Knowledge Organisation in Academic Libraries (KOAL)
2016
TECHNOSTRESS AMONG LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS Mohamed Haneefa K.*, Sajna K.P.**. and Bincy O.K.*** *Assistant Professor, Department of Library & Information Science University of Calicut, Kerala-673 635, E-mail:
[email protected] **Research Scholar, Department of Library and Information Science University of Calicut- 673 635, Kerala, E-mail:
[email protected] *** Professional Assistant, Institute of Engineering and Technology University of Calicut, Kerala-673 635
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the technostress among the library professionals in the University of Calicut, Kerala. The study was focused on the identification of the symptoms, causes and effects of technostress among the library professionals. Structured questionnaires were employed to collect data from a representative sample of 100 library professionals from the university library and its affiliated colleges. It was revealed that eye strain is the main physical symptom and confusion and irritation are the main psychological symptoms of technostress among the library professionals. Continuous work and lack of technical skills were the major causes of technostress. It was also revealed that work overload increases technostress among the library professionals. Reduced work overload, proper training programmes and better seating arrangement in the work place were the remedial measures suggested by the library professionals. This study is useful to understand technostress among library professionals in universities in India. Keywords: Technostress, Information professionals, university library.
and
Communication
Technology,
library
1. INTRODUCTION The adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in library operations and services is inevitable. Modern libraries use sophisticated ICT for providing value added information resources and services. The widespread use of ICT and the increased reliance on the Internet has created many challenges to library professionals. E-resources like e-journals, e-books, and databases and web-based resources and services are increasingly using in libraries. Libraries are forming consortia and networks and using portals for enhancing their resources and enriching their services. Technostress is one of the effects of the widespread use of ICT in libraries. Technostress is referred to as the direct or indirect negative effect of technology use on human behaviour, thought, attitude and psychology 65
(Mahalakshmi & Sornam, 2011). It is a problem of adoption as a result of a person’s inability to cope up with or to get used to ICT. It is a negative psychological link between people and introduction of new technologies. It is the result of altered habit of a work and collaboration that are being brought due to the use of modern Information and Communication Technologies at different situations. Technostress affects library professionals not only physically but also mentally. Major physical stress experienced by library professionals are back ache, head ache and eye strain. Another important mental stress is computer anxiety which means a confusion or fear for how to use technology that leads to irritation. The technostress may also be referred to as computer anxiety, technophobia, computer phobia, etc. There are many studies on the different aspects of technostress. However, very few studies have been conducted on technostress among library professionals. Al-Qallaf (2006) conducted a study on how library users overcome technophobia for better use of computer in Kuwait Academic and Research Libraries. The investigator found that it is difficult to cope with the new technology and adoption of ICT affects the library users negatively. Oduroye, Arumide & Elusoji (2008) found a number of health hazards among the regular users like eye strain, headaches, back aches and stress syndrome resulting from body and brain fatigue due to the information overload. Isiakpona, Chidi & Oyeronke (2011) also found that technostress affects the level of job among the library professionals of Covenant University Library. Mahalakshmi & Sornam (2012) found that the library professionals of Engineering Colleges of Anna University suffer from physical symptoms of technostress such as sleep disturbance and back ache and other muscular problems. Ofua & Pereware (2011) conducted a study on the effects and measures of technostress among the librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. It was suggested that technostress could be avoided by librarians by purchasing user friendly interface, regular staff training on ICT, and developing positive attitude toward technology and so forth. Ahmad, Amin & Ismail (2012) found that the academic librarians of Malaysian public universities experienced moderated level of technostress in their workplace. Ahmad, Amin & Ismail (2012) identified the relationship between the technostress creators and organizational commitment among academic librarians. The researcher revealed that none of the technostress creators was inversely correlated with organizational commitment. It has been concluded that technostress is an effect with the adoption of Information and Communication Technology in libraries worldwide. Workplace in libraries has been transforming and the library professionals experience challenges to compete in the digital world by providing innovative services. There is a need to investigate the factors related with 66
technostress in academic libraries especially in universities and colleges. The main aim of the study was to identify the symptoms, causes and impact of technostress experienced by the library professionals in the University of Calicut, Kerala. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main aim of the study was to assess the technostress of the library professionals in the University of Calicut. The following were the specific objectives of the study. 1 To identify the physical and psychological symptoms of technostress among the library professionals. 2 To examine the cause of technostress among the library professionals; and 3 To understand how technostress affect the work of the library professionals. 3. RESEARCH DESIGN The universe of the study was the 500 library professionals working in the Calicut University campus and its affiliated colleges. A representative sample of 100 library professionals was selected for the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from the library professionals. Out of the 100 questionnaires distributed in different libraries, 93 library professionals returned the dully filled questionnaires. The data were analysed by using standard statistical methods. 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Physical Symptoms of Technostress The prevalent physical symptoms of technostress are head ache, eye strain and joint pain among library professionals. These symptoms affect the physical health of library professionals. The library professionals were asked to indicate the physical symptoms of technostress and the responses are seen in the table 1. It is found that a majority of the library professionals suffer eye strain due to technostress. A good number of them suffer back pain, head ache, hand and wrist pain. It is revealed that the library professionals have the most prevalent physical symptoms of technostress like any other ICT based industries. This may be due to the repetitive nature of work in the libraries.
