in enhancing the rest of the elements. The core group of professionals entrusted with these roles is the library and information service personnel, and the institutions that need to carry the responsibility are the libraries and information centres.
As such, keeping track of the development within this sector is an important initiative in identifying how far the country has progressed in its intellectual capacity.
The country does not have too many libraries to its credit; this necessarily is not an impediment given the size of the country and its population base of just over 300,000 people. The main libraries are the National Library of Maldives (also the one and only state owned public library) and the Maldives National University Library. There are a few research collections attached to research
2
centres, government libraries attached with government offices, and a number of school libraries scattered throughout the geographically dispersed nation. A standardised central operation of libraries of the nation does not exist as of yet; theoretically the National Library has a mandate in this endeavour.
The Maldives Library Association is the self-appointed central body that attempts to establish a network of all these individual library units with the hope of improving efficiency and the quality of the library services. The Association is also the caretaker and promoter of this important sector; a sector that to the most part do not get much attention from policy makers.
Almost everyone recognizes the importance of having a library. Yet, it is disheartening to note that not much emphasis has been given to the capacity building of this sector. It appears the libraries of the nation exist in a vacuum. The country achieved universal schooling by the year 2000. Yet, to date the entire nation has only three practicing personnel with a University qualification in the area of library and information services. The records show that to date, only about nine personnel has attained a Diploma level qualification in library and information services and seven of them were not able to get their Diploma (from Sri Lanka) accredited to diploma level as stipulated in the framework of the Maldives Qualifications Authority.
With numerous efforts by the Maldives National University (MNU), the country now has an avenue to educate library and information professionals at Diploma level. The first batch of these students is scheduled to complete their studies by end of the current year. This is an encouraging development. The MNU has a long way to go in educating at least 300 more people to equip each library of this nation with at least one staff educated and trained to cater for this important sector.
The library sector faces considerable challenges in attracting promising candidates for this line of service. The society so far has not started to accept it as a reputable profession for the educated. I personally had people ask me "you are a LIBRARIAN, after your postgraduate qualifications from reputed Australian Universities?" People do not seemingly appear to understand that a library is the heart of any educational institution, and in turn educational
3
institutions are the heart of the nation where the future generations, the future caretakers of the nation are made.
Also of importance is the provision of reading material to the public without exception whether they can afford to buy reading material or not. A public library is an important community centre if developed in the right manner. It is a place that can foster democratic values, by providing freedom to read and provision of equal access to a diverse collection; thereby providing individuals with the needed knowledge and access to ideas to achieve democratic ideals.
For the Maldives, there indeed is a long way to go to keep up with developed nations in information services provision. It is of utmost importance to keep pace with the developments in ICTs and to shape the services offered in a manner that attracts the younger generation to embrace a reading culture.
The purpose of bringing this book together is to document the progress the library and information sector has made over the last few decades. It is also an effort to gather support from policy makers, the public, and from prospective candidates to join this important sector where people with the right aptitude for emerging technologies can contribute to a large extent.
The book could be useful for information policy makers, for LIS students and educators, and also as a historical timeline of LIS development of the Maldives.
The idea about this book was generated over a year ago, and every effort has been made to attract as many people in the information sector to contribute to this edition in article submission. It is with appreciation that we put together this volume with contributions from almost everyone who has undergone an extended education in this field of study and currently working in the Maldives library sector.
The articles in this book can be divided into two main sections. The first one mostly reporting on the progress of the Maldives Library Association in terms of its management and administration and milestones achieved during this short period, taking into consideration the myriad challenges which can be mainly attributed to shortage of funds and qualified human resources.
4
The second part of the book presents papers of scholarly nature, focussing on the area of information provision in the Maldivian context. The papers explore the areas of Library and Information Services education and its progress, the complexity of the attempts at creating a library consortia, the challenges in securing academic journal databases, the need for adhering to a common publishing standard, and the initiatives of creating and introducing local digital libraries as well as embracing library automation.
I conclude these introductory words with gratitude to all the contributors and well-wishers who helped in this process. The compilation of this book has itself been a learning journey.
To reap the benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and other developments, in today's information revolution, establishing a strong information culture within the society, among individuals, the community, and nation is seen as an essential component. The information culture of a developing nation can encompass seven key elements including indigenous knowledge, ICTs, information literacy, research & development and publication, library and information services, mass media, and information polices.
