ABSTRACT
Librarians’
performance is meeting information needs of users by providing quality services
and resources. Library automation afford great chance for library personnel to
get and use required information to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.
The use of electronic information resources assists librarians to meet the current
level of users’ requirement for information and services which promotes the
performance of librarians. Librarians’
performance seems to be below the expectations of its users with the rate and
current level by which users demand and want information. The aim of this study
therefore, was to find out the extent to which library automation and
electronic information resources’ use affected the performance of librarians in
South-West, Nigeria.
The
survey research design was used. The population of the study was 349 librarians
from 22 private university libraries in South-West Nigeria. Total enumeration
technique was employed. A self-constructed questionnaire titled “Library
Automation, Electronic Information Resources’ Use and Performance of Librarians
questionnaire” was used to collect data. 272 copies of the questionnaire were
returned giving a return rate of 80.1%. The reliability coefficient for Library
Automation was 0.76, Electronic Information Resources’ Use was 0.78 and
Librarians’ performance was 0.81. Data collected were analyzed using
descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and
multiple regression.
Findings
revealed that out of the six library services identified in this study, five
were fully automated and 90% of the private university libraries have automated
their services. More than 90% of known electronic information resources like
TEEAL, electronic journals, e-books, AGORA, social network, JSTOR, HINARI,
AJOL, EBSCOHOST and OARE were available in the libraries. More than 60% of
electronic information resources available were used by library personnel and
users in various libraries. From the findings, librarians’ performance had been
increased by 70% as a result of automated library and electronic information resources’
use in private universities in South West Nigeria. The study showed that there
was significant and positive relationship between library automation and
librarians’ performance in private university libraries (r =.372, p<.01).
Electronic information resources’ use had significant and negative relationship
with performance of librarians (r =.-126, p<.049). Library automation had
greater contribution to performance of librarians (β = .391, p(.000)<.05)
than electronic information resources’ use (β = .044, p(.505)>.05)
This
study concluded that most private university libraries in South-West Nigeria
were fully automated which allowed librarians to increase the quality of
services rendered. Both the library service automation and electronic
information resources’ use were determinant factors of library performance in
private universities in South-West Nigeria. This study recommended that
university library managers need to further enlighten both the library staff
and library users on the importance of library automation and use of electronic
information resources by organizing workshops,
seminars and conferences in order to meet the current information needs of
users.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
to the Study
Library
is a place where information materials are acquired, organized, preserved and
made available for use. Academic libraries are organizations which are created
to cater for the information request of students, lecturers, researchers and
other community of scholars. Their specific task is to offer quality
information services and products (print and electronic) to community of
scholars. According to Uddin (2009), academic libraries are charge effective
material and information resource centres that serve a community of
scholars.
Libraries
perform various operation like current awareness services, indexing and
abstracting, selective dissemination of information and responding of user’s
enquiries to make sure that library users are contented. As the library perform
these activities through information professionals, the availability of these
library resources does not ensure their access and use by the university
community. The library managers of university are projected to inspire,
enhance, and sustain the interest of users in go to see the library and using
the information contained therein. The facts about how to make use information
in the library in other to improve their work will ensure effective librarian’s
performance in any university system.
Library
is saddled with a lot of responsibilities which include analysis of patron
demand to know required data and support in finding that data, seek standard
reference materials including on the web assets and web so as to answer
benefactors' reference inquiries, to show library supporters how to scan for
data operating databases, to retain records of spreading and materials and
indexes with a specific close goal to elect and position print of electronic
assets.
Librarian’s performance is
considered to be the self-actualization of an obligation, in a way that frees the performer from all responsibilities under the organization. Yaya (2007) defined
library’s performance as the work (activities) perform by the worker towards
the accomplishment of their organizational goals. It is an act of accompany
one’s obligation to the organization within one’s capacity and proficiency.
This depends not only on the amount of physical effort exerted but also on the
person’s mental ability to perform work in the library.
