FORGOTTEN BOOKS (Edge of Digital Resources over Print Materials: Information Overpowers Knowledge)

This exploratory study describes the extent of the use of printed material/books or digitally available information by the students of higher education for their understanding and application of knowledge or information in academic and social purposes in Pakistani context. The study was conducted on two hundred male and female students, after second semester of their degree programme, of higher education through a questionnaire, based on likert scale, followed by an informal interview over the period of one year and the quantitative data have been analyzed qualitatively to put forward findings reflected as percentage indication. The results show majority of subjects, especially male, are comfortable while using Internet instead of reading printed materials/books for their academic and social needs. The subjects accept the importance of books as treasure of knowledge but argue that relevant information required for academic or social purposes is digitally available on Internet without spending much time on reading printed materials because visiting libraries is a time consuming task. The study concludes with the remarks that in present era Internet is providing all opportunities to seek information to overpower knowledge through books, which is a source of understanding rather than knowing, and is supporting present generation to forget printed materials/books just at the cost of pain the knowledge seekers have to bear in the form of visiting libraries which is time consuming but may be harmful for third world’s new generation. Hence, the study suggests that information, though silver, is overpowering knowledge which is gold especially for the third world nations such as Pakistan.