The Perspective of Reading in the Digital Age: Insight from a Study of Digital Literacy Skills at Liaquat Memorial Library Karachi

Abstract

This article aims to identify the need for digital literacy skills of one of the greatest and oldest public library users, Liaquat Memorial Library (LML). The study investigates the basic needs of library users and how much a public library supports their users in using different services, computers, the internet, e-resources, and their skills in using digital tools for reading in the library. This article focuses on the users of a public library, which is present in a metropolitan city in Pakistan. Liaquat Memorial Library (LML) has a vast number of repositories, and these repositories must be digitized. It is essential to suggest that the digitization of documents is required, and for digitization, first, we must check the interest and level of users in digital literacy. To achieve the desired knowledge of Liaquat Memorial Library (LML) users, comprehensive work has been developed to measure the identifying needs of users in Liaquat Memorial Library (LML). Data was collected from daily library visitors using a quantitative survey method. A peer-reviewed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather quantitative information from the respondents. Almost fifteen hundred users visit the Liaquat Memorial Library (LML) daily, and a total of 423 users participate in filling out the questionnaire on a printed form. The study reveals the digital literacy of Liaqat Memorial Library (LML) users. The Liaqat Memorial Library (LML) users are highly skilled in using different applications and digital platforms for knowledge gain. The study also reveals that users know digital literacy skills, but LML still runs in the old, traditional format. The result shows that users know digital literacy and require digitization in LML to develop the community and their future. 

 was used to gather quantitative information from the respondents. Almost fifteen hundred users visit the Liaquat Memorial Library (LML) daily, and a total of 423 users participate in filling out the questionnaire on a printed form. The study reveals the digital literacy of Liaqat Memorial Library (LML) users. The Liaqat Memorial Library (LML) users are highly skilled in using different applications and digital platforms for knowledge gain. The study also reveals that users know digital literacy skills, but LML still runs in the old, traditional format. The result shows that users know digital literacy and require digitization in LML to develop the community and their future.