The perception of ICT skills and challenges of usage of technologies among the library professionals of the Gujarat State during the COVID 19: a comprehensive study

It is witnessed that the role of technology became crucial, and people are dependent on technologies to continue creative, professional, and academic activities during a pandemic situation when most of the libraries were not accessible physically worldwide. This study aims to know the level of ICT skills, competencies, usage of technologies, challenges, and services offered by library professionals of Gujarat state, India during the lockdown period. Due to the emergence of advanced technologies, the omnipresence of the internet, the explosive growth of e-resource, and pandemic situation, it is imperative for library professionals to acquire new ICT skills, techniques and apply them to disseminate information and reach out to library patrons. This study reveals how library professionals provided services and resources to users when they need resources/ information and which techniques/ methods library professionals adopted to fulfill the requirements of patrons during COVID-19. The methods adopted by patrons to access library resources were also studied. The 100 questionnaires were circulated via social media and email to library professionals of Gujarat state and 77 (77%) responses received in this study.