Libraries in the Muslim World:
Challenges & Opportunities
By
Mian Muhammad Ramzan
Senior Manager
Information Services Department
Riphah International University, Islamabad (PAKISTAN)
ABSRACT: Libraries are the beating heart of an
educational / research in institution. Shelby Foote says “A
university is just a group of buildings gathered around the
library” In order to maintain steady and balanced progress in
scientific research, Muslim world needs to improve Libraries
and learning resource centeres.It is an entire need to reshape
the ways of collecting preserving and disseminating
knowledge because libraries and information source centers
are the backbone of research activities. Availability of right
information at the right time to the right user is the core
objective of any library and reference centre.
Main objective of this paper is to realize importance and
condition of the libraries in Muslim world. The problems /
challenges faced by academic / research libraries are also
focused. The problems discussed are as lack of funding for
libraries, untrained library professionals, absence of
competent personnel in top managerial positions, Lack of
knowledge of information technology, inadequate finance /
physical facilities , lack of cooperative programs,
unavailability of professional associations, explosion of
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
information, Standard automation / digitization software,
searching problems in cyber space, different formats of
digital multilingual intellectual property. This paper will
provide the solution and the future plan to face these
challenges and to meet the needs of researchers, scholars and
information seekers. This paper will be based on
observations, experience of the author or review of the
literature and discussions with senior library / information
professionals, researchers. Recommendations including the
cooperative purchase of scientific resources, preservations of
library heritage, consortium for resource sharing among the
research institutes, ODD(online delivery of document),
ILL(inter library loan), among
the Muslim world,
FULLOIC( Federation of University Libraries of Islamic
States),Common Information Gateway for libraries of the
Muslim world (OPAC),Standard citation style , Impact factor
for journals published in the Muslim world, Indexing &
abstracting service, Common Initiative for open Digital
Archives, Competition for Scientific publications to enhance
research culture among the Muslim world. This paper will
provide a food for thought to improve research libraries to
promote the research culture in the Muslim world.
Key words:
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Muslim world, Scientific research, knowledge management,
Digitization,
Digital libraries, Digital archives,
preservation, consortium, Federation, FULOIC, Cooperative
purchase, Inter library Loan, Resource sharing, Information
explosion, Information portal, Open Public Access
Catalogue (OPAC),Literary Heritage.
Methodology: This paper is based on personal experience
of the author, literature review and discussions with senior
library professionals and educationists to identify challenges
and opportunities facing by research /university libraries.
Introduction:
The Muslim world comprises upon
sixty two Countries (62) from which 57 countries are the
member of Organization of Islamic Countries OIC. Total
population of the World is 6.5 Billion and the Muslim
population is 1.4 Billion. In other words every fourth person
on this earth is Muslim. This human capital is a great
blessing/asset if materialized for the development of the
Muslim society.
The Muslim world is much enriched with fertile agricultural
lands and highest mountains. Mostly Muslim areas are gifted
with four seasons, summer, winter, autumn and spring due to
that all type of golden crops and fruits are grown in these
Countries.
The Muslim world is blessed with rivers and oceans. All
important water ways used as trade route are under the
control of the Muslim states. The Muslim world is also
enriched with natural resources jute 90%, Rubber 70%,
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Arabic Gum 85%, spices 95%, Date oil 65%, Cotton 35%,
Tin 51%is being produced from the Muslim world.
Besides this crude iron, natural gas, copper, coal, and
chromate, uranium, gold, silver and natural salt is being
produced from these Muslim countries. Having 7th nuclear
power and all these natural resources, the Muslim word is
very backward in education.
Islam is the only religion that is based on knowledge. In first
Revelation, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was advised by
Allah Almighty “Read (O Prophet,) in the name of your Rub,
Who created. Created man from a clot of congealed blood.
Read: and your Lord is Most Generous, Who taught
knowledge by the pen: taught man what he did not know”. 1
In Sorah Al-Rehman: Allah Says, “The most merciful
(Allah) has taught this Qur’an. He it is Who created man and
taught him speech. 2 .Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) taught his
ummat to get knowledge with out any gender discrimination.
