ABSTRACT
This research work
investigated automation in university libraries: challenges and gains in some
selected universities in Edo State. Descriptive survey research design was
adopted for the study. Total enumeration sampling technique was used for the
study. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Data
collected were analyzed using simple percentage and mean. The result of the
findings revealed that most respondents operates the catalogue system, online
data subscription, cataloguing of books and updating of journals automatically.
The findings also showed that automation has greatly affected services delivery
in the library, such services include; retrieval of information resources
40(50%), inter loan function 48(60%), improved teaching 40(50%), fast and easy
classification 45(56.25%). It was revealed that some factors militates the slow
pace of automation of most libraries such as poor funding, lack of ICT
facilities and inadequate man power. Based on the findings, it was recommended
that sufficient fund should be made available to academic libraries without
bias; and libraries should be fully equipped with adequate and functional
computers with internet facilities for users to be able to access library
materials.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of The
Study
The introduction of
information communication technology (1CT) has a tremendous influence on every
sphere of human endeavour. Many years ago, libraries used card catalogue,
typewriters and manually assigned due dates. Library automation and up to date
method of help libraries patrons to effectively used library resources is now
streamlined because of computers and software.
Library automation and its
attendant digital technologies present near opportunities and challenges to
libraries to enhance their service. Some of the cultural functions of libraries
are changing in the digital age and providing promising opportunities for the
acquisition organization and bibliographic control of the available vast
knowledge. However, automation is the reality of 21st century and
any library that ignores its capability in transforming the information environment
is at risk of losing ground libraries the repositories of human knowledge have
been striving to improve their productivity through the use of computer (Fauty,
2004). The library is the heart of the educational enterprise and also the
reservoir of knowledge communicated through information resources. Information
is fast becoming a vital national resources that determines the director of any
nation`. Therefore, librarians and document list must be conversant with
development in information and its communication technologies for the
organization and dissemination of information in order to increase knowledge
and improve scholarship.
Significant improvement for recording information began
to be realized with the advent of online batch processing systems. Automation
of library activities began to take place in 1940s as libraries installed
offline batch processing system, but very few of these systems were installed
prior to the 1970. The few that were installed during these three decades used
either key punch machines do produce machines readable cards or key-to-tape
technology to produce machine readable tapes. The mid-1970s ushered in a major
boom in automation, as a result of development in computer hardware and
software that could support time-shared interactive online activities. As a
result of this technological innovation, online real time systems (the earlier
prototype developed by libraries) began to replace batch processing system over
the past decade or two, online systems have involved simplistic single function
systems that provided information from only one set of library function (e.g.
circulation acquisition etc) to complex integrated system that deliver a well
routed view within one system of the inter-relateness of all functions (Adesida
and Fatuyi, 2011).
Integrated online system more closely represent the
activities of the library, where one units processing of library may impact
materials availability and the function of another, integrated System group a
number of activities (e.g. Acquisition, serials control, circulation and course
reserves, the public catalogue, bindery and inter-library loan) in one system
using command and sharing common patron and items record base. Information and
communication technology incorporated a range of technologies used to support
communication and information. ICT include both network and application.
Network includes fixed, wireless and satellite telecommunications, broadcasting
networks. Well-known applications are the internet, database management systems
and multimedia tools. By and large, the components of ICT include;
a.
Technology
b.
Telecommunication
c.
Broadcasting
technology
d.
Microelectronic
/micrographic technology
e.
Reprographic
technology
The proliferation and
development in information and communication technologies (ITCs) have brought
about unprecedented transformation in the way we communicate, receive and send
messages to the near and distant destinations. It has also enabled us to
transmit data in any forms concurrently such as text, radio, visual in what is
referred as convergence technology or multimedia presentation.
The uses of computer is applicable to a wide range of
operations in library services and its applications has brought maximum
efficiency to services of libraries through increased reductions of misstates,
increase in convenience a adequate statistical data keeping control interactive
growths labour saving and easy exchange of documentation. The influence of the
computer on library operations was explained further by Molholt (2007) thus-we
no longer type cards, the system supplies them, patron do not need to copy down
call numbers before going to the shelves, the online catalogues system prints
them out, patron don’t sign for books, a light pen reads, their identification
card and the system charges the book out of them university libraries are
committed to the provision of up-to-date materials for the support of teaching,
learning and research in their universities. Therefore university libraries
must be automated to the level of being connected to the internet. By so doing
the tremendous amount of information that can be acquired from the “electronic
libraries” of the world will be actualized. The internet is largest reservoir
of all type of information (research, scholarly publication of all fields) as
well as other multimedia capabilities.
