Managing Libraries in Digital Era

Management in yore days was overburdened with paper work. The growth in number and variety of devices for business data processing e.g., accounting machines, punched card equipment, computers etc., is a direct result of the need for systems and procedures to handle the ‘paper-work explosion’. The use of computers has introduced a new approach to systems and procedures called ‘total management information systems’. Notably, the combination of modern communications with computer allows the integration of result, data about an organisation can easily be acquired, retrieved, processed and used for management control. In fact, at present the magnitude of problem faced by libraries seems to be at critical juncture. With further growth of libraries in size and services, and their participation in national/international networks, and introduction of mechanisation, libraries must develop tools for scientific management matching to tasks they face. Attuned to the particular characteristics of the library, its management problems and its information systems functions, libraries will need to develop tools of their own.