ABSTRACT
This study was aimed at surveying the impacts of automation
on library services and its use in selected university libraries in Edo State.
A descriptive research design was adopted and questionnaire was used for data
collection. The population of the study was 120 professional and
para-professional librarians in the libraries under study and total enumeration
sampling technique was adopted. Out of the 120 copies of the questionnaire
administered, a total of 97 copies were retrieved and analyzed using simple
percentages, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Findings from the study
showed that as indicated by majority of the respondents, the library services
which have been automated are user registration (78.4%), cataloguing and
classification (69.1%) as well as circulation (63.9%). It was discovered that
majority of the respondents are of the opinion that automation of library
services makes it easier for library users to make use of library resources
(mean score of 3.56) and makes locating of library materials on the shelves
easier (mean score of 4.0). Findings revealed that automation reduces
repetitiveness of routine jobs (mean score of 4.0) and leads to an increase in
productivity of library staff (mean score of 3.22). Findings also showed that
majority of the respondents indicated that inadequate funds (95.9%), incessant
electric power failure (97.8%) and inadequate trained personnel (70.1%) are
among the major barriers facing the automation efforts of academic libraries.
The study recommended that training programmes on the use of ICTs should be
organized regularly for academic librarians and that the budget of academic libraries
should be reviewed upward to enable them fully implement automation of all of
their services and operations.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The
advances in science and technology has made tremendous improvements and changed
all activities of the present society even as rapid advances in Information Technology
(IT) in the past two decades have brought revolutionary changes in the concept,
organization, functioning and management of library and information systems throughout
the world. Modern technology has greatly improved the capabilities of managing
this explosive growth of information effectively and information technologies
today are characterized by their very dynamic development and increasing
complexity. Also, information technology application in the library and
information field has made remarkable progress in the world. At present, information
technology not only affects the technical services of libraries but also shapes
the library services that are being offered to the public. Worldwide, libraries
have been exploring new technologies for providing better and faster access to
vast information resources and efficient information services to their users
and information technology has offered better solutions to achieve greater
level of efficiency, productivity and excellent services in libraries (Aliu and
Emese, 2011).
According
to Okewale and Adetimirin (2011), the library is an institution that has the
responsibility to collect information-bearing materials, process and organize
them in such a way as to grant fast and easy access, store the processed
materials for dissemination and reference purposes. As Singh (2013) states,
libraries are the lighthouses for information and the thirst of knowledge is
increasing every day at various levels and on various subjects. Suffice it to
state therefore, that the academic library is the back-bone of any university
system in particular and tertiary institutions in general, as it aids in the
core areas of teaching and research, as well as in curriculum development. So,
there is a great demand to provide such information quickly on-demand for which
efficient and accurate devices or tools are introduced, which is based on
mechanized process. Today, library automation is the need-of-the-hour as the
use of information technology in libraries has become inevitable in an era of
information explosion and the emergence of a wide range of new technologies in
order to satisfy changing, complex information needs of users and solving the challenges
posed by the traditional manual processes.
In
the library, automation refers to the process of automating in-house functions
such as acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serial controls, etc. It means
the application of machines to perform the different routine, repetitive and
clerical jobs involved in functions and services of the libraries. Library
automation is the general term for Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT) that are used to replace manual systems in the library. The International
Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science (1997) defines automation as “.
. . the technology concerned with the design and development of the process and
systems that minimize the necessity of human intervention in carrying out library
functions”. Library automation is the technique of making an apparatus, a
process or a system to operate automatically to control library functions. Library
automation implies a high degree of mechanization of various routine and
repetitive tasks to be performed by human beings.
The
history of library automation can be traced as far back as 1880, when punched
cards were invented and used in tabulating the US census data. The library at
the University of Texas was perhaps the first to use punched cards in 1936 for
circulation control while the Library of Congress used the unit record machines
for the production of catalogues in 1950. Many libraries in the US followed the
system for automating their activities.
Library automation entered into its second era in the 1960s with the
advent of computers. The notable ventures were MEDLARS, MARC, etc. Since then, libraries have used
technology in general, and computers in particular, to automate a wide range of
administrative, public, and technical services tasks. In Nigeria,
the first attempt
to automate library services was made in 1970s, when the
Ahmadu Bello University recorded success, first in the automation of serials in
1972 and secondly, circulation services in 1976 (Abbas, 2014). Until the
early 1990s, “automating the library” involved generally the same features as
those in place since the advent of machine readable cataloguing record in the
late 1960s. Libraries created integrated text based systems using micro/mini
computers in which traditional library housekeeping operations were
computerized using the library’s database as the foundation.