These elements are predominantly linked to the information service provision and level of information access. They are very closely aligned with the information sector. The collection, preservation, and dissemination of information in an organized and timely manner have greater relevance in enhancing the rest of the elements. The core group of professionals entrusted with these roles is the library and information service personnel, and the institutions that need to carry the responsibility are the libraries and information centres.
As such, keeping track of the development within this sector is an important initiative in identifying how far the country has progressed in its intellectual capacity.
The country does not have too many libraries to its credit; this necessarily is not an impediment given the size of the country and its population base of just over 300,000 people. The main libraries are the National Library of Maldives (also the one and only state owned public library) and the Maldives National University Library. There are a few research collections attached to research
2
centres, government libraries attached with government offices, and a number of school libraries scattered throughout the geographically dispersed nation. A standardised central operation of libraries of the nation does not exist as of yet; theoretically the National Library has a mandate in this endeavour.
The Maldives Library Association is the self-appointed central body that attempts to establish a network of all these individual library units with the hope of improving efficiency and the quality of the library services. The Association is also the caretaker and promoter of this important sector; a sector that to the most part do not get much attention from policy makers.
Almost everyone recognizes the importance of having a library. Yet, it is disheartening to note that not much emphasis has been given to the capacity building of this sector. It appears the libraries of the nation exist in a vacuum. The country achieved universal schooling by the year 2000. Yet, to date the entire nation has only three practicing personnel with a University qualification in the area of library and information services. The records show that to date, only about nine personnel has attained a Diploma level qualification in library and information services and seven of them were not able to get their Diploma (from Sri Lanka) accredited to diploma level as stipulated in the framework of the Maldives Qualifications Authority.
With numerous efforts by the Maldives National University (MNU), the country now has an avenue to educate library and information professionals at Diploma level. The first batch of these students is scheduled to complete their studies by end of the current year. This is an encouraging development. The MNU has a long way to go in educating at least 300 more people to equip each library of this nation with at least one staff educated and trained to cater for this important sector.
The library sector faces considerable challenges in attracting promising candidates for this line of service. The society so far has not started to accept it as a reputable profession for the educated. I personally had people ask me "you are a LIBRARIAN, after your postgraduate qualifications from reputed Australian Universities?" People do not seemingly appear to understand that a library is the heart of any educational institution, and in turn educational
3
institutions are the heart of the nation where the future generations, the future caretakers of the nation are made.
Also of importance is the provision of reading material to the public without exception whether they can afford to buy reading material or not. A public library is an important community centre if developed in the right manner. It is a place that can foster democratic values, by providing freedom to read and provision of equal access to a diverse collection; thereby providing individuals with the needed knowledge and access to ideas to achieve democratic ideals.
For the Maldives, there indeed is a long way to go to keep up with developed nations in information services provision. It is of utmost importance to keep pace with the developments in ICTs and to shape the services offered in a manner that attracts the younger generation to embrace a reading culture.
The purpose of bringing this book together is to document the progress the library and information sector has made over the last few decades. It is also an effort to gather support from policy makers, the public, and from prospective candidates to join this important sector where people with the right aptitude for emerging technologies can contribute to a large extent.
The book could be useful for information policy makers, for LIS students and educators, and also as a historical timeline of LIS development of the Maldives.
The idea about this book was generated over a year ago, and every effort has been made to attract as many people in the information sector to contribute to this edition in article submission. It is with appreciation that we put together this volume with contributions from almost everyone who has undergone an extended education in this field of study and currently working in the Maldives library sector.
The articles in this book can be divided into two main sections. The first one mostly reporting on the progress of the Maldives Library Association in terms of its management and administration and milestones achieved during this short period, taking into consideration the myriad challenges which can be mainly attributed to shortage of funds and qualified human resources.
4
The second part of the book presents papers of scholarly nature, focussing on the area of information provision in the Maldivian context. The papers explore the areas of Library and Information Services education and its progress, the complexity of the attempts at creating a library consortia, the challenges in securing academic journal databases, the need for adhering to a common publishing standard, and the initiatives of creating and introducing local digital libraries as well as embracing library automation.
I conclude these introductory words with gratitude to all the contributors and well-wishers who helped in this process. The compilation of this book has itself been a learning journey.