Automation of Library Services for Users’ Satisfaction. A Case Study of American University Yola and Adamawa State Polytechnic Libraries

Automation of Library Services for Users’ Satisfaction. A Case Study of American University Yola and Adamawa State Polytechnic Libraries

CHAPTER ONE

Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to investigate automation of library services for users’ satisfaction. A case study of American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries. The specific objectives are to:

1. identify the level of library automation in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries Nigeria;
2. investigate the level of availability of electronic information resources in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria;
3. ascertain the frequency of use of electronic information resources available in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria;
4. determine the librarian’s performance of American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries Nigeria;
5. determine the influence of library automation on user satisfaction with American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria;
6. find out the effect of electronic information resources’ use on user satisfaction with American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria;
7. determine how library automation and electronic information resources’ use affect the user satisfaction with American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries Nigeria; and
8. identify the challenges of automating library services and use of electronic information resources in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria.

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Introduction

This chapter reviews literature on the implications of library service automation and electronic information resources’ use on librarian’s performance. The nature of literature available for review encompassed many volumes that are relevant to the study. This review of literature is focused and discussed under the following sub-headings:

• Librarian’s performance
• Library automation
• Library automation and Librarian’s performance
• Electronic Information Resources’ Use
• Library automation and Electronic Information Resources’ Use
• Electronic Information Resources’ Use and Librarian’s performance
• Theoretical Framework
• Conceptual Model
• Appraisal of Literature

Librarian’s performance

Libraries, as association, by and large formalize material preparing and user administrations into two separate partitions inside the authoritative structure, regularly known as Technical Services and Users Services. Conceivably, Technical Services library trusts that the securing and recording are their exclusive parts inside the framework, and that subsequent client use of the prepared resources are not their concern. Accordingly, of this partition of capacities, assessment of one capacity won’t really uncover significant data about different capacities inside the library. An assessment of the preparing of materials could uncover much about the effectiveness of the procedure yet nothing at all about regardless of whether the index made it simpler for clients to discover required data.

There have been a few arrangements of librarians performance measures distributed over the most recent four decades. None of them has increased all-inclusive acknowledgment like performance studies, measuring library performance and library performance marker. Most library info and yield can be tallied effortlessly and this makes their estimation alluring to library chiefs. Arrangements of performance measures made in the 1980s and mid 1990s were for the most part made out of information and yield measures. In many libraries, the measures were utilized just to give a few information to subsidizing organizations, and the same number of library administrators get a kick out of the chance to incorporate correlations with associate libraries in their yearly reports, utilizing straightforward measures that were likewise utilized by comparable libraries made that announcing simple. What could be said of numerous early endeavors at gathering measures of library performance is that (a) the pointer utilized depended on the impression of the supplier, not of the client, (b) that the measures were amazing, e.g. what number of books are looked at, and (c) that regularly the information went no place, or, best case scenario wound up in yearly reports.

One of the principle 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 inferable from the way that they can work anyplace whenever to take care of their clients. Library automation and electronic assets utilize will enlarge the information and operational base of libraries since they won’t be restricted to what they have inside their own library. Library automation and electronic assets guarantee cost adequacy when obtaining library materials, the library will know the materials that are of high utilize and most asked for by clients.

The primary real endeavor at a combined rundown was the general arrangement of performance measures for open libraries of the Public Libraries Association (PLA), (De Prospo, Altman, and Beasley, 2003). The work of the PLA majorly affected the more extensive agreeableness of performance measures in libraries, in spite of the fact that in handy terms the information gathering strategies sketched out in the 2003 production were not generally received.

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CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

Introduction

This chapter discusses the research methodology and analysis of data for this study. This section looks into the following sub-headings:

• Research Design
• Population
• Sample size and sampling Technique
• Research Instrument
• Validity and Reliability of Instrument
• Method of Data Collection

Method of Data Analysis

Research Design

Survey research design was adopted for this study.  This is to establish the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. In this study, the independent variables are library automation (acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, reference and serials) and electronic information resources’ use while the dependent variable is user satisfaction with American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries Nigeria. The rationale for adopting this design was based on the fact that it focuses on description of events, recording, analysing and interpreting data relating to conditions existing in the study.