Hazrat Muhammad says, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory
upon every Muslim” ( Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah). 3
Education is the key to development and progress. The
Muslims are backward and dependent on other nations
because Muslim Ummah is backward in education and away
from knowledge. In the climax era of the Islamic civilization
Spain and Baghdad were centers of knowledge for the whole
world. Now the situation is totally revese.The Muslim
world’s share in education is 1922 universities out of 17716
of the world.4
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
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The basic reason of this educational decline is three fourth
of 62 the Muslims countries are spending only 4% of their
total budget on education. “The public spending on
education in the 57 Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) countries is one of the lowest in the world.”5
This is the era of science and Technology. “Muslim world is
spending only 0.5% of total GNP on scientific development.
There is only one scientist out of 1 million populations”6
In the past the books written by the Muslim authors like Ibn
e Sina, Ibn Al Hashim, Jabber bin Hayan, were taught as text
books in Europe for centuries and centuries . Now a day
there is not a single title written by the Muslim authors that
is included as text books for Health, Engineering and other
sciences. The following table about scientific publications is
enough to show the efficiency / interest of Muslim world
universities towards science and technology:
Scientifically productive countries
Table 1/7
Rank
Country
1
2
3
Turkey
Egypt
Iran
Saudi
Arabia
4
10-yr
Top discipline
Publications
82,407
Surgery
27,723
Applied Mathematics
19,114
Chemistry
17,472
Gen - Internal Medicine
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
5
6
Malaysia 10,674
Morocco 10,113
7
Nigeria
9,105
8
9
10
Pakistan
Jordan
Kuwait
7,832
6,384
5,930
Crystallography
Physical Chemistry
Food Science &
Technology
Plant Sciences
Chemical Engineering
Gen - Internal Medicine
Most productive universities in OIC
Table 2/7
Rank University
1
University Hacettepe
2
University Istanbul
3
Ankara University
4
Cairo University
5
Kuwait University
6
King Saud University
8
9
10
Middle Eastern Technical
U.
Gazi University
Istabul Technical U.
Ege University
11
King Fahd University
7
Country
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey
Egypt
Kuwait
Saudi
Arabia
Publications
8,979
6,488
5,982
4,977
4,495
Turkey
4,215
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey
Saudi
Arabia
3,652
3,452
3,336
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
4,336
3,323
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Ains Shams University
Egypt
University Malaya
Malaysia
National Research Center Egypt
Alexandria University
Egypt
American University
Lebanon
Beirut
Atatürk University
Turkey
United Arab Emirates U. UAE
Mansoura University
Egypt
King Faisal Research
Saudi
Center
Arabia
University Sains Malaysia Malaysia
Dokuz Eylul University Turkey
Uzbek Academy of
Uzbekistan
Science
Cukurova University
Turkey
University of Tehran
Iran
3,129
2,862
2,651
2,628
2,568
2,535
2,478
2,439
2,434
2,402
2,389
2,169
2,026
1,962
Libraries in the Muslim world:
Libraries are the Beating Heart of research institutions. The
libraries are the focal point of the intellectual life and the
Custodians of the world brain. The literary heritage available
in the libraries is the best indicator for fall and rise of the
nations because information /knowledge always come from
rulers to public.
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
History tells us that,It was the time when Muslim world was
known by its universities and libraries. Undlus (Spain), Iraq,
Syria and Egypt were the centers of knowledge for the whole
whole world.
Now our libraries are also backward because we are very
poor in our intellectual property. Our libraries are full of
publications came from non Muslims authors / publishers
especially in the field of science and technology. That is
why, we are totally dependant upon others.
According to the known scholar S. A. Maududi, researchers
are the driven force of universe. He said,
“The universe is just like a runaway train and its drivers are
thinkers and researcher who steers its engine to reach the
destination. This train always travels as drivers want.
Seated passengers are forced to follow the entire rout either
they wish or not. If there is a passenger who is not willing to
move with the train, he can’t do anything except to comply
with. He may be able to change the direction of his seat but
not the train. He will have to occupy the engine to move the
train according to his wish”.8
Education is the first priority of advanced nations. They are
using universities /libraries as weapon and devising
diplomatic strategies to maintain their supremacy all over the
world.
The following recommendations by the advisory group on
public diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim world of the US
Government to change the mind of Muslim community are
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
enough to understand the importance of libraries and their
use as public opinion instrument.