According to Borman and Motowidlo (2012), librarian’s
performance can be measured in two ways: task performance and contextual
performance. Task performance is described as behaviours that directly or
indirectly subsidize to the organization’s main work and contextual performance
as behaviours that backing the organizational, social and psychological
situation in which the organization main work must function and
measurable.
Performance
measurement is a method for characterizing the performing of an individual,
gathering or association. Errand performance occasions for the most part shift
starting with one association then onto the next which is called work related
conduct, yet logical performance occasions are basic to work. Assignment performance
measures incorporate nature of work done, amount of work performed, cost
adequacy and occupation pertinent practices while the logical measures comprise
of taking after hierarchical guidelines and technique, helping and coordinating
with associates, volunteering for extra work and other individual practices. A portion
of the assignments performed in the library incorporate the enrollment of
library clients, characterization and keeping of library materials, charging
and releasing of books and taking care of clients' needs. Library work includes
keeping and arrangement of materials, arrangement of reference administrations,
looking at in and checking of library materials to clients. The concentrate of
this review is on the assignment performance estimations.
Performance
measurement can be surveyed by a few strategies among which incorporate
stimulus capacity and the workplace, the devices, resources and information
expected to carry out the occupation. If libraries do not have the capacity,
instruments and material to play out the employment it will have negative impact
on library performance. Library performance is the capacity to do statutory
capacities which depend on the library's units and improvement and additionally
library goals. Librarian’s performance is characterize as that part of work
conduct that is of importance to the library performance and achievement.
Library performance is equipped towards meeting, the clients' data needs, as
well as a reason for advancing staff in the library. Librarian’s performance in
this period has seen positive changes via automation prepare.
Automation is
the system that is used with the plan and growth of a process that decreases
the need of human involvement in operator of a given job. It is additionally a
procedure of utilizing hardware to perform work effectively in this way sparing
the library power and time. Automation may be well-defined as the use of
automatic and semi-automatic data processing devices (computers) to carried out
traditional library activities such as acquisition, circulation, cataloguing,
reference and serials (Satyanarayana, 2013). This is a system of using computer
or electronic devices to perform traditional library activities.
Library automation
is the use of COMPUTER based item and administrations in the performance of
various library procedures and capacities in the arrangement of different
administrations and generation of coveted outcomes. As indicated by Aswal
(2006), library automation is essential to library adequacy since it expands
staff profitability, upgrades housekeeping operations, empowers headway in
innovation, and empowers access to outer data through the Internet. Since the
commencement of library automation, scholarly libraries have experienced
noteworthy changes in the ways they store, list, and get to data. Innovative
advances made configurations other than the physical book, accessible, for
example, microfilm and microfiche. The advancements of the nineteenth century
are presently obsolete and considered superfluous to new innovation. To grow
access to library accumulations, scholarly libraries computerized indexing
capacities, supplanting the card list with the coordinated library framework
(ILS), incredibly affecting the everyday exercises of library and the impacts
that changing advancements may have on librarianship.
The essence of
library automation is to permitted the library and its staff from tedious work
and to allow them contribute more meaningfully in the spread of knowledge and
Information. Library patrons now have guide contact to online inventories and
remote access to bibliographic databases accessible around the globe connected
through computersystems, for example, the Internet. These administrations have
uprooted the old thought of a library as a place to peruse for data assets.
More libraries are into agreeable sharing, bringing about an outlook change
from the customary accentuation on library proprietorship to community. All
these have made an effect on conventional library arranging.
In this 21st
century, academic librarians are seeing many changes created by advances in
library automation. Current innovation is attempting to change drastically the
means of our general public and affect the predominant monetary, political and
societal potentials and libraries are not overlooked. It is attractive that
library record-keeping be computerized for a few reasons. Firstly, a
significant part of the work includes the exact refreshing of records in
documents. The undertakings included are by and large dull, tedious, mechanical
in nature, and loan themselves to automation, despite the fact that the records
might be perplexing and organized in confused ways. Besides, automation is to
enhance savvy performance by expanding precision, by diminishing the rate of
increment in expenses in labor-escalated exercises, and by expanding viability.
