Why the Library and Computing Center Divorce? A Proposal for Constructing a Communication Pattern

  • Chiou-shu Hwang, Meiho Institute of Technology, Taiwan
  • This proposal is to form an efficient communication pattern, which may be tested and modified in the future by investigating the librarians and information technicians who had been worked together in the mergers of the library and computing center and separated later. Because the development of information technology has greatly changed the pattern of accessibility and delivery of information, most of people see the commonalities for bringing the two units together. Indeed, in one form of service or another, storage, retrieval, input, and output of information are common to both. Therefore, there are 16% mergers of Taiwanese higher education campuses; however, the two units do not usually communicate well. Actually, there are almost 3% of mergers separated after merging for a period of time-so called as a divorce. Maybe the two units are not prepared for their charge and co-exist in the uneasy juxtaposition. It does not matter if merging or being independent, the efficient communication between the librarians and information technicians is the key for offering a qualitative information service. Therefore, the communication pattern is anticipated to create an efficient communication, to firm the two units and the mergers, to offer a qualitative service, and to benefit all information users.