 “Additional professional staff for public diplomacy
dedicated to issues of the Arab and Muslim world is
urgently needed. The professional level of fluency in
the local languages and the level of knowledge about
Arab and Muslim societies must be dramatically
enhanced.

Given the strategic importance of information
technologies, a greater portion of the budget should
be earmarked to tap the resources of the internet and
other communication technologies more effectively.

Programs in support of English language training, a
critical instrument of outreach, education, and job
opportunity, must be expanded and supported by
increased funding and human resources.

A major new initiative, the American knowledge
library, should be launched. It involves translating
thousands of the best Americans books in many
fields of education into local languages and making
them available to libraries, American Studies
Centers, Universities, and American Corners”. 9
Universities and libraries are used as weapon to implement
the culture and to change the mind to achieve set
goals.Recently US government has shifted its information
centers (USIS) into universities.
Six(6) centers are working in different universities at
Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzzafarabad, FJU
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
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Rawalpindi, Karachi and at National Library of Pakistan as
Lincoln Corners to mend the mind set by injecting its
policies as required by the US government.
Universities / Libraries of the Muslim World:
No reliable source is available that can indicate the exact
position of library/ universities in Islamic states. Information
given in following reputable sources is varied:
Source
Universities
1. http://en.wikipedia.org
1919
2. Muslim world Almanac 2008: The definitive
reference
401
of
Muslim
world.-Karachi;
Research
and
documentation
Society, 2008 p1-402
3 The Europa World of Learning 2008: 636
58th Edition (Hardback) - Rutledge
An approximate number of the universities in the Muslim
world are 1922 and libraries are more than 2000 in different
Islamic states. Exact data about the libraries resources and
information professional is not available anywhere. Country
wise detail of population and universities is as under: 10-70
S.No Country
Population
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Universities
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Indonesia
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Nigeria
Egypt
Turkey
Iran
Sudan
Algeria
Morocco
Uganda
Iraq
Uzbekistan
Malaysia
Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Mozambique
Syria
Côte d'Ivoire
Cameroon
Kazakhstan
Burkina Faso
Niger
Senegal
Mali
Chad
Tunisia
Guinea
Benin
231,627,000
163,707,000
158,665,000
148,093,000
75,498,000
71,751,100
70,495,782
38,560,000
33,858,000
31,224,000
30,884,000
28,993,000
27,372,000
27,170,000
27,145,000
24,735,000
22,389,000
21,397,000
19,929,000
19,262,000
18,549,000
15,422,000
14,784,000
14,226,000
12,379,000
12,337,000
10,781,000
10,327,000
9,370,000
9,033,000
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
117
132
90
91
50
111
249
45
16
16
35
53
06
63
43
54
12
16
15
04
11
72
04
01
06
01
02
16
01
05
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
8,699,000
8,467,000
6,736,000
6,585,000
6,160,000
5,924,000
5,866,000
5,317,000
4,965,000
32
21
19
02
49
49
33
33
03
4,380,000
39
4,099,000
44
4,017,000
17
43
Somalia
Azerbaijan
Tajikistan
Togo
Libya
Jordan
Sierra Leone
Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan
United
Arab
Emirates
Lebanon
Palestinian
Authority
Albania
3,190,000
44
Mauritania
3,124,000
47
08
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
Kuwait
Oman
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Gabon
Qatar
Djibouti
2,851,000
2,595,000
1,709,000
1,695,000
1,331,000
841,000
833,000
52
Bahrain
760,168
53
54
55
Guyana
Comoros
Suriname
738,000
682,000
458,000
40
41
42
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
07
21
01
01
03
10
01
19
02
01
06
10
56
Brunei
390,000
57
Maldives
306,000
58
59
Bosnia
23
Eritrea
09
60
61
62
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Central
African
Republic
Total
02
52
20
01
1,468,119,824
1922
Table # 03
Let us compare thisfigure with world educational scenario.There are
17,716 libraries detail is as under: 71
Universities in the world table#4
Continent
Countries
AFRICA
47
AMERICA
41
ASIA
45
EUROPE
54
OCEANIA
12
Universities
635
7,006
4,964
4,976
135
Latest figure of the universities in the world is more than
twenty thousand (20,000). 72
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Where as there are 1922 universities in Islamic States.
