3.1. INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the data gathered in the course of this research work and also presents the analysis and discussion of such data. The data hereby analyses descriptively.
3.2. RESPONSE RATE
Four copies of structured interviews were administered to the four selected respondents and all the interview questions were responded to, by all the four respondents.
3.3. DATA PRESENTATION OF ANALYSIS
For the sake of clarity and case of understanding, the respondents for the study will be represented with the following codes.
Head of the library : H1
Head of the Audio visual unit : H2
Head of reference unit : H3
Head of presence unit : H4
Interview and responses are therefore presented below:-
Question: Qualification of the respondents
Responses: H1 revealed having a doctorate degree in library and information science, while H2 and H3 were of the opinion that their highest qualification is a master degree and H4 also stated that the first degree was his highest qualification. This is shows that all the respondents are educated enough to give reliable data.
Question: Years of experience
Responses: H1 stated that she has being serving the library for about eight years, H2 also revealed that he has six years’ experience in the library presently while H3 and H4 were found to have been working with the library for five years respectively. Based on the above findings, it is important to state that, he various respondents have worked in the library for reasonable number of years and can therefore provide reliable data about automation system in the library.
Question: Rank/post of respondents.
Response: H1 revealed that she is the chief librarian of the library, H3 and H4 are all heads of automation unit, audio-visual and reference unit respectively. This therefore suggest that the data for this study are gathered from key and knowledgeable staff of the library. It is also important to suggest here that the respondents for the study are various head of the unit affected by automation in the library.
Question: Availability of computer in the library.
Response: H1 stated that there are computer available in the library, H2 also revealed that computers are made available in the library while H3 and H4 also revealed that there are computers available in the library.
Question: years of using computers for library operation in the library.
Response: when asked about the years of using computers for library operation in the library, it was revealed by H1 that the computers are in use for about eight years now. On the other hand H2 stated that the library has been using computers for library operation for up to six years, while H3 and H4 state that, they have witnessed the use of computers for library operation for five years respectively. Critically going by the above findings it can be state that all the respondents have witnessed the use of computers for library operation from their first day as staff.
Question: operations done with the computers
Response: on the kinds of operation done with the computers, H1 responded that the computers are used for administrative and research related activities, H2 is of the view that computers in the library are used for research and information delivery, H3 revealed that computers are used for record management and H4 stated that computers are used for answering users questions and conducting research. Based on the findings it can be stated that computers are used for numerous task in the library which includes:
Administrative task
Research and information delivery
Record management and
Answering question and research
Question: level of automation in the library
Response: H1 is of the view that seventy percent of the library operations are automated, H2 has a similar nation when he stated that all the section in the library are automated, similarly H3 is of the opinion that automation exist but it does not cover the entire operation i.e. partial automation and H4 having a supportive view stated that there are computers in all the section of the library but not all the computers are connected and used. The views above bring us to conclude that the library is automated but not fully automated.
Questioner: challenges faced by the library in an attempt to automate the library.
Response: H1 revealed that, challenges affecting full automation of the library includes acquitting the staff on the required technical know-how of operating the computers finance for maintenance and users attitudes, H2 however added that lack of infrastructures and fund for maintenance, power instability are also problems affecting the automation system, as for H3, the problems includes: power failure, student habit toward technology and H4 has a similar nation to the H1,H2 and H3 above when he stated that lack of fund, space, connectivity problem, technical knowhow needed to operate the computer by both staff and users and epileptic power supply, are the problems hindering the smooth operation of automation in the library.
Question: measures taken to overcome some of the challenges
Response: on the measures taken to overcome the stated challenges, H1 responded that: presently they are the process of adopting and installing WAN and LAN in the library and the school at large, they also sent a proposal to the university management to approve the establishment of ICT training center in the library, he further stated that they are working toward establishing a source of fund for maintenance and other task. Similarly, H2 noted that to address the challenges, they are now going for more training in ICT related fields soliciting for assistance so as to provide more infrastructure that are ICT related. Furthermore, H3 revealed that staff training and retraining, provision of stand by generator etc. are some of the measure taken to address the challenges faced. However, similar to the above stated views H4 responded that soliciting for fund through the library management, employing expert to install and manage WAN and LAN is part of the measures already taken to address the problem.
Other related comment not captured in the interview
Response: H1 commented that some staff has negative attitude toward ICT and automation is not just the present of computers in the library but also the use of such computers for information work. H2 made a comment about the future expectation of the library and he stated that in term of automation of the library and to even make it paperless. While H3 and H4 declined to make any comment.
