Aiou MLIS

1. Research in librarianship
Dr. Munazza Jabeen
Assistant Professor
Department of Library and Information Science
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad

2. Outline
 Why Research in Librarianship?
 Pioneers in LIS Research
 LIS Research in Pakistan
 Research programs
 LIS Journals
 Challenges to LIS Research in Pakistan

3. Why Research in Librarianship
 Advances in Technologies
 Information Explosion
 Competition with Other Disciplines

4. Librarianship from USA Perspective
 Library science education and training was originally provided in the form of
apprenticeship and vocational training.
 In 1887, Melvil Dewey established the first American school for library
science, “Library Economy ” at Columbia University. In the following years,
more schools were established in the USA.
 The University of Chicago established the first graduate school of librarianship
in 1926 and from that time library science education in USA has been offered
and recognized.
 American library association played a key role in the improvement of
educational strategies (Pors, 2003).

5. Librarianship from European Perspective
 In Europe, the education in librarianship began in the late 19th century,
however, formal education remained essentially an American phenomenon
until the period between the two World Wars.
 The development of schools of librarianship and information science and
professionalism came fully to Europe after the Second World War, especially in
the 1960s.
 Compared to the USA, the role of professional associations in the development
of library education seems less significant in most of the European countries
except the British tradition which played vibrant role in the development of
LIS education.

6. LIS Research in Pakistan
 Modern library services in the territories now constituting Pakistan began
in 1915 with the arrival of Asa Don Dickinson, an American librarian at
the University of the Punjab. His goal at the university of Punjab was ‘‘to
organize the university library and to teach modern library methods to the
librarians of the Punjab’’.
 Asa Don Dickinson invited librarians from all over the province Punjab
to join a class for library training started by him – the first of its kind in
the British India part.
 Pakistan has long history of LIS literature publishing started from “Punjab
Library Primer” by Asa Don Dickinson (1916) and a research journal
“Modern Librarian” in 1937.

7. LIS Research in Pakistan
 Library research is on the rise in Pakistan. There is a positive upward trend in
LIS research from 1957 to 2018.
 The Department of Information Management at the University of the Punjab is
the major contributor to the library and information science literature.
 47% of the total publications were published in two Pakistani journals:
1. Pakistan Library & Information Science Journal
2. Pakistan journal of Information Management & Libraries
Siddique, Rehman, Khan, & Altaf, 2020

8. LIS Research in Pakistan
 Library research is on the rise in Pakistan. There is a positive upward trend in
LIS research from 1957 to 2018.
Figure: Chronological distribution of publications in LIS in Pakistan (1957–2018).
Siddique, Rehman, Khan, & Altaf (2020)

9. LIS Research in Pakistan
The Department of Information Management at the University of the Punjab is the major contributor to
the library and information science literature, with 381 publications.
Most Productive LIS Schools
Siddique, Rehman, Khan, & Altaf (2020)

10. LIS Research in Pakistan
 40% of the total publications were published in two Pakistani journals.
Siddique, Rehman, Khan, & Altaf (2020)

11. LIS Research in Pakistan (1957-2018)
 The first period, 1957–2003, when there were no doctoral program with
coursework in LIS, showed a total of 360 publications in 46 years.
 The second period, 2004–2009, which marked the commencement of PhD
programs with coursework in LIS, produced 257 publications in just five years,
indicating significant progress in the LIS literature.
 In the third period, 2010–2018, 691 publications were contributed to the LIS
literature of Pakistan, clearly showing the substantial impact of the PhD
programs on LIS research.
Siddique, Rehman, Khan, & Altaf (2020)

12. Research Course at MLIS Level in Pakistan
University Year
1. University of Karachi, Karachi 1962
2. University of the Punjab, Lahore 1974
3. University of Sindh, Jamshoro 1974
4. University of Peshawar, Peshawar 1983
5. University of Baluchistan, Quetta 1985
6. Islamia University of Bahawalpur 1985
7. Al-Khair University, Mirpur (AJK) 1996
University Year
8. Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad 2001
9. Mohi-ud-din Islamic University, Islamabad 2003
10. Minhaj University, Lahore 2013
11. Sarhad University of Science &
Information Technology, Peshawar
2006
12. University of Sargodha, Sargodha 2008
13. Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak 2012

13. MPhil Research Program in Pakistan
Following Universities offers MPhil Programs:
1) University of Karachi, Karachi
2) University of the Punjab, Lahore
3) University of Sindh, Jamshoro
4) University of Peshawar, Peshawar
5) University of Baluchistan, Quetta
6) Islamia University of Bahawalpur
7) Minhaj University, Lahore
8) Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology, Peshawar
9) University of Sargodha, Sargodha
10) The Superior University, Lahore
11) Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak
12) Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad

14. PhD Research Program in Pakistan
The PhD Program in Library and Information Science is a purely research program
based on the submission of a thesis on an approved topic.
Following Universities offers MPhil Programs:
1) University of Karachi, Karachi (1967)
2) University of the Punjab, Lahore
3) University of Sindh, Jamshoro
4) University of Baluchistan, Quetta
5) Islamia University of Bahawalpur
6) Minhaj University, Lahore
7) University of Sargodha, Sargodha
8) Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad (2021)

15. LIS Journals (International)
Renown LIS:
 Journal of Academic Librarianship
 Library and Information Research
 Library Trends
 The Electronic Libraries
 Online Information Review
 Library and Information Research
 Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
 Library Quarterly
 Journal of Education for Library and Information Science
 Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology

16. Research Areas at MPhil & PhD Levels
Traditional LIS Research Technology Oriented LIS Research
Research topics - From 1947 to 2010:
 Academic libraries
 Library education
 Information technology
 Information seeking behaviour
 Library management
 User education
 Publishing
 History of Islamic libraries
 Classification
 Bibliometrics
 Distance library services
Research topics - From 2011 onwards topics:
 Library automation
 Web resources (Use of E-Journals)
 Library 2.0 (Web 2.0 technologies)
 Information system
 Digitization & Digital skills
 Information literacy
 Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior
 Information Seeking Anxiety
 Knowledge management
 Service quality in libraries
 Bibliometrics
 LIS education
 Innovation Management in University Libraries

17. Pakistani LIS Journals (HEC Recognized, Pakistan)
 Pakistan journal of Information Management & Libraries - peer-reviewed,
open access annual publication, published from the University of the Punjab.
 Pakistan Library & Information Science Journal (former Pakistan Library
Bulletin) – Quarterly- Published by Pakistan Library Promotion Bureau.
 International Journal of Librarianship and Information Science – Annual –
Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad.

18. Challenges to LIS Research in Pakistan
 Lack of research-oriented faculty
 Lack of collaborative research among LIS schools not only in Pakistan but also abroad
 Lack of resources; technology (e.g., IT labs) & access to scholarly sources
 Lack of creating link with industry - gap in theory and practice
 Lack of digital skills
 Poor language skills
 No financial incentive for research scholars
 Limited financial incentive at faculty level
 Traditional library science research topics; no interdisciplinary research
 Provision of good quality standard education by all library schools
 Quality issues due to unplanned growth in LIS research programs
 Research programs without meeting minimum standards regarding available faculty and required
facilities

19. Challenges to LIS Research in Pakistan
 Non-proactive role of HEC towards private sector universities offering LIS programs
 Lack of market-oriented LIS curriculum
 Absence of proper supervision/guidance
 Non-availability of international exposure for research scholars and faculty
 Non-availability of financial assistance to the prospective candidates
 Poor intake in LIS schools for research degrees
 Lack of encouragement by seniors
 Low esteem for indigenous PhD degree in the eyes of fellow professionals
 Lack of interest in research among library professionals compared to LIS faculty
 Lack of research training programs b
 Male LIS researchers dominate in Pakistan
 More focus on national journals rather than international journals (impact-factor journals)
 More focus on academic libraries research rather other information and research organizations
 Time constraints
 Lack of contributions of professional library association in Pakistan

20. Conclusion
 Why Research in Librarianship?
 Pioneers in LIS Research
 Research in Pakistan
 Research Programs in Pakistan
 LIS Journals (International & Pakistani)
 Challenges to LIS Research in Pakistan

21. Any Question?

22. References
 Ameen, K., & Warraich, N. F. (2014). Trends in LIS education and research in Pakistan. In Library and
Information Science Research in Asia-Oceania: Theory and Practice (pp. 187-199). IGI Global.
 Haider, S. J., & Mahmood, K. (2007). MPhil and PhD library and information science research in
Pakistan: An evaluation. Library Review, 56(5), 407-417.
 Siddique, N., Rehman, S. U., Khan, M. A., & Altaf, A. (2020). Library and information science
research in Pakistan: A bibliometric analysis, 1957–2018. Journal of Librarianship and Information
Science. 1-14. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000620921930
 Kaser, D. (1992). Asa Don Dickenson: A librarian of his times. In Sajjad-ur-Rehman, Chaudry, A. S. &
Qarshi, A. H (Eds). Library education in Pakistan: Past. Present and future. (pp. 3-10). Lahore:
PULSAA.
 Samdan, R. A., & Bhatti, R. (2011). Doctoral research in library and information science by Pakistani
professionals: An analysis. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Retrieved from
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/649