Scenario is as under:
A. Four Islamic countries have 100-249 universities:
Iran
249
Pakistan
132
Indonesia
117
Turkey
111
B. Eight Islamic countries have 50-99 universities
Bangladesh
90
Nigeria
91
Kazakhstan
72
Malaysia
63
Saudi Arabia
54
Iraq
53
Ethopia
52
Egypt
50
C.Ten Islamic countries have 30-49 universities
Libya
49
Albania
47
Sudan
45
Labnan
44
Afganistan
43
U.A.E
39
Yoganda
35
Seirra Leone
33
Karaghstan
33
Somilya
32
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
D. Sixteen Islamic countries have 10-29 universities
Bosnia
Azerbaijan
Oman
Tanzania
Bahrain
Tajikistan
Palestine
Algeria
Uganda
Mozambique
Tunizia
Syria
Yemen
Cameroon
Brunei
Qatar
23
21
21
20
19
19
17
16
16
16
16
15
12
11
10
10
E. Twenty Two Islamic countries have 1-9 universities
Eritrea
Moratania
Kuwait
Senegal (3)
Uzbekistan
Suriname
Benin
Cote d’ Ivoire (2)
Burkina Faso
09
08
07
06
06
06
05
04
04
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Gabon (2)
03
Turkmenistan
03
Chad (4)
02
Togo
02
Guyana
02
Maldives
02
Niger (7)
01
Mali
01
Guinea
01
Gambia
01
Djibouti
01
Comoros
01
Central African Republic 01
(Above information are derived from table # 03)
Above mentioned educational condition is very miserable.
One and half million population has less than two thousand
universities. There is only one university in each Seven
Muslims states. None of university from Muslims states is
included in the ranking of top hundred universities of the
world.73
Keeping in view above statistics the Muslim world is very
backward as compare to advanced countries. Compete the
advance world, we have to create educational environment
with universities and libraries to change the fate of the nation
and and to create knowledgeable society. As Quran says,
“Are those equal, those who know and those who do not
know?”74
Challenge 1: Information Explosion:
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
This is the era of information explosion. According to a web
survey there are more than 49261052 web sites and more
than 7 billion pages are on the internet. Approximately more
than 250,000 pages are registered per day. More than 14
million Photographs/Images are uploaded daily. 50 million
e-mails through hotmail, yahoo and Google are generated.
Unlimited video/audio data is generated through radio and
TV channels. This information explosion has created a new
challenge of archiving, preserving and accessing within the
speed of time.
Millions new Titles of books, newspapers and magazines are
being published every year. It has created the challenge of
space and organization of these sources .Beside this grey
literature is an other big problem for the libraries and
according the S.R Ranga Nathan every book has reader so
every publication is important and libraries have to preserve
it . Only solution for this challenge is to digitize and
maintain as digital archive at university and then information
portal at the Muslim World level.
Challenge 2: Expectations and changing user
behavior:
Information technology has changed library user behavior.
Internet has created equity regarding having or accessing
information. Monopoly of traditional information, stack
holders has finished. Every one who can spend some money
at net café or online mobile phone can access unlimited
information at his pc or cell phone. Google and other search
engines have changed the behavior of library users.
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Role of the libraries / librarians has increased due to junk and
information explosion. It is very difficult to access right
information within right frame of time.
To meet the google era library user’s expectations. It is
necessary:
-
-
-
-
To recruit well qualified computer literate library
staff to serve the library users.
Library staff should be well aware about searching
techniques, e-resources digital formats and different
information seeking / access process / procedures.
Libraries should be attractive, as a place and
environment; libraries must think over to introduce
library restaurant / coffee shop for discussion and
high energy areas for optimum use of library
resources.
Library should be well equipped and able to prompt
response for reference quires thorough info
technology for wireless library users.
Library should play a real role of teacher of teachers
for the wide range of reference resource (print +
electronic) should be available at library, PCs and
Portals.
