Presentation focuses on the new roles for information proffessionals in the 21st century era and the type of information techniques they need to use for information dissemination in the digital era. This presentation is sequel to paper presented at DLIS Conference 2017.

1. A LITERATURE REVIEW OF INFORMATION
DISSEMINATION TECHNIQUES IN THE 21ST
CENTURY ERA
LIAH SHONHE
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
A PAPER PRESENTED AT RIAB CONFERENCE HELD ON 22-23 MARCH 2017 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
BOTSWANA LIBRARY AUDITORIUM

2. OUTLINE

3. INTRODUCTION

4. PREMISE
• Harness the benefits
of information
technologies
• It is left to the
information
providers to take
appropriate
measures to
-Students and
lecturers preferred
access to electronic
sources (Okiy, 2010)
-Participants had
positive attitude
towards Technology
(Shonhe and Jain,
2017)
- 87% of internet
users own smart
phones (McGrath,
2016)

5. MOTIVATION OF THE
STUDY
• Provision of library services
using old methods
• Lack of technological
equipment in the library
• Poor or lack of information
retrieval systems - inhibiting
timely information access
• Lack of library management
Ogunsola & Okusaga (2006) –
Nigeria
Pyati (2009) - India

6. MOTIVATION CONT…
Improve
d
access
Higher
enrollme
nt in
tertiary
schools
Quality of education –
low test scores
Botswana Vision 2016 Council
Lack of freedom
of information
legislation
Vision 2016
Status at Glance across all Pillars
by Key Results Areas
An
informed
and
educated
nation

7. MOTIVATION CONT…
Sustainable economic development
• Knowledge based economy
• Ding Business and competitiveness
Human and Social Development
• Education and skills development
Governance, Peace and Security
• Transparency, accountability and implementation
VISION

8. OBJECTIVE
To raise awareness on techniques used to disseminate information in the
21st century era.
Research questions
a. What are the roles and skills required for the 21st
century information provider?
b. What are the characteristics of the 21st century
information seekers?
c. What are the techniques used for disseminating
information in the 21st century era?

9. 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION
PROVIDER
Changing Roles and skills of
Information Professionals
a) Knowledge workers/brokers, managers
b) End user trainer/educator
c) Web organizer and designer, Interface designer
d) Knowledge manager/knowledge broker,
e) Knowledge mapping skills
f) Researcher, publisher, Change agents
g) Content manager, subject experts
h) Marketing and presentation skills
i) Technical, managerial and information technology skills
j) Advocate Mentor, leader, financial manager
k) Policy makers
(Jain, 2013; Khan & Bhatti, 2012; Uzuegbu & McAlbert, 2012;

10. 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION SEEKERS
Mathews
(2011)

11. SKILLS FOR 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION
SEEKERS
Partnership for 21st century skills
(2007)
- Teach information literacy to young
people to be able to use technology
effectively to access and manage
information.

12. Concepts
Library 2.0
Virtual library
Hybrid library
Digital library
Principles
Best breed of
systems
Invite
participation
24/7
information
access
No barriers

13. 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIES
Ramos (2007)

14. INFORMATION
DISSEMINATION
TECHNIQUES
SMS
notificati
on
Online
referenc
e
services
OPACs &
Database
s
Social
media
network
s
Mailing
lists
Website
s
Personal
space /
my
library
Quick
respons
e code

15. CONCLUSION
• Libraries that drive access to knowledge will accelerate
economic development, build stronger relationships
between information providers and the community at
large.
• The call to re-organize libraries in developing countries is
long overdue
• It is only appropriate for information repositories to
challenge themselves to cope with the changes and adopt

16. VISION FOR 21ST CENTURY LIBRARIES
Effective/timely
information
provision and
access
Technology
Information literacy skills
Knowledge
Based
Society
preserved
indiginous
knowledge
improved
livelihoods
economic
growth
innovativenness
improved
decision
making
independence

17. FURTHER RESEARCH
•Status of public libraries in developing countries and
information dissemination techniques being used.
•Funding strategies that can be employed by
information repositories to raise funds for
transforming information centers to suit the 21st
century area.
•Competency levels of information professional in
developing countries to provide information in the

18. ? FOOD FOR THOUGHT ?
Are we ready for the
challenges of the
digital age?