Modern
society is characterized by an increasing need for specialized institutions in
various fields of activity for the performance of their day-to-day functions as
well as research and consultancy work. These institutions require speedy access
to qualitative published information. Within an information system such as the
library and especially in the present age, automation is important and
necessary to handle the vast amount of information and for providing faster, accurate,
precise, efficient, and effective information and services as well. Automation
reduces the work stress of library staff, improves library services, makes
library administration and management efficient, helps avoid duplication of the
work, facilitate resource sharing and increase technical processing efficiency
over a manual system.
The
methods of storage and dissemination of information are changing fast, so no
library can store all published information and can provide efficient services
with its old manual operations. Prior to the adoption of machines for carrying
out library functions, libraries used card catalogs, typewriters, and manually
assigned due dates. This was very labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Recordkeeping work and other routines were bedeviled by inaccuracy and low
personnel turnover. There was a serious inability to generate statistics about
circulation activity, and the lack of an interface between circulation files
and other library files which contain much the same bibliographic data. But today,
library automation presents an up-to-date method to help libraries and library
patrons to effectively use library resources, is now streamlined because of
computers and software.
Automation
technologies used in the libraries are computers such as desktop computers,
laptop computers, personal digital assistant (PDA), workstations, servers,
mainframe computers, etc. Peripherals which include fax machine, photocopier,
LCD, keyboards, cameras, bar code readers. Others include radio, telephone,
satellite dish (V-Sat), radio mast and towers. In a nutshell these technologies
can be used in library functions such as acquisition, cataloguing and
classification, serial control, bibliographic search, circulation and so much
more towards satisfying the user’s information needs. Furthermore, there are
emerging technologies that are used in the automation of libraries and its
acquisition process. These technologies are emerging because, the roles of
libraries within and the services it offers to the community is changing
rapidly with the rise of online services. Libraries who want to enhance user
services and provide unmediated and independent access to library and its
collections have began to work the ways of creating online communities.
According
to Osawele and Uzairue (2013) in Nigeria today, some libraries have now been
found to be either automating some of their activities beginning with the
purchase and installation of computer systems to be used for the purpose of
performing library functions and providing library services to users With the
current trend in the application of technology to various other day-to-day
activities in the world, the question arises if our own libraries should not
share in development with the hope of revolutionizing services and redefining
their roles and functions, which may be in the form of improved services to
users. The benefits for the libraries that have successfully implemented automation
programmes are enormous, including speedy processing of information and its
retrieval, flexibility in information search, standardization of library
procedures, participation in network programming and resource sharing, as well
as provide better bibliographic control and while library automation activities
have greatly enhanced and assisted libraries in the developed countries in the
performance of their mandate, as custodians of information, the impact of such
activities as well as the challenges need to be studied for the sake of
replication in the local scene.
The
rapid growth and use of emerging technologies has changed the traditional
library into automated, electronic, virtual and digital library. This
revolution has completely changed the library scenario, especially in an
academic setup. This revolution is the need of the hour to make research more
productive, to disseminate information and to establish a strong network system
among all academic libraries to quench the information thirst of their
clientele. Developments in emerging technologies have had a tremendous impact
on all kinds of libraries and information resource centers and the need for
academic libraries whose responsibility it is to ensure that information
resources required for teaching, learning and carrying out research, in line
with the mission and vision of their parent institutions to become automated
and as such ensure efficiency in their overall service delivery, cannot be
overemphasized. The question then is, in spite of the benefits that come with
automation, how many academic libraries can be said to be automated and to what
extent has this automation effort brought about effectiveness in terms of
service delivery?
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Although,
currently, automation is viewed and appreciated as a means to an end in
information handling, it is observed that traditional manual working system
exists in libraries especially in developing countries like Nigeria. In the
series of development of library, the world has acclimatized to computer environment
in daily routine as well as information storage and retrieval. Automation to a
greater extent can reduce pressure of library workload. It also shelters from
work stress and fatigue, while ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in
rendering library functions and services. It not only offers efficient services
and opens a new era in bibliographical control but provides access to required
database in the country and abroad as well, for the benefit of the library
patron.