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Challenge 3: Library Funding / Financial
Constraints:
One of the major challenge that is faced by the libraries in
the Muslim World is financial constrains / lake of funding
.Prof Dr. Khalid Mehmood mentioned the reasons of this
problem in his PHD thesis. He Says,
-
“More than 90 % of funding comes from the
Government and education / universities / libraries
are at the lowest priority. Most of the Libraries have
no plans for seeking alternate funding. The poor
economy of the country and lack of government’s
interest towards education/ Libraries are the major
reasons for insufficient funding” 75
-
Following table gives very clear picture of the
interest of OIC member countries towards education/
universities / libraries.
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Table 3 / 76
Sr.#
Public expenditure on
education % of GDP
1991
2002-04
Country
Population
1
Indonesia
231,627,000
2.2
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Nigeria
Egypt
Turkey
Iran
Sudan
Algeria
Morocco
Uganda
Iraq
Uzbekistan
Malaysia
Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Mozambique
Syria
Côte d'Ivoire
Cameroon
Kazakhstan
Burkina Faso
Niger
Senegal
Mali
Chad
Tunisia
Guinea
Benin
Somalia
Azerbaijan
Tajikistan
Togo
Libya
Jordan
163,707,000
158,665,000
148,093,000
75,498,000
71,751,100
70,495,782
38,560,000
33,858,000
31,224,000
30,884,000
28,993,000
27,372,000
27,170,000
27,145,000
24,735,000
22,389,000
21,397,000
19,929,000
19,262,000
18,549,000
15,422,000
14,784,000
14,226,000
12,379,000
12,337,000
10,781,000
10,327,000
9,370,000
9,033,000
8,699,000
8,467,000
6,736,000
6,585,000
6,160,000
5,924,000
2.6
1.5
0.9
3.9
2.4
4.1
6
5.1
5
1.5
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
5.1
2
2
7
6
4
8
5.8
3.9
2.6
3.3
3.9
4
2
4
1.6
6
2
3
7.7
8
3
2.
2
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Sierra Leone
Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Lebanon
Palestinian Authority
Albania
Mauritania
Kuwait
Oman
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Gabon
Qatar
Djibouti
Bahrain
Guyana
Comoros
Suriname
Brunei
57
Maldives
58
59
Bosnia
60
61
62
5,866,000
5,317,000
4,965,000
4,380,000
4,099,000
4,017,000
3,190,000
3,124,000
2,851,000
2,595,000
1,709,000
1,695,000
1,331,000
841,000
833,000
760,168
738,000
682,000
458,000
390,000
306,000
6
3.9
1.9
4
2
4.6
4.8
3.4
3.8
2
3
8
3
3.5
3.5
3.9
2.2
7
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Central African Republic
Total
3.9
1,468,119,824
Median
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
3.7
The libraries are the back bone of the research activates and
the focal point for the intellectual part of the society. Dr.
Khalid added, “Libraries also contribute towards better
education, healthy social environment and growing in
agriculture, business and industrial sectors” 77
Libraries are the clearinghouses of the Cultural heritage.
Libraries are main Source for fresh blood in shape of latest
information for students and faculty as well. A known
Library Professional S.R. Range Nathan Says, “Library is the
teacher of the teachers”
Therefore, insufficient funding and financial constrains are
not affordable for any library. To over come this problem:
-
Libraries have to attract funds and manage costs of
library resources and services
To devise new resource corners for library
developments.
To create fund raising opportunities.
To contact book lovers for donations.
To manage the cost operating access system and
efforts.
To develop practical tools for cost containment and
performance enhancement.
Dr. Khalid Mehmood Added, “There is a potential in the
society for raising funds from alternative sources.
Library leadership is in favor of fee based services. 78
Challenge 4: Managing the New Contents:
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Traditional libraries were only dealing with books and
non book material; books, maps. Photographs, slides and
micro fiche, micro film. These were the main part of
library material.
Now nature of the contents has been entirely changed.
Maximum intellectual property generated is digitally
born and mostly exists in cyber space. More than 7
billion websites are involved in creating information. A
different format of e-resources is a big problem in
managing the e-contents.
Old generation of librarians is not well conversant with
information technology and e-resources, cataloging,
classification and preservation of e-resources is a major
issue that is being faced by the university libraries.
Only solution of this issue is to develop a common
gateway (information portal) for library websites and
digital archives of the Muslim World.




New way of creating, using and finding new
contents may be devised.
Institutional repositories for organizational data
and intellectual property may be introduced,
preserved and make it accessible thorough latest
information technology.