According to Okiy (2008), the application of computer
technology to university libraries has transformed the pattern of information
handling, provision of services and the perception in library cooperation
world-wide. It is known fact that, computerization of library activities has
been functioning effectively in developed societies since 1960s. in African
continent however, Rosenbery (2005), from a survey of African libraries
reported that the 40 libraries surveyed, majority of them (65%) are get to
complete the process. Most libraries began with cataloguing, but have either
finished that nor moved to other process. 13(21%) are yet to started while 9(15%)
considered that they are fully automated.
In Nigeria, the first attempt to automate library
operation was made in 1970s. Omoniwa (2011) reported a successful effort of
first, the automation of serials records in 1972 and secondly circulation
operations in 1976 at Ahmadu Bello university library. Abolaji (2010), wrote
that significant and wide spread efforts at computerization of library services
started in the 1960s. However, most notable research libraries in Nigeria have
gone far in the computerization project. The successful and most comprehensive
computerization program of an indigenous Nigeria library was that at the
international Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) library Ibadan, which
was accomplished in 1984.
There was an effort by academic libraries to catch up
with their counterparts in the developed world and this can be seen in the way
most university library automation in Nigeria started in the late. 1980s and
its various stages of development. Such effort for automation at university
level was made through the National universities commission (NUC), which
introduced project aimed at computerizing services across the country. The pace
has been very slow with none of the libraries fully automated. This development
is discouraging particularly as the world has become a global village with
avalanche of information to share but which may not be accessible without
information technology, (Sokoya, 2004).
However according to Ani (2007), despite all these
benefits, Nigerian universities are still at the crawling stage of automation
of their library services. The present scenario of inadequate funding of our
universities and their libraries by both the Federal and State Government,
which are the proprietors of the institutions leave much to be desire.
University funding has continued to dwindle since the mid-1980s along with the
downturn in the economic fortunes of Nigeria. However, based on the fact that
automation of library services has been in Nigeria since the last three
decades, and it was expected from the onset, academic libraries would take the
lead in the automation race because of their enormous potentials and
challenges, experience and various researches have proved it otherwise.
Most academic and research libraries in Nigeria have not
computerized any of their functions. The public card catalog and the visible
index are still finding tools for books and journals. In most libraries,
likewise, index and abstracts are complied manually. Library and information
services in Nigeria have yet to transcend the traditional functions (Sharma,
2009).
According to Okore (2005), attempt by Nigerian libraries
to automate their operations in the early 70s and 80s were unsuccessful. Only
some foreign owned or sponsored libraries like IITA library. British Council
Library, united state. Information services (USIS) library and few others
recorded some success stories. However from the early 1990s, many university
libraries have been automated for example, university of Ibadan library has
been fully automated others whose full computerization are underway include
university of Ilorin library, Ladoke, Akintola University of Technology
(LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of
Nigeria, Nzukka, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi, Bayero, University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Federal University of Technology, Minna and Lagos State
University (LASU) Lagos.
Automation has many impacts on academic libraries. One of
the impacts of automation in the library is the high and increasing efficiency
of operation in the library, this help to save staff time and it reduces work
load. This increase efficiency has also helped to decrease delay, backlogs,
error, staff dissatisfaction etc. The efficiency has effected all the operation
of the library. The functions of the library which acquisition, organization,
dissemination and maintenance are performed. Automation has led to the timely
delivery of the above functions. It also makes them accurate, precise are
relevant.
In the area of compilation of accession list, maintaining
library statistic, charging and discharging of books, compiling over-due
notices, keeping book on the reserved and maintaining library roster automation
has helped to avoid repetition. The benefit of networking and interconnectivity
is also associated with library automation.
Automation has many positive impacts on academic
libraries so also it has negative impacts (challenges) on the libraries. There
are clear signs that automation of libraries also have with its some inherent
problems. For example a novice searching of a book in the library that is
automated, many individual cannot afford to learn the skill to use them at the
movement and without being a computer literate you cannot use the automate
library effectively.
