FROM ICT GAPS TO INTELLIGENT LIBRARIES: WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE 2012—AND WHAT HAS NOT?

Abstract

University libraries’ digital development depends not only on acquiring technology but also on reliable connectivity, trained staff, institutional support, user guidance and sustainable stewardship. This paper re-examines a 2012 thesis-based comparative survey of five state and five central university libraries in North India through the lens of innovations available by 2026. The historical findings show that 4 of 5 state libraries (80%) reported external-support needs for staff training, connectivity/bandwidth, digitisation and institutional repositories, and a new library building. Among central libraries, 4 of 5 (80%) reported a need for staff training, while 3 of 5 (60%) identified needs for connectivity, digitisation/repositories, and a new building. The paper does not treat these figures as current measurements. Instead, it distinguishes enduring needs—access, competence, trust, funding and preservation—from changing mechanisms such as national e-resource licensing, cloud services, integrated discovery and AI-assisted research support. It argues that innovation can improve how libraries respond to longstanding needs, but cannot eliminate the need for skilled staff, reliable infrastructure, ethical governance, and stable institutional investment. The small historical sample limits generalisation; a contemporary follow up survey would be required to establish present conditions.