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The study aims to explore the factors which influence collection development and management in academic libraries. In libraries and information centres, collection development is considered an essential element of the information life cycle. Collection development and management activities do not emanate from a vacuum. Several factors have a direct bearing on the way in which collections are developed and managed in the academic libraries. These factors are bridges and barriers for effective collection development and management.

An extensive review of the available literature was made to conduct the study.

The study found that several factors have a direct bearing on the way in which collections are developed and managed in the academic libraries. These factors include goals of collection development and management policies and procedures, user needs, collection development policies (CDPs), collection development budgets, collection evaluation to determine the strength and weaknesses of various subjects in the collections, selection of reading materials, formats in which materials are selected, the issues of access versus ownership, cooperative collection development, resource-sharing programs and legal issues in collection development and management.

This study provides an overview of various factors that influence collection development activities in the academic libraries. It provides an insight for the selectors of library resources to take these factors into account for building effective collections in the academic libraries of Pakistan and abroad.

This study aims to examine the status, explores the hurdles and identifies the prospects for developing a union catalogue of university libraries in Lahore, Pakistan.

Following a quantitative research approach, a questionnaire was developed from literature and authors’ experience. After ensuring its validity and reliability, data were collected from librarians after the census. A total of 105 librarians were approached, of whom 73 (71%) responded to the survey.

University libraries in Lahore are well organized, have adequate collections and information technology-literate staff, are well automated, have good internet connections, are equipped with integrated software, follow cataloguing rules and MARC standards; however, the absence of standardized software, lack of funds, absence of uniform policy, professional workload and absence of standardized vocabulary are significant challenges. Private-sector librarians reported facing more challenges. Librarians consider all prospects vital for developing a union catalogue. These prospects include the availability of relevant information, incentives to librarians, coordination with librarians, a realization that sharing is caring, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan taking initiative and librarians’ training.

University librarians in Lahore are ready to cooperate with the development of a union catalogue; however, they seek support from higher authorities, professional library associations and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first of its kind that examines the status, explores the hurdles and identifies the prospects for developing a union catalogue of university libraries in Lahore. It would lead to the development of a union catalogue of university libraries in Pakistan.

The purpose of this paper is to explore some major challenges in the area of collection management faced by university libraries in Pakistan.

The methodology includes a literature review and a survey of university libraries in Pakistan in 2004.

The challenges regarding collection management in university libraries in Pakistan are: handling the hybrid character of collections, service to users, training of collection management staff, collection evaluation, resource sharing and preservation.

This paper provides an example of the challenges of university libraries in a developing country which must plan and develop a customized paradigm of library service which combines the traditional and modern services.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the prevailing digitization practices in university libraries of Pakistan.

The study adopted quantitative research design and survey research method was used to conduct the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the subjects of the study.

Digitization practices were found at budding stage in university libraries of Pakistan. One‐third libraries were doing digitization. Three highest ranked digitization goals were to: provide access via web, increase access, and preservation. Theses and dissertations were found the top most priority for digitization in terms of types of material. The criteria for selection of material for digitization varied and social sciences was the most focused area for digitization.

This is the first ever study conducted in Pakistan on this topic. The findings are beneficial for university libraries, funding bodies and the higher education commission of Pakistan as well as other countries with similar social and economic conditions.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current status of innovations in the university libraries of Pakistan because desire for reshaping the university libraries is now the necessity for full filling the mission of higher education, i.e. to be competitive and compatible in international market.

Quantitative method is adopted for measuring the occurrence of innovations. The content is based on the literature, the researchers’ 20 years’ experience and the websites of all the 183 universities of Pakistan have been reviewed for this purpose. A checklist of 40 innovation used in ACRL libraries and prepared by a researcher, Jantz (2013) is used as a yard stick.

The findings indicate that a large majority (85%) of university libraries, have not adopted these innovations. Only 15 percent of university libraries all over Pakistan are relatively better on the innovation adoption scale.

The aspects discussed in the context of Pakistan may catch the attentions for improvement of university libraries, and growth of respective professional. It is assumed that the situation is similar to other type of libraries (college and public) and also in neighboring developing countries. So, the work will raise the awareness among professionals of other countries as well.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current status of innovations in the university libraries of Pakistan because the desire for reshaping the university libraries is now necessary to fulfill the mission of higher education, i.e. to be competitive and compatible in the international market.

The content is based on the literature. For this purpose, the researchers’ 20 years’ experience and the websites of all the 183 universities of Pakistan have been reviewed. A checklist of 40 innovations (Jantz, 2013), used in ACRL libraries and prepared by the researcher, is used as a yardstick to measure the innovation status of university libraries.

The findings indicate that a large majority of university libraries, ranging from 70 to 100 percent, have not adopted these innovations. Only 15 percent of university libraries all over Pakistan are relatively better on the innovation adoption scale.

The data are explored by reviewing the websites of university libraries of Pakistan. Viewpoint of librarian and administrators of university librarian is not taken at this stage.

It will be helpful for the practitioner community to brain think on serious grounds for future improvements by having a clear picture of current status.

By analyzing the standings of university libraries of Pakistan vs developed countries, the professionals would get awareness and they might be take initiatives for extending the services suitable and compatible with the present and future needs of users. Ultimately, profession and users satisfaction could be obtained.

The aspects discussed in the context of Pakistan may catch the attention of policy makers for the sake of improvement of university libraries, and growth of their professionals. It is further assumed that this situation is similar to the other neighboring developing countries. So, the work will raise the awareness among professionals of other countries too.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of Higher Education Commission (HEC) National Digital Library among research students in different universities of Pakistan.