Thirdly, it winds up noticeably conceivable to play out a few undertakings more
completely than levels of staffing for the most part allow with manual
strategies, for example, the standard guaranteeing of unsupplied issues of
periodicals, or by doing things that is impossible in paper documents, quite
hunting down blends of characters. Fourthly, automation licenses decentralized
access to records. Branches of a library can confirm the status of another
without keeping up copy documents, flying out to another division, or
requesting that other staff intrude on their work so as to discover. What's
more, clients can verify whether a book is out on credit without heading out to
the library to see whether it is on the rack. Contemplations of administration,
cost, and the human use of staff all contend for the use of Computer to
facilitate the weight and to expand the adequacy of dealing with library
records through library automation framework.
Automation of
library helps in dealing with the library's assets better while sparing time,
cash, and labor. For instance, once the bibliographic subtle elements like
creator, title, version, distributer, value, ISBN number, are entered at the
season of requesting, similar information can be utilized for accessioning,
indexing, Online Public Access Cataloging (OPAC), and dissemination. Other
vital variables related with automation are speed, and precision. One can
envision the time spared in writing looks and in get ready reference indices.
Library automation additionally offers opportunity from doing tedious and
routine fills in and also giving administrations appropriately and all the more
effectively chopping down time and enhancing library performance. It
additionally encourages era of various reports for better basic leadership in
the viable administration of the library. Accessibility of different factual
and other use and performance reports will guarantee better thankfulness from
library clients. For instance, merchant performance investigation is
conceivable. Flow can give data on titles that are in awesome request with the
goal that more duplicates can be secured as required. Numerous present mindfulness
administrations like current version, substance of books and diaries can
likewise be accommodated clients (Egberongbe, 2011). Library administrations automation
does not just bolster library performance, electronic data assets additionally
assume a fundamental part.
Electronic
data assets are data put away in electronic configuration in COMPUTER or COMPUTER
related offices, for example, CD –ROMS, computerized libraries or web. They are
research apparatuses that supplement the print-based assets in a library
setting. Okiki and Asiru (2011) expressed that electronic assets are
"results of data and correspondence innovations and they have been
discovered important to help library performance and research prepare in the
colleges". Electronic data assets are diminishing the focal part of
customary libraries. Libraries need to acknowledge their obligations as data
expert in the new allotment. Electronic data assets gear help library to offer
quick, satisfactory and productive administrations to the library client.
Electronic data asset is a method for putting away, preparing, and sharing data
through electronic means, for example, phone, web and as of late presented
e-assets like digital book, web based business and e - realizing which are
currently prevalent data assets on the planet. The up to said offices can be
alluded to as the advanced electronic data assets received to oversee and
exchange data from one source to others. Electronic data assets are a help to
library repetitive administrations that included the conventional library
benefit which has been in operation before the beginning of data and
correspondence innovation devices to higher foundations in Nigeria. It likewise
helps libraries to meet the different needs of their supporters using
electronic data assets.
The
use of electronic data assets is to help the library in playing out a double
part: one to the supporters towards their data needs in the school, while the
second is showed in the day by day routine work inside the library condition
where library work is found in the two administration units, Reader
administrations and Technical segments of the library. The administrations of
library utilizing electronic data assets is showed in the administrations they
offer inside the areas in the library, for example, Acquisition segment,
Cataloging unit, Serial Services, Reference and Bibliographic Services, Current
Awareness Services, On-line Public Access Catalog, and records units. Every one
of these administrations have been given an awesome lift by applying the
offices of data and correspondence innovation to the day by day elements of the
library. The basic electronic data assets office in Nigerian scholastic
libraries is the web which offers boundless access to worldwide data accessible
on the Net for the individuals who can make use of the assets for their
advantage. Through the web, data is being refreshed and dispersed frequently
which empowers library to get fast and productive administrations at the
fitting time. The web as a learning asset gives more an incentive to the
administrations and assets that the library makes accessible to the
understudies and staff inside the scholastic establishment.