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Table 1 Physical Symptoms of Technostress
Sl. No.
Symptoms of Technostress
Responses
1
Back Pain
40 (43%)
2
Head Ache
32 (33.05%)
3
Hand and Wrist Pain
29 (29.90%)
4
Eye Strain
58 (60%)
5
Joint Pain
7 (7.52%)
6
Insomnia/ Lack of Sleep
7 (7.52%)
4.2 Psychological Symptoms of Technostress Technostress also affect the physical and mental health of the library professionals. The Psychological symptoms include computer anxiety, irritation, tension, confusion, etc. The library professionals were asked to indicate the Psychological symptoms of technostress and the responses are presented in the table 2. Table 2 Psychological Symptoms of Technostress Sl. No.
Psychological Symptoms
Responses
1
Anxiety
13 (13.97%)
2
Depression
12 (12.9%)
3
Irritation
26 (27.95%)
4
Tension
16 (17.2%)
5
Confusion
6
Anger
7
Nightmares
27 (28%) 16 (17.2 %) 6 (6.45%)
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It is revealed that a few library professionals responded positively and they have the Psychological symptoms like confusion, irritation, tension and anger, anxiety and depression. It is found that the library professionals do not have adverse Psychological symptoms of technostress. This may be due to the little pressure for ICT based services and resources. Library professionals have comparatively very little pressure for ICT based services than other ICT based industries. 4.3 Causes of Technostress There are many factors that may lead to technostress. Continuous work, unavailability of training programmes, work over load, etc. are the main causes that are lead to technostress in libraries. The library professionals were asked to indicate the causes of technostress and the responses are presented in the table 3. Table 3 Causes of Technostress Sl. No.
Causes of Technostress
Responses
1
Continuous Work
39 (39.90%)
2
Lack of technical skills
33 (35.48%)
3
Unavailability of training programme
31 (32.43%)
4
Work Overload
34 (35.12%)
5
Seating Arrangement
25 (25.90%)
6
Role Alteration
13 (13.97%)
A good number of the library professionals indicate continuous work, lack of technical skills and work over load as the causes of technostress. The analysis shows that the nature of repetitive and continuous work in the libraries is the main causes of technostress. It is also found that there is no pressure for improved services and resources as a factor for technostress. 4.4 How Technostress Affect Work Technostress deeply affect the work of library professionals. Technostress affects the works in various forms including less efficiency in work, tiredness, less accuracy, low speed
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in work, etc. The library professionals were asked to indicate how technostress affect their work and the responses are depicted in the table 4. Table 4 How Technostress Affect Work
Sl. No.
Affects of Technostress
Responses
1
Less efficiency in your work
20 (21.5%)
2
Less accuracy
20 (21.5%)
3
Low speed in your work
27 (27.73%)
4
Low confidence
19 (20.4%)
5
Very tired
32 (32.6%)
6
Lack of concentration
21 (21.75%)
It is found that a good number of the library professionals indicated that they become very tired after the use of computer and technostress cause to low speed, less accuracy and lack of concentration in their work. The responses shows that the effect of technostress is less comparatively than other ICT based industries. This may be due to the moderate amount of technostress among the library professionals. 4.5 Causes of Increased level of Technostress Different factors contribute the increased level of technostress. Some factors perform a big role to increase the technostress including work overload, adoption of new software, slow computer speed, etc. The library professionals were asked to indicate the causes of increased level of technostress and the responses are presented in the table 5.
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Table 5 Causes of Increased the Level of Technostress Sl. No.
