6.MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT:

6. MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT:

 Shortage of manpower for the implementation of IT programmes of libraries in Sudan has been a big problem. Many attempts at library automation in Sudan are known to have failed because of the high turnover of systems analysts who abandon the computerization programmes mid-stream in search of greener pastures. One of the findings of Ghobrial (2002) is that out of the 18 libraries found to have computerized their services, only one (0.7%) had qualified library systems analysts in their establishment. The rest made use of external consultants for the computerization projects.

Conscious of the manpower problem, libraries all over Sudan have been exposing their staff to computer literacy programmes. Some have also been sending selected staff to specialized training on computer information management locally and outside Sudan.

Another good development is that library schools in Sudan are bracing up to the challenge by revising their curricula to strongly accommodate practical education and training in IT. The Department of Library, in Archival and Information Studies, University of Neelan, for example, has recently acquired fifty computers for teaching and practice purposes by the lecturers and students. Effort is also being made to acquire more to meet the high student population. The curricula at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels are also being overhauled to be strongly IT biased. Accordingly, in 2002 Neelan University director resolved that the library school should strongly teach IT to their students and provide facilities for computer practicals. Once this type of resolution is widely implemented by library schools in Sudan, the problem of manpower shortage for library automation programmes will be greatly reduced.