Role of library professionals may be reshaped and
enhanced from librarians to / information
handlers /knowledge managers.
Library standards set by the higher education
commissions is also needed to be reshaped /
redesign keeping in view the new contents of the
e-resources.
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Challenge 5: New Generation of Librarians:
Information technology is knowledge of day and ruling all
over the world. It has changed total scenario of the
librarianship. Digitized libraries with automated services are
need of library users. To meet this challenge, library staff
with strong communication skills and well conversant with
information technology is the key to access intellectual
resources and to provide Virtual reference services.
Universities and library authorities have to care for:





Securing the talented Library professionals.
Addressing the issue of brain drainage and to plan
compensation for long time stay of Professionals
with organizations.
Training and development staff for optimum use
of info tools and e- resources.
Developing Staff capacity to innovate library
services.
Library schools must think about syllabus /
Curriculum and to make changes to meet needs of
new generation of libraries / librarians.
Communication
skills,
Public
relations,
marketing of library Services, e-commerce and
networking technology, content management
systems. Role of librarians in distance learning
web. 2 technologies are the essential points to be
included in teaching / training modules.
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Challenge 6: New role of libraries services/
librarians:
Role of Libraries have been totally changed. Traditional
libraries are not able to meet the needs of the users therefore,
it is necessary to redesign / reshape libraries and library
services.




Environment of the libraries should be very attractive
Providing contents for the search find and obtain
making content available at the user’s digital work
place. The concept of delocalized user ship is needed
to be adopted
Reshaping services to meet actual and emerging
needs – e tocs, Library alerts, fresh arrival alerts,
article alerts, SMS services for well in time
dissemination of the information to the appropriate
users.
Leading role on campus regarding e-resources to
create e-learning environment providing orientation/
about information technology / new ways of
accessing portals and other e-resources.
Challenge 7: Role of Librarians in teaching
learning and research:
Distance between library professionals and faculty is major
problem faced by the universities not only in Muslim but
also at whole civilized world of academia.
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Library Professionals are not treated as faculty members.
Faculty considers them part of management and library
professionals always tried to be treated as faculty members.
To improve libraries and research activities this distance
must be eliminated and library professional should be
considered the part of faculty and chance to be given for
higher education and promotion as well.
Recently Riphah International University Islamabad,
Pakistan took a bold step in this regard. The department of
Libraries and learning resource center is upgraded as
information services department. It is clearly mentioned in
university notification:
“Riphah
International
University
Notification
#
RIPHAH/ION/30, dated July 10, 2009, the Department of
Library Services was restructured and named as “Department
of Information Services”, the functions and authorities of
which will be follows:
1
2
Information Services Department is a part of
academia and independent SU in the University.
The Director of Department of Information Services,
will be member of the following committees;
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
iv.
Academic Council
Deans Council
Board of Advanced Studies
Member of Affiliation Committee
University Budget Committee
University Research Committees” 79
Riphah
International
University
RIPHAH/ION/30, dated July 10, 2009,
Notification
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
#
It may be an example for those universities which are facing
this problem and willing for future development.
Further more following steps will be useful to enhance
library roles in teaching, learning and research.
- Libraries may be upgraded as information departments and
library professionals treated as faculty members. They many
be given equal opportunity for further education and training.
- Working with Faculty to integrate information literacy skill
and orientation about use of library and library resources
- Orientation classes / lectures may be scheduled about use
of e-resources and information technology
- Reshaping the market place for the scholarly e-resources
- Engaging the academia in a discussion of scholarly
communication, issues using the information technology. In
disseminating about alerts, fresh arrivals, e-resources, etc
and sharing forums on the net according to interest of the
information seekers.
OPPORTUNITY-1: Establishment of Federation
of university library Organizations of Islamic
Countries (FULOIC).
What is (FULOIC)?
-
Federation of university library Organizations of Islamic
Countries (FULOIC) is a concept of non profit non
governmental
federation
of
university
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
library
associations of Islamic countries aiming to further
cause of library development among the Muslim
world.
-
-
It will consider all aspects of library developments
within its jurisdiction and strive to extend its
membership to all Muslim countries.
All university library associations will be the
members of this federation.