The
high rate of the use of these electronic data assets could be credited to the
way that they for the most part contain current data which is exceedingly
prized by scholastics. The use of these electronic data assets realized an
insurgency in the movement of data arrangement and spread. The use of
electronic data assets gives a superior stage and more open doors for clients
since it has preferences over the print assets. A portion of the benefits of
the use of electronic data assets when contrasted and print data assets
incorporate the preservation of space and time. The client can have fast access
to data by making a mix of likely catchphrases identified with his/her pursuit.
The speed in recovery of required data is a noteworthy favorable position that
electronic asset has over the print asset. Different focal points of electronic
data assets incorporate cash, simple and various get to. Electronic data assets
are of various sorts which are electronic diaries, electronic books, electronic
magazines and daily papers, CD-ROM databases, electronic meeting procedures and
online databases. Maybe the most utilized electronic asset in libraries today
is online database.
Automation
of library helps in dealing with the library's assets better while sparing
time, cash, and labor. For instance, once the bibliographic subtle elements
like creator, title, release, distributer, value, ISBN number, are entered at
the season of requesting, similar information can be utilized for accessioning,
recording, Online Public Access Cataloging (OPAC), and course. Other critical
elements related with automation are speed, and precision. One can envision the
time spared in writing looks and in get ready lists of sources. Library automation
likewise offers flexibility from doing redundant and routine fills in and in
addition giving administrations legitimately and all the more proficiently
chopping down time and enhancing library performance. It likewise encourages
era of various reports for better basic leadership in the compelling administration
of the library. Accessibility of different factual and other use and performance
reports will guarantee better thankfulness from library clients. For instance,
seller performance investigation is conceivable. Dissemination can give data on
titles that are in incredible request with the goal that more duplicates can be
acquired as required. Numerous present mindfulness administrations like current
version, substance of books and diaries can likewise be accommodated clients
(Egberongbe, 2011). Library administrations automation does not just bolster
library performance, electronic data assets additionally assume a fundamental
part.
According
to Moghaddam (2009), a database is an accumulation of information that is
sorted out for simple storing and get to. These incorporate paper-based devices
like word references and libraries of print materials. From this, we can state
that online databases are accumulations of information which are sorted out for
simple get to and recovery through the web; that is get to is made accessible
through the web. The online databases comprise of data on particular branch of
knowledge which shifts in arrangement. With the association of the assets
contained in these online databases as per their different subjects and trains,
the library client confronts less test of extensive review and low exactness.
As it were, with the use of online databases, the level of data recovery is
higher particularly when contrasted and the use of web. The client while
recovering data through the web may get high review of data materials whether
valuable or not so far as it is identified with the pursuit term yet when
making use of online databases the turn around is the situation. This is on the
grounds that these online databases contain just organized data which will be
helpful to the library client or data searcher. Some examples of electronic
databases being used today in academic libraries include Journal Storage
(JSTOR), Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA), Access to Research
in Health Programme (HINARI), EBSCOHOST, Science Direct, Online Access to
Research in the Environment (OARE) and
Open Courseware.
The on-line
databases with their recovery abilities, have been continuously supplanting
many pieces of literature. This is on the grounds that library clients,
particularly scholastics, have next to zero time to experience the rigors of
hunting down print assets to make use of, along these lines they lean toward
electronic databases. One reason electronic data assets is basic in the library
is that it offers access to data that may be restricted to the clients because
of geological area or budgetary requirements. It empowers access to more
present data and permits broad connections to more related assets which might
be of awesome enthusiasm to clients. The accessibility of electronic data
assets has changed the way data is being dealt with and overseen by library.
These progressions comprise of the path by which data is given to library
clients and how the data is being safeguarded.
The use of
electronic data assets could be easily overseen in the library with the
presence of essential foundation, for example, web offices, transmission
capacity, competent specialized support, computerframeworks and power supply.
Oketunji (2006) opined that the eventual fate of libraries is particularly
connected to their capacities to outfit and manage availability to accessible
framework as a base for giving powerful and effective access to data by their
demographic. That is the accessibility of important framework is the
underlining component for successful arrangement of electronic assets in
libraries. It is commensurate to wastage of the constrained accessible assets
of the college library if a ton of cash is spent on procuring electronic assets
and these assets are not put to most extreme usage by the college group and
those from the outside setting. The electronic assets made accessible by the
college libraries ought to be utilized maximally and this can be conceivable
just when the essential foundation are set up. Get to and accessibility of
electronic data assets is on the expansion in research the world over because
of the way that it helps researchers in their exploration.