Automation
is the reality of the day in the present age of information technology. It is
therefore important that libraries need to be automated to effectively and
efficiently carry out the mandate of information provision for all categories
of users to satisfy their various information needs. Studies have shown that
not much is known about the present situation of automation in academic
libraries in Nigeria generally and in Edo State specifically. It is this gap in knowledge that informed the
decision to embark on this study.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
i.
To find out which library services have
been automated in academic libraries in Edo State.
ii.
To determine the extent to which automation
of library services has impacted on the use of academic libraries in Edo State.
iii.
To find out the extent to which services
in academic libraries in Edo State have improved as a result of automation.
iv.
To determine whether or not automation
of library services in academic libraries in Edo State has brought about
effective service delivery to library users.
v.
To identify the barriers facing the
automation efforts by academic libraries in Edo State.
1.4 Research Questions
i.
Which library services have been automated
in academic libraries in Edo State?
ii.
To what extent has automation of library
service impacted use of academic libraries in Edo State?
iii.
To what extent has services in academic libraries
in Edo State improved as a result of automation?
iv.
Has automation of library services in academic
libraries in Edo State brought about effective service delivery to library
users?
v.
What are the barriers facing and
automation efforts by academic libraries in Edo State?
1.5 Scope of the Study
This research work is restricted to studying
the impacts of automation of library services and its use in academic libraries
in Edo State. The professional and para-professional staff of John Harris
Library, University of Benin, Benin City, Ambrose Alli University Library,
Ekpoma and Benson Idahosa University Library, Benin City will be used for this
study.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This
study will be of utmost significance to policy makers as far as the academic library
is concerned, parent institutions of different types of libraries, researchers
carrying out similar or related studies as well as students and library users.
For
policy makers, it is hoped that the recommendations from this study will serve
as a guide for a robust policy development framework as regards ICT application
in the library towards achieving library automation. This will go a long way in
ensuring that the
policy development
process as regards library automation does not become a trial and error affair,
rather one that is based on practical findings about what works and what does
not. For parent institutions like universities, corporations and even the
government, findings from this study will serve as justification for increased
financial and technical support for a library’s automation efforts.
It
is expected that this study as a whole will serve as a reference point for
researchers and students carrying out similar or related studies. This study
will serve as available literature for review and the recommendations will form
a basis for other research as well as open up other areas for further
investigations. For library users, this study will serve as an explanation for
the reason behind a library’s automation efforts, while highlighting the
benefits to be enjoyed by taking advantage of the available ICTs as against
relying solely on traditional methods of searching for information materials
which satisfy their information needs.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
In undertaking this research, the
researcher encountered the problem of time constraints as the time used to
undertake the study was limited. This study was conducted using John Harris
Library, University of Benin, Benin City, Ambrose Alli University Library,
Ekpoma and Benson Idahosa University Library, Benin City. Therefore, it might
not reflect the exact situation of automation academic libraries in Nigeria.
Another limitation can be found in the fact that conclusions were derived from
feedback given by respondents based on the questionnaires and as such the study
was limited by the interpretation made by the individuals towards the items in
the questionnaire. The findings were also limited by the validity and reliability
of the questionnaire.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Some
terms used in the course of the research need clarification through definition
for the purpose of good understanding of this work. These definitions are only
limited to the context of this study.
Automation:
The process of adequately utilizing computer hardware and software and its
varying facilities such as networking cables, software packages, etc, in
accomplishing library functions and routines which were originally performed
manually by the librarians.
Impact:
Measure of the tangible and intangible effects or consequences of one thing’s
or entity’s action or influence upon another.
Information and
Communications Technology: An umbrella term that includes
any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television,
cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems
and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with
them in the collection, processing and dissemination of information.
Library Automation:
The technique by which processes in a library are operated automatically using
machines.
Library Operations:
Functions carried out in and for the proper organization and smooth running of
the library, like accessioning, cataloguing, classification, indexing, etc.
Library Services:
Services rendered by libraries to library users such as charging and
discharging of library books.
Use:
To deploy or employ something as a means of accomplishing a purpose or
achieving a result.
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