It is the desire of a modern
library to apply and enjoy the benefits of emerging technologies in its library
daily house keeping routines and future
development. Development in emerging technologies have had a tremendous impact on all kinds libraries and information
resources centers over the last two and half decades/. The concept of library
automation in universities library in Edo State
Automating housekeeping
operation is a major effort in the area of computer application to libraries
(Singh, 2009). Therefore Ossaiugbah (2010) posited that “automated library
denote a library in which the collection of library materials are primary on
paper but in which the library procedures have be computerized. Automation in
libraries cuts across housekeeping operations such as acquisition, circulation,
serial control and cataloguing.
A library is a collection of
information resources/materials organized for the education, informational and
recreation needs of its users,. A library can be housed in a physical building
or on the internet i.e. (virtual library). According to Tahir (1998) cited in
Alin (2009) the term university library refers to a library that is
established, maintained and administered by a university to meet the needs of
its student and members of the academic community.
The
central role of university libraries is to support the scholarship research and
community service in their parent instructions with the materials require by
their clientele that they select, acquire, process and organize (Adedibu, 2008).
In a nutshell, the effectiveness of the library service to its users depends on
the quality of the library catalogue, since catalogue provides access to the
collections of the library.
1.2 Statement Of The
Problem
The automation of library
service has brought a significant impact on library operations and services.
With the help of Online Access Catalogue (OPAC), library users can access the
library holdings electronically from distance. It also helps improve the
services carried out within the library.
Despite all these benefits,
the present scenario in most libraries reveal a slow pace of automation.
Several factors have been found to be responsible for this such as poor
funding, lack of ICT facilities and inadequate manpower. In view of this, this
study was designed to investigate the challenges and prospects of automation in
Ambrose Alli University Library and University of Benin Library.
1.3 Objectives Of
Study
The aim of this study is to
investigate the automation in university libraries: challenges and gains in
some selected universities in Edo State. The specific objectives are:
i.
To determine the library operation that have been automated
in Ambrose Alli University Library and University of Benin Library.
ii.
To determine the extent to which automation of library
operations has affected effective service delivery in Ambrose Alli University
Library and University of Benin Library.
iii.
To identify the gains/benefits of library automation in
university libraries.
iv.
To identify the challenges face by university libraries in
their automations effort.
v.
To proffer possible solution to the identified problem.
1.4 Research
Questions
The following are the
research questions for the study;
i.
What are the library operation that have been automated in Ambrose
Alli University Library and University of Benin Library.
ii.
To what extent has library automation effective service
delivery in Ambrose Alli University Library and University of Benin Library.
iii.
What are the gains/benefits of library automation in
university libraries.
iv.
What are the challenges of face by university libraries in
the their automation effort
v.
What are the possible solution to the identified problems
1.5 Scope Of Study
The study is limited to the
automation of two university libraries (Ambrose Alli University Library and University
of Benin Library) both in Edo State. The study will provide and investigate
insight into automation of libraries, identifying the challenges and gains and
the solution to the identified problem/challenges will also be examined.
1.6 Significance
Of Study
The finding of this study,
it is hoped will be relevant to libraries/librarians and library users.
To the libraries/librarians,
the findings will inform them about the ample opportunities of automation in
library operations. It will also inform library users that automation
facilities easier and faster across to information in library collections.
Automation of library helps
take some of the workload off of librarians and other staff members in the area
of acquisition, cataloguing and circulation, which in turn allows them to
better serve their patrons. Automated cataloguing standards, such as MARS
(Machine Readable Cataloguing), allow for quicker cataloguing of library item.
Not only does this allow the librarian more time to dedicate to improving
customer service, but it also make sharing of materials from location to
location much easier and much more affordable. It will also in a way prepare
the collection to become sustainable with the ever-increasing shift to a
technology based society, in terms of information dissemination, faired with
the ever-decreasing amount of funding for libraries. Automation will help
libraries who begin to struggle and are forced to lay off staff, switching to
automated system allows libraries to add on features when they are available in
the future, instead of having do to a complete overhaul of their collections
and cataloguing method.
1.7 Operational
Definition Of Terms
The following definition of
key terms has been provided to reflect their use in the study
Library: A library is a collection of information resources/materials
organized for the educational, informational and recreational needs of its
users.
Automation: Automation refers to the use of machines and computers
instead of people to do a job or task.
Library Automation: This is a process entails the automation functioning
of a library without human contribution. A process of performing library
functions or activities originally performed manually with the aid of machines
(computers)
University Library: A library established and owned by a university to
provide library and information materials for its teaching learning and
research programmes.
Challenges: Talks about the problems, difficulties, is a demand for explanation
or justification, a calling into question.
Gains: Talks about benefit obtain through effort.
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