The study framework was based on technology acceptance model (TAM). A sample of Pakistani university students completed the questionnaire measuring the effects of extraneous stimuli through cognitive responses on adoption of the HEC digital library. To test the research hypotheses, multiple regression analysis was used.

The findings revealed that: cognitive responses predicted students’ intention of using HEC digital library; extraneous variables significantly influenced cognitive responses; system characteristics directly influenced usefulness and ease of use; interface characteristics directly influenced cognitive responses; and individual differences significantly affected the ease of use. Similarly, system quality was identified with the highest direct effect on usefulness, whereas navigation had the highest influence on easy use of the HEC digital library of Pakistan. In addition, usefulness was explored with the highest effect on intention to use the HEC digital library of Pakistan. The findings revealed that individual behaviours influence the use of digital libraries which imply that acceptance of an information system (IS) involve cognitive idiosyncrasies. Findings of the study are useful for Pakistani academic librarians to enhance adoption and usability of the HEC digital library of Pakistan. The study extended cross-cultural validation of TAM and explored how that Pakistani university students utilize HEC digital library.

These findings have significant implications for librarians in developing countries, such as to evaluate usability of digital libraries from individuals’ perspective, create awareness, customize users’ interface and train students in navigational techniques. It may also facilitate librarians to improve their current levels of library assistance and emphasize the usefulness of digital libraries towards academic excellence. The findings equally suggest that individual behaviours influence the use of digital libraries because acceptance of an information system involves cognitive idiosyncrasies. This study explored all possible links between the study constructs and emphasized that findings are useful to enhance the adoption and usability of digital library in the developing countries.

This study is the first attempt that empirically assessed the adoption of digital libraries in terms of Pakistani research students. The study validated TAM in the context of Pakistani university librarianship that extended the cross-cultural validation of TAM. Furthermore, the study focused on real constructs instead of dummy variables and predicted significant effects on acceptance and rejection of digital libraries.

The purpose of this study is to identify barriers that are hindering digitization initiatives in university libraries of Pakistan.

The study opted a mixed-methods research design based on quantitative (QUAN) and qualitative (QUAL) strands by using a survey research method. The subjects of the study were central libraries of the universities (both public and private sector) of Pakistan. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used for QUAN data collection in the QUAN strand. In the QUAL phase, in-depth interviews of purposely selected 25 library experts from different parts of the country were conducted.

Meta-inferences were drawn from the findings of both QUAN and QUAL strands. Both of the research designs provided the requisite data to answer research questions of the study. The finding revealed the barriers which were hindering the digitization activities in university libraries of Pakistan.

The findings of the study are helpful for funding bodies, university libraries and university administration. The findings are also helpful for other developing countries with similar economic and/or social landscapes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the nature of collaboration among seminar libraries and central library of universities and to recommend certain measures to strengthen this collaboration. Central libraries of leading universities in Pakistan possess more resources and manpower than seminar libraries. The task of planning about the important matters like access to e-resources, selecting infrastructure and automation mechanics lies with central libraries. Growth of information and communication technology (ICT) and information explosion has created opportunities for the libraries within a university for creating a cordial and beneficial relationship between central library and seminar libraries.

Mixed-method design was used for exploring the collaboration and nature of relationship among central libraries and seminar libraries within the university. Data were collected from library executives chairing their sections at their workplaces in central libraries of leading universities during the author’s visits to these libraries for MPhil study for collecting data about organisational structures of central libraries. A questionnaire was constructed to elicit information about the relationship between the central library and the seminar libraries that was supplemented with the telephonic interviews from library professionals and faculty about the nature of this relationship.

The data analysis of the present study revealed that the relationship between the central library and the seminar libraries is of a diverse nature. Private sector universities have developed integrative relationships, while some public sector ones have interactive relations and some have independent libraries with limited relationship. All library professionals interviewed have rejected the idea of independent seminar libraries and majority of them proposed integrated relationship between the central library and the seminar libraries.

This study suggests that the relationship between the central library and the departmental library should be developed by considering the depleting resources and by developing ICT. According to library professionals, the relationship between the central and departmental libraries should be of either interactive or integrated nature. University administration and library administration should come forward for building a beneficial relationship among libraries within the university. This study will lead to broader collaborations among libraries of different universities in Pakistan.

No study has ever been undertaken in Pakistan to explore the relationship between the central library and the seminar libraries of universities. This study will be a milestone for building collaborative relationships among different libraries within universities.

Motivation of the employees is extensively considered as an antidote for the overall success of the organizations. This study primarily aims to investigate the impact of motivation on the job performance of university librarians in Pakistan.

Quantitative research design followed by a survey method under an extended theory of motivation was applied. Data were collected from 123 professional librarians of 79 university libraries in Punjab province, Pakistan. The study tested hypotheses having used regression statistical test through Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software (Version 26).

Results of the study revealed that motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic), the expectation of benefits, satisfaction of meta needs and challenging situations have a strong positive impact on the optimum job performance of university librarians.

This research has theoretical implications for the researchers and practical insights for human resource managers to get maximum outcomes for organizational development. The results of the study may be generalized to the university libraries of other countries having similar socio-economic and cultural situations.

This study developed a framework based upon empirically tested hypotheses that might be used as drivers for different motivation practices to augment employees’ commitment to the organizations.