About e-Libraries
Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) initiated many projects under the sponsorship of Youth Affairs & Sports (YAS) in 2017, PITB established 20 eLibraries with this sponsorship, in 20 districts of Punjab i.e. Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Multan, Muzaffargarh, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Toba Tak Singh, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Vehari, Narowal.
In 2019-2021 PITB successfully completed eLibraries project, Directorate of Monitoring & Evaluation evaluate this project and approved its transfer from development to non-development for one year initially and make this transfer permanent after one year. After completion of this process, project was transferred to its sponsoring department (YAS) as per rules. YAS signed a service level agreement with PITB as per this SLA all technical/ IT related support, management/ enhancement of digital repository and access of HEC digital repository will be managed by PITB.
2021 onward PITB is managing digital repository of eLibrary and signed MOU’s with renowned publishers and authors for content sharing, through these MOU’s PITB received a valuable content and added in digital repository. Development of 20 eLibraries in 20 districts of Punjab is a new initiative by Punjab Government this initiative develops an experienced team in PITB with expertise in libraries management software’s.
In Pakistan libraries sector was not using modern methods and software’s for library management, PITB took a step ahead for the development of this sector and decide to use its team for the development of other departmental and public libraries, PITB converted many libraries in eLibraries, install and manage library related software’s, online bibliographical record and trained their staff for smooth running of operations in future, PITB is providing these services to following libraries.
- eLibrary Taunsa
- National School of Public Policy
- Punjab Irrigation Department
- Advocate General Office
- Lahore Museum
- Government Punjab Public Library
- Quaid e Azam Library
- Directorate of public libraries and archive
- Nazria e Pakistan Trust
- Planning & Development Board
PITB offering following services to libraries
- Installation and configuration of library related software’s (KOHA, DSpace)
- Shared accounts at virtual server of Data Center
- Web access of catalogue and digital repository
- Data entry of bibliographic and members record
- Digitization of books, archive and other content
- Technical training of staff to manage operations through software’s
Staffing
Success of any organization, project or activity mainly depends on the performance of people. Therefore, highly competent library and IT staff has been hired to manage the 20 e-Libraries and at the Central Hub to manage the project.