Main objectives of the federation will be as under:
1. To develop common citation style for Muslim World.
2. To hold seminars, workshops, conferences for the
betterment of libraries of the Muslim World.
3. To develop an integrated LIS for universities of the
Muslim World.
4. To preserve / literary heritage and make it accessible
among Muslim world.
5. To build an information portal for universities of the
Muslim countries that Contains.









Organizational digital archive.
Research Publications of the Muslim Scholars.
OPAC for Muslim World.
E-books, e-journals.
Common gateway for library holdings.
E-mail, / ODD among Muslim world.
I.LL / Exchange library resources.
To exchange of expertise among Muslim world.
Exchange of ideas / share achievements.
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities


Library consortium regional and among Muslim
world universities.
For uniform development of LIS schools in the
Muslim world universities
OPPORTUNITY-2: Library Consortia among
the Muslim world libraries:
Definition:
A consortium could be described as a group of
organizations who come together to fulfill a combined
objective that usefully requires co-operation and the
sharing of resources. And need to have a clear mutual
goal in order to ensure their success. The aim should be
to deliver “more than the sum of the individual parts”. 80
A Library Consortium formation can be local, regional,
state, national. And inter institutional level.
Need for library consortium
The consortium is needed for libraries because of:
1. Information explosion
2. Diversity of user needs
3. Financial Crunch
4. Impossibility of Self-Sufficiency
Advantages of Consortia
Some of the important advantages of the proposed library
consortium are as follows:
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Consortia-based subscription to electric resources
provides access to wider number of electronic
resources substantially lower cost;
Optimum utilization of funds
Facilities to build up digital libraries of the
Muslim world / archive
Helpful to provide better library services like
CAS and SDI to whole Muslim world.
Cost sharing for technical and training support
vi.
Electronic Journals demand neither library space
nor shelving costs nor they be stolen from the
library.
vii.
The Consortium have been offered better terms of
licensed for use, archival access and preservation
of subscribed electronic resources, which would
not have been possible for any single institution;
and
viii. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Library Consortia among the Muslim world libraries is need
of the day to meet the needs of the world of Academia and to
answer the challenge of cost of e-resources and to create
resource sharing among the universities \ libraries of the
Islamic States.
Therefore, a library construction should be made among
Muslim world libraries to cover the following areas:
-
Cooperative purchase of intellectual property print /
electronic
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
-
Reprinting / dissemination among
institution
To develop portal for Muslim World
To share resource
To develop union catalogue
consortium
OPPORTUNITY-3: Information Portal for the
Muslim world:
An Information portal is also known as an enterprise
information portal (EIP) or corporate portal, is a framework
for integrating information, people and processes across
organizational boundaries. It provides a secure unified access
point often in the form of a web-based user interface, and is
designed to aggregate and personalize information through
application-specific portals. One hallmark of enterprise
portals is the de-centralized content contribution and content
management, which keeps the information always updated.
81
It is an entire need of day that an information portal may be
developed to fulfill this need A major portion of the
intellectual property/ knowledge is shifted on the net. Other
nations are advanced in this field. Oxford University,
university of Virginia and Library of Congress are the best
examples.
According to an internet survey “more than 7billion
WebPages are available on the net and millions & millions
photographs, images. Comments and e-mails are uploaded
daily” 82
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
Keeping in view above cited few figures we need to develop
our own information portal.
The question is “who will do this noble gigantic job?
How it will be done?
The Answer is very clear this is Joint venture. An
appropriate forum of university libraries is a right answer
and that is Federation of university library Organizations
of Islamic Countries (FULOIC). To start this great job
following steps will be taken.
Phase 1
Creation of forum under the umbrella of ISESCO / OIC
and then organization / structure of this forum at country
level.
Phase 2
Preparation of project cost for this portal.
Phase 3
Design of survey Performa to assess the strengths,
weaknesses and opportunities of libraries
Phase 4
1- Preparation universities / Library position profile.
Proposed contents of this portal
 Universities Websites.
 Country Profiles of the Muslim world.
 Date base of Journals published in Muslim World
Universities.
 Data base of Thesis of Muslim world universities.
 Data base Thesis written in non Muslim world
against / about Islamic disciplines.
