Application of ICT to Library and Information Service:- Faustinas U. McAlbert

ABSTRACT

 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a broad term which covers a wide range of technologies. It is the convergence of computers, communication and microelectronicbased technologies. They include technologies and devices like radio, telephone, telegraph, fax, television, and telephone, Internet, WWW, Email, LAN, ISDN, video conference and satellite communication among other technologies. With the help of Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) many libraries can easily share information. A distributed or networked system is usually involved where more formalized interactions exist between sections or departments within the library. Geographically speaking, a network could involve more than one library within a region. Information networks are usually organized around the technological abilities of computer based operations and programs within and around the library. Telephone and other devices play important roles in ’ library services like SDI, Inter library loan, reference services, and online information retrieval. ICT has increased the capacity for data transmission which facilitates introduction of new services, such as E-mail, Fax etc. Cheaper data storage media has also increased the storage capacity ofmany libraries.