Population

The target population for this study were libraries in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries  Nigeria. From the study, there were 349 respondents of each University listed above.

Sample size and sampling Techniques

There were no sampling techniques used for this study since all the respondents in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries Nigeria were involved. The study used total enumeration sample size because this technique involves examining the entire population of the study.  When dealing with a small size of the population, one needs almost the entire population in order to achieve accuracy (Mugera, 2013).

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Introduction

This chapter presents the data analysis, result and discussion of the findings gathered from the librarians in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries. To get wider views and findings on the main problems of the study, 349 copies of questionnaire were administered to respondents, out of which 317 copies were returned and 272 were adequately filled. The result presented in this chapter was based on 272 copies of questionnaire that were accurately filled and returned.

Demographic Information of the Respondents

Table 4.1 shows the frequency distribution of respondents by age, gender, religion and position. The result shows that out of 272 respondents, 70(25.7%) of the respondents fall between the age group of 18-25years, 132(48.5%) were between the age bracket of 26-33years, 60(22.1%) were between the age category of 34-41years and 10(3.7%) fell within the age group of 42-49years. This means that majority of the respondents were between the age of 26 to 33 years. Further analysis shows that most 164 (60.3%) respondents were female while their male counterparts were 108 (39.7%). This means that most of the personnel working in the libraries were females.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Introduction

This chapter presents the summary, conclusion and recommendations of the study. The findings of this research significantly summarize the precise contributions of this study to knowledge as well as the suggestions for further studies.

Summary

This study was aimed at finding out if library automation and electronic information resource use were correlates of user’s satisfaction in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria. Specifically, the study aimed to identify level of library automation in schools, ascertain frequency of electronic resources use, identify factors that determine librarians performance, determine the effect of electronic information resources use on user’s satisfaction, ascertain joint influence of library automation and electronic information resources’ use on user’s satisfaction, and identify challenges of library automation and electronic information resources use. In line with these objectives, five research questions and three hypotheses were formulated.

The survey design was used. The population consisted of 349 librarians in 22 American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria. A self-developed questionnaire entitled “Library automation, Electronic Information Resource Use and Performance of Librarians Questionnaire” (LSAEIRU-LPQ) was used to collect data from the respondents. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test was conducted to determine the reliability of main constructs in the questionnaire “Library automation”, “Electronic Information Resources Use” and “Performance of Librarians”. The test gave the results of 0.761, 0.782 and 0.811 respectively representing their reliability. A total of 349 respondents of the population with 272 (77.9%) response rate was achieved and included in the study. Data generated was analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency distribution, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the respondents’ demographic information and research questions. Pearson product moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between library automation and user’s satisfaction, and relationship between electronic information resources’ use and user’s satisfaction. Multiple regression was used to determine joint influence of library automation and electronic information resources use on user’s satisfaction. The major findings of the study are:

1. There was high level of library automation in schools.
2. Electronic information resources such as TEA, JSTOR, e-journal, e-books, AGORA, OARE, social network, HINARI, AJOL, e-mail/blogs/websites, EBSCOHOST, E-newspapers, CD-ROM and DOAJ were available in school libraries.
3. The electronic information resources frequently used in Nigerian schools include AGORA, e-journals, JSTOR, AJOL, HINARI, e-books, e-mail/blogs/website, social networks, TEAL, CD-ROM, OARE, e-newspaper and e-directory.
4. Library automation and electronic information resources use were determinants of user’s satisfaction. More than three quarters of the respondents claimed that library automation and electronic information resources use have increased quality of library work, made location and description of library materials easier, increased number of library users, made record/materials update easier for library users, increased quantity of work accomplished daily by the librarians, aid problem solving ability, enhanced efficient and effective use of resources available and reduced communication cost among the librarians.
5. Among many factors, the study deduced electricity power outage, internet fluctuation, virus, lack of frequent subscription, computer system problem, staff training deficiency, limited space, software compatibility, nature and types of e-resources subscribed to, lack of commitment by staff and lack of infrastructure as the major challenges of library automation and electronic information resources’ use in Nigerian schools.
6. There was significant and positive relationship between library automation and user’s satisfaction in Nigerian schools.
7. There was significant and negative relationship between electronic information resource use and user’s satisfaction in Nigerian schools.
8. Lastly, library automation and electronic information resources use significantly and jointly influenced user’s satisfaction in Nigerian schools.

