Role of libraries in Pharmacy Education and Perceptions of library Professionals’ about their job

Abstract:

Introduction: In pharmacy education, library use do appear independent contributions to desirable outcomes of the institution. Librarians’ role is also important to make students information literate. Objective: This objective of this study to know about the role of libraries and library professional’s experience in pharmacy colleges. Materials and Methods: The data represent responses from 44 library professionals’ during the period 2013-2014 to the questionnaire. To explore role of libraries in pharmacy colleges, current status on collections and digital library facilities are discussed and to know the perceptions of library professionals’, their job satisfaction level is analyzed. Results: Pharmacy colleges have numerous seminar materials, sufficient journals, articles and conference papers. Almost all the pharmacy college libraries perform the data entry, circulation services. Some colleges maintain reports and database services (73.5%). Digital library initiative started in many colleges (75.2%). Very few colleges do have connecting networks like UGC Inflibnet (1.7%), Delnet (2.2%). No pharmacy college has got Current Awareness Services (CAS)/Selective Designated Information (SDI) services and computerized bibliographic service. The library professionals’ of all designations do have high level of job satisfaction. Conclusion: Pharmacy colleges of this study have enough conventional collections, but latest modern technology like connecting network, security measures are to be developed. Since pharmacy graduates get involved in clinical aspects, drug information resources, learning tools and materials and databases for clinical aspects are also required in library. All library professionals’ in this study are satisfied with their collection and resources available in the library and nature of their work.

Key words: Collections and facilities in library, Database, Drug information source, Library professionals, Pharmacy education, Role of Library.