The electronic
data assets are given and made accessible by library to help the understudies,
staff and analysts in guaranteeing quality research works inside and outside
the library which is one of the objectives of scholarly foundations. The way
toward giving access to electronic assets by the scholarly libraries to their
clients can be called electronic data administrations which are data conveyance
items to asking for clients through computer. Library administrations automation
and electronic data assets are to help libraries in the arrangement of better
and proficient support of the clients on regular schedule. Oketunji (2011)
opined that the data innovation offices found in the libraries can be separated
into three classifications; these are Computer, stockpiling media, and media
transmission. It was uncovered that each of these offices works for the
exchange of information and data to the normal goal. The library administration
that wants to fulfill various clients can now use the web for the correct data
for foreordained clients, in this way, fulfilling their data needs. In any
case, a library with differing abilities and preparing who is adaptable,
aggressive, and emphatic, mentally dedicated and furnished with specialized and
administrative skills will have the capacity to meet the difficulties without
bounds library and exceed expectations in powerful data administrations
conveyance to its quick group.
The adoption of library
automation and electronic information resources will assist librarians to
address the challenges associated with the traditional methods of library
service delivery. This gives the library opportunity to offer services to users
in a way that would be humble, easy and autonomous of time, residence and focus
discipline.
Libraries now
give data administrations to clients in another and better means with the guide
of library automation and electronic assets. They likewise offer individual
help to clients who use the assets at the library. Another normal region where
libraries utilize automation and electronic assets is in the region of
interlibrary credit where benefit conveyance is brought out through electronic
system whereby assets can be shared among numerous clients inside Local Area
Network or Wide Area Network. Aside from interlibrary credit, we likewise have
Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) which offers clients the chance to get to
the library accumulations without the use of inventory boxes. This OPAC, as per
Alabi and Inuwa (2010) is the library database where library clients can have
entry to the assets of the library through online work stations in the library.
This demonstrates there is no territory of library work that libraries have not
possessed the capacity to apply the electronic data assets and library automation
in their day by day operation to help their performance.
One of the
primary elements of the library is to help individuals discover data; sort out
it, recover and keep up the framework which permits access to fit or show
individuals how to utilize the data in our environment. With these data assets
in the library, it can work past the working hours of their obligations
attributable to the way that they can work anyplace whenever to take care of
their clients. Library automation and electronic assets utilize will augment
the information and operational base of libraries since they won't be
constrained to what they have inside their own particular library. Library automation
and electronic assets guarantee cost viability when acquiring library
materials, the library will know the materials that are of high utilize and most
asked for by clients. Librarians may not know every one of the responses to all
clients' need yet they know how to discover the solution for their clients,
even in private colleges in South-West, Nigeria. Private colleges are
organizations claimed by people, gatherings and religious or religion situated
in Nigeria. The private universities are not intervene or control by either
federal, state or local government areas.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Library
automation and electronic information resources’ use are essential for today’s
library operations and services.
However, the ability of libraries to perform their job effectively and
efficiently is influenced by their capacity to use automated library and
electronic resources. Librarian’s performance appears not to meet up with the
current level of users’ demand for information and the rate at which the users
want to get information. The use of electronic resources in libraries may
affect their daily operation with the aim to promote librarian’s performance
and enhance productivity. As the library helps in providing information
sources, there is need to make electronic information resources available for
users, at all time.Currently, some libraries in South-West Nigeria may not have
sufficient skills and competence on the electronic information resources’ use.