Conclusion

Library automation had positive and significant influence on user’s satisfaction in schools.  The use of electronic information resources had negative influence on user’s satisfaction. The study revealed that library automation and electronic information resources use are determinant factors of user’s satisfaction in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries, Nigeria.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations are made:

1. Having discovered the importance of library automation on user’s satisfaction, and the result of the finding revealed that acquisition service 90 (33.1%) was partially automated there is need for university library management and librarians to ensure that the acquisition service should be fully automated due to the fact that it will help the library to manage fund given to them properly.
2. There is also need for university libraries to know that availability of other electronic information resources was also important and that availability is not enough if they are not effectively used, therefore, some of the challenges identified in this study like internet fluctuation, lack of frequent subscription, computer system problem, power supply should be critically given attention.
3. The University management, Library Department in particular, should ensure stable electricity supply by providing standby generators which serve as alternative source of power supply and at the same time offer support for users on the use of available e-resources in order to encourage the users.
4. For the library to improve on its performance, all the librarians should be encouraged and motivated to use electronic information resources by providing computer system and other necessary facilities for them.

Contribution to Knowledge

The finding of this study contributes immensely to knowledge in various ways. Firstly, the review of the existing studies offered significant background to the concepts and theories of library automation, electronic information resources use and user’s satisfaction. Empirically, this study provides chances for researchers, librarians, electronic information resource developers and automation experts to spread out the prospect of knowledge on these variables to have successful and effective use of them in improving user’s satisfaction. Finally, with critical review of various studies, it was found that library automation and electronic information resources jointly and significantly influence user’s satisfaction in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries Nigeria.

Implication of Findings

The findings of this research have some important implications on the library service and set objectives. Firstly, the study implies that library automation and electronic information resources, are very important in the library and shows an understandable reflection on the relative and joint influence on user’s satisfaction of Nigerian schools. This therefore facilitates better tools for librarians to carry out their daily activities and improve on the librarians’ expectations. This implies that the libraries are information centres with easy access to library resources for their users. Secondly, the study adds more value to university industry and its agencies in policy formulation and electronic information resources practice compliance.

The findings of this research have some important implications on the library and set objectives. Firstly, the study contributes to library practices by revealing the importance of library automation and electronic information resources, and shows an understandable reflection on the relative and joint influence on user’s satisfaction of Nigerian schools. This therefore facilitates better tools for librarians to carry out their daily activities and improved on the library expectations. This also helps the library to become information centre and allow easy access to library resources for their users. Secondly, the study contributes to university industry and its agencies in policy formulation and electronic information resources practice compliance.

Limitation of the Study

In the process of conducting this research, the following limitations were encountered. Firstly, the major burdens encountered were in the course of data collection. Most of the respondents were unwilling and in many occasions showed uncooperative attitude in filling out the questionnaire. But after much persuasion, some of them were able to fill out and return the questionnaire. Also, the findings of this research cannot be generalized, because it comprised only the libraries in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries.

Suggestion for Further Studies

This study was conducted among respondents in American university Yola and Adamawa State polytechnic libraries. The study could be replicated in public (both Federal and State) universities in other regions of Nigeria. Further studies should include the perception of librarians towards the use of library automation and electronic information resources.

REFERENCES

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• Adeniji, M., Babalola G & Ajayi, S. (2015).   Awareness and utilization of electronic resources by librarians of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Ogun State, Nigeria. Information and Knowledge Management 5(2):24-38
• Aditya. K.M. (2013). Utilization of electronic resources and services in the university libraries of UP: An analytical study. A thesis submitted to Sambalpur University for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in Library & Information Science
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