Factors
Response
1
Work overload
49 (52.68%)
2
Computer hardware problem
29 (30.12%)
3
Adoption of new software
23 (13.37%)
4
Slow computer speed
30 (31.20%)
5
Time spending in front of the computer
32 (33.20%)
It is found that a sizeable number of the library professionals indicated that work overload and increased time spending in front of the computer increase the level of technostress. Work overload and repetitive nature of the work are the main causes that increase the level technostress. 4.6 How to Mitigate Technostress There are different techniques to avoid the technostress including avoiding continuous work, provide proper training and better seating arrangements, etc. The library professionals were asked to indicate how they mitigate technostress and the responses are presented in the table 6. It is revealed that a majority of the library professionals opined that technostress can be mitigated by avoiding continuous works, by imparting proper training programmes, and providing better seating arrangements in the workplace. It is observed that all the opinions are related to ease the working environment of the library professionals.
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Table 6 How to Mitigate Technostress
Sl No.
Mitigate Technostress
Responses
1
Avoid continuous work
78 (81.16%)
2
Regular exercise
43 (44.50%)
3
Acquire technical skill
48 (49.95%)
4
Technology based thinking
33 (35.20%)
5
Proper eye contact with computer
49 (50.40%)
6
Better seating arrangement
53 (54.58%)
7
Proper training programme
59 (61.33%)
5. CONCLUSION It is found that a majority of the library professionals feel technostress while using computer or new technology. They suffer various symptoms of technostress like back pain, eye strain, head ache, confusion, irritation, etc. A good number of the library professionals pointed out that continuous work, over work load and lack of technical skills increases the level of technostress. Technostress affects the professional life and work of the library professionals. After using computer continuously the library professionals become very tired and get less effective and accurate in their work. The library professionals do not get any type of training programme to avoid technostress. Proper training programmes and the activities like meditation or yoga can be practiced in order to avoid technostress. These types of activities are more helpful to the library professionals to decrease the level of technostress. REFERENCES Ahmad, Ungku Norulkumar Ungku., Amin, Salmiah Mohd., Ismail, Wan Khairuzzaman Wan.(2009).The impact of technostress on organizational commitment among Malaysian academic librarians. Singapore Journal of Library and Information Management, 38. Ahmad, Ungku Norulkumar Ungku., Amin, Salmiah. (2012). The dimensions of technostress among academic librarians in the Malaysian public universities. www.science direct.com. 72
Al-Qallaf, Charlenel. (2006). Librarians and technology in academic and research libraries in Kuwait: perceptions and effects. Libri, 56,168-179. Isiakpona, Adebayo., Chidi., Oyeronke. (2011). The impact of technostress on librarians survey of Covenant University Library, The Information Manager, 11.1&2. Mahalakshmi, K., Sornam, S. Ally. (2011). Technostress among library professionals of Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore. PERL- A Journal of Library and Information Science, 5.3, 9-12. Oduroye, A.P., Arumide, O., Elusoji, A. (2008). Possible health hazards on use of computer based systems by library and information profession in tertiary institution: way forward. www.acariss.it/FCK editor/userfiles/file/acariss/workshop.retrieved may 13.02.2014. Ofua, Owajeme Justice., Pereware, Tiemo Aghwata. (2011). Technostress: effects and measures among librarians in University libraries in Nigeria. International Journal of Digital Library System, 2.4, 23-33. Prabakaran, Ajith., Misra, Heramb Kumar. (2012). Technological change in libraries: The evolution of technostress. Researchers World-Journal of Arts Science and Commerce, 3.1. Pusey, Vincent David. (2013). How do people respond to technology?. www.google scholar.in. retrieved may 17. 02 .2014 Rajput, Namitha., Guptha, Monika., Neha. (2012). Technostress and its impact on employees: an investigating study. South Asian Academic Research Journals, 2.1.http://www.saarj.com. Sami, Lathika.K., Pangannaih, N. B. (2006). Technostress a literature survey on the effect of information technology on library users. www.emaraldinsight.com/0024-253.htm. Sangeetha, K., Vijayakumar, K., Nityanandam, K. (2009). Symptoms and strategies of technostress among the users of SNCET College library: A study. Kelpro Bulletin, 13.1. Wang, Kanliang., Shu, Qin., Tu, Qiang. (2008). Technostress under different organizational environments: an empirical investigation. Computer in Human Behavior, 24, 30023013.
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