Lack of library automation and electronic information resources’ use has
adverse effect on the quality of service delivery of the library which affects
their performance also. It is in the light of this that this study sets out to
investigate the library automation and electronic information resources’ use as
they affect librarian’s performance in Private Universities in South-West Nigeria.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The
general objective of this study is to investigate how library automation and
electronic information resources’ use affect librarian’s performance in private
universities in South-West Nigeria. The specific objectives are to:
1.
identify the level of library automation in private universities in South-West
Nigeria;
2.
investigate the level of availability of electronic information resources in
private universities in South-West, Nigeria;
3.
ascertain the frequency of use of electronic information resources available in
private universities in South-West, Nigeria;
4.
determine the librarian’s performance of private university libraries in
South-West Nigeria;
5.
determine the influence of library automation on librarian’s performance in
private Universities in South-West, Nigeria;
6.
find out the effect of electronic information resources’ use on librarian’s
performance in private universities in South-West, Nigeria;
7.
determine how library automation and electronic information resources’ use
affect the librarian’s performance in private universities in South-West
Nigeria; and
8.
identify the challenges of automating library services and use of electronic
information resources in private universities in South-West, Nigeria.
1.4
Research
Questions
To
achieve the above objectives, the following research questions were posed.
1.
What is the level of library automation in private Universities in South-West
Nigeria?
2.
How available are electronic resources in private universities in South-West
Nigeria?
3.What
is the frequency of use of electronic resources in private universities in
South-West Nigeria?
4.What
determine librarian’s performance of private university libraries in South
–West Nigeria?
5.What
are the challenges of automation of library and electronic information resources
use in private universities in South-West Nigeria?
1.5
Hypotheses
This
study is guided by the following hypotheses and were tested at 5% level of significance.
H01: There is no significant relationship between library automation
and librarian’s performance in private universities in South West, Nigeria.
H02: There
is no significant relationship between the electronic resources use and librarian’s
performance in private universities in South West, Nigeria.
H03: There is no significant relationship between library
automation, electronic resources use and librarian’s performance in private
universities in South West, Nigeria.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The
study covered the six states in South-West Nigeria, which are Ekiti, Lagos,
Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo. The study focuses on automation of library services
which includes acquisition, cataloguing, circulation and serials, electronic
resources’ use both subscribed and open access databases and librarian’s
performance among private university libraries in South-West Nigeria. The study
concentrates on the task performance of librarians in their daily job which
includes quality of work done, quantity of work performed, communication
skills, decision making, timeless and ability to attend promptly to request
from library patrons, relationship with coworkers, time, creativity, efficient
and effective use of library resources. The study considers the private universities
libraries that have automated their library services and electronic
resources.
1.7 Significance of the Study
Library
automation and electronic information resources are used to promote quality of
service, level of operation, library user satisfaction and increase
productivity of library. Library automation and use of electronic information
resources in the library would serve as motivating tools for the librarians in
discharging their duties in an effective and efficient way. The findings of
this study would help librarians and the policy makers who are involved in the
operation of library services and enhance research work. It is assumed that the research findings
would promote the application of library automation and electronic information
resources’ use in the academic library.
The research findings would also reveal to the librarians that library
automation and electronic information resources’ use are not only for library
users or as part of services but also as tools or technology that would enhance
their performance and high productivity.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Electronic information
resources: These are defined as those information
materials that users access electronically via a computer network from inside
the library or remote to the library. Electronic resource is any information
basis that the library offers access to in an electronic format.
Electronic resources
availability:This is the electronic information
resources and services which are made available for the library users which
help the library workers to discharge their duties efficiently.
Performance:This is the act of performing or completing an action,
task, or function.
Automation:This
is the use of devices or computer to optimize throughput in the production of
goods and delivery of services. This is the use of electronic systems to
control a specific task in order to improve consistency and effectiveness.
Library Automation:This
is the process of employing computers or electronic devices to do traditional
library operation like acquisition, serials, and circulation.
Librarian’s performance:This
is the ability of a library workers to carry out statutory functions which are
based on the library units and development as well as library's objectives. It
is also the ability of a library to meet library users’ demand as well as
achieving the library goal and objectives.
Electronic information
resource use:This refers to correct or suitable
application of information in electronic formats to carry out their job
function in private university libraries in South-West, Nigeria.
Library
Services: Thereare the activities provided by library to enable users meet
their information needs.
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