 Data base of Muslim Scholars/ their Publications
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities








OPAC(Common Gateway) for Catalogs of the
Universities / other important libraries of the Muslim
Countries
Data base of Digital Repositories of the Universities
Data base of –Books , e-Journals, e-Videos,
Photograph, Images, Presentations and lecture notes
for sharing among Muslim World.
Digitization of Valuable literary heritage and to make
it accessible to whole Muslim World.
To create a Discussion forum to share and to solve
social, Scientific Problem.
Translation / shifting of intellectual property from
local to major languages .i.e. English, Arabic, Urdu
and French etc.
Database of the Publishers and Authors of the Islamic
Countries.
All other required Information.
Phase 5
Who will Finance this project?
If we think that this project is our need then we must
think and manage its required funding. (ISECC),
(OIC), Higher Education Commissions of OIC
Countries member universities are sufficient to fulfill
this financial need.
This project will be a source of funding in future for
the Muslim World.
Conclusion:
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
The Muslim world is facing the problem of lack of
documentations. I did not find any reliable authentic
documents that provide me an exact statistics of educational
Institutions in Islamic States. Information Provided in known
reference sources like Muslim World Almanac 2008,
Published by Research and Documentation society, The
Europa World of Learning 2008 (A comprehensive Directory
and guide to the organizations and institutions throughout the
sphere of higher education and learning), wikipedia.org and
Muslim Duniya 2005 are varied and contradictory.
There are approximately 1922 universities for 1,468,119,824
in 62 Islamic States of the world.Islamic Republic of Iran is
at the top with 249 Universities where as seven Islamic
States (Niger, Mali, Guinea, Gambia, Djibouti, Comoros,
Central African Republic) have only one University for
each. This figure indicates that there are more than Two
thousand University libraries are serving to the researchers
and knowledge seekers in the Muslim World.
Lack of funding, distance between library professionals and
faculty members, reshaping of library services, development
of new generation of library professionals to meet challenges
of Google era, common gateway for the Muslim world
libraries, integrated library information system, information
explosion, management of e-contents, digitization of library
heritage, changing behavior of library Patterns, lack of
common platform for library professional are the major
challenges faced by university / research libraries in the
Muslim World
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
There is an entire need to establish a federation for library
associations of the Muslim countries to seek the right
solution of these challenges. Building of an information
Portal to digitize, preserve intellectual heritage to make it
accessible to the researchers of the whole Muslim Ummah.
Recommendations:
On the basis of above discussion following recommendations
are made;
1- It is an immense need of the Muslim world to
establish an organization / federation for
development of libraries and library professionals.
2- A survey is to get basic data of strengths, weaknesses
and opportunities is required to get basic data of
universities / libraries for detail planning to meet the
challenges and to materialize these opportunities.
3- Common information gateway (Information Portal)
is need of the time / for digitization, preservation of
intellectual property to facilitate the scholars,
researchers and knowledge seekers of the Muslim
World. It will be helpful in resource sharing,
cooperative purchase and exchange of knowledge
resources.
4- Library Consortium is recommended at local,
regional and the Muslim world level to manage cost
of e-resources, and to avoid duplication of efforts.
5- Alternate funding models, fee based library services
and restaurants, Coffee shop, library donors are
recommended to manage funding problems.
__________
Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
Opportunities
6- Library schools are requested to synchronies their
Curricula’s/ Course Contents with IT developments
to meet challenges of Google era. Communication
skills,
information
technology,
e-commerce,
marketing of Library services, public relations,
management of new contents are the key areas which
are needed to be addressed and included in Curricula.
Acknowledgements:
Kind guidance of Prof Dr. Anis Ahmed, Vice chancellor
Riphah International University, Islamabad, Prof. Hassan
Ahmed Ibrahim, Director, International Institute for Muslim
Unity, International Islamic University, Malaysia and Prof
Dr. Masroor Alam head of Mass media department, National
University of Science and Technology, Islamabad Pakistan is
acknowledged with Thanks. I appreciate to Mr. Zahid Iqbal,
Mr. Irfan Hussain, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmad and Mr. Mohsin kind
cooperation for help in seeking information and composing
of this paper.
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
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Libraries in the Muslim World: Challenges &
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