3.4. DISCUSSION OF PRESENTED DATA
The data collected in the course of the interview have revealed that, of the respondents interviewed, one is a doctorate degree holder, two are master’s degree holder and only one is a first degree holder, based on this findings, it is important to state that the data collected are reliable due to the fact that all the respondents are professionals in the field of library studies. This study further revealed that all the respondents are experienced enough to provide reliable data as they have experiences ranging from eight, six and five years respectively from the chief librarian to other heads of the unit.
Moreover, the study also revealed that there are computers in the library as stated by all the respondents, on the other hand, the chief librarian stated that computers has been. In used for about six years while both heads of audio-visual and reference are of the view that the library has adopt the use of computers only for about five years both respondents also revealed that computers are used for the purpose of administrative duties, research, answering users query, record management and other minor information works.
Once more, based on the data gathered it is important to state that the library under study is not fully automated but has most of it section covered by automation. However, the challenges hindering the automation of libraries include: inability of staff to properly operate and maintain computers, epileptic power supply, and inadequate fund to maintain the computers, as well as user’s habit towards the computers. Due to the above stated problems, the following measurers can address the problems.
Provision of more automation aided facilities like LAN and WAJN, training and retraining of worker, duplication of sources of fund to reduce over reliability on the university management for fund, provision of stand by generators as well as ensuring continuous maintenance of the computers and other facilities.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Challenges faced by the following library in an attempt to automate the library.
Response: H1 revealed that challenges affecting full automation on of the library includes acquiring the staff on the technical know-how operation the compute ring finance for automation and users attitudes
Materials
Respondent
%
Computer
-
8.6
67 %
Operating systems
Staff
-
2.7
7 %
Routing
Users
-
3.0
8 %
Day by day users
Automation
-
4.6
13 %
Technical
1.6
5 %
Users in
Total
-
100
100 %
The total numbers of operating system in computer operating in automation is 8.6 which is taken 67% on top the routing in day by day activities
White the staff were taken 2.7 which is given 7% routing within the automation areas
And users take 3.0 in day by day using automation system which taking 8% that is 3.0 in automation here given us 4.6 that is 13% in advanced.
The technical areas when the look at the diagram it give us 1.6 that is 5% out of the total numbers where find in the diagram.
The problems is includes power failure, student habit toward technology and similar notion to the above stated that lack of funds spoke connectivity problems. Computers by both staff and users and epileptic power supply are the problems hindering the smooth operation automation in the library.
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
4.1 SUMMARY
In chapter one, this research briefly provided an explanation of library as a social institution established with the sole responsibilities of organization storage, acquisition, perspective and dissemination of all forms of information regardless of format.
Also included in this chapter is the history of Kano state university of science and technology wudil (KUT) statement of the problem, research questions, objectives of the study, significant of the study, scope and limitation of the study and operation definition of terms and reference in chapter two. The research branded the concept and significant of automation for libraries, availability of computer in universities libraries. Challenges of automation of university libraries, possible measures to address the challenges of automation of universities libraries and summary of the review chapter three of the study, sampling technique and sample size, data collection instrument, administration of research instrument and data analysis.
Chapter four, presents the result of the interview conducted data gathered are further discussed for easy understanding.
Chapter five deals with the summary, conclusion and recommendation.
4.2 CONCLUSION
The need for library automation becomes necessary, some key factors that contributed to embracing library automation is that it is evidently clear that traditional method is of handling volumes of information are increasingly inadequate for proper information services this is to say that, the efficiency for processing information manually cannot be compared with that of automated processing. The bulk and the most significant is the growth rate of the information already known as information explosion. Library automation in the university is the application of computer an other forms of modern technologies as academic library services is of great advantage to the librarians in terms of increased productivity, elimination of slow manually routine clerical operations, facilitating collection of authentic information for better planning and decision making
Despite the advantage of automation in academic libraries, the process is develed with a lot of challenges. The academic library of KUT is an ongoing step in automation of the library processes but these challenges gave it a hard time to achieve what plan is for. Despite the challenges there has been a good measured taken to tackle the challenges, with a good look at the measures taken, one can conclude that the Kano state university of science and technology (KUT) has reached the minimum requirements for automation.
4.3 RECOMMENDATION
Based on the research findings, the following recommendations are raised so as to tackle the challenges facing automation of academic libraries.
Availability of computer technology in KUT should be improved to accommodate all sections in the library.
The application of computer technology in KUT should be done to cover areas in the library.
There should be appropriate measures taken to maximize benefits of automation in library operations and to also reduce likely negative effect that may occur.
Adequate maintenance strategies should be adopted on regular basis to help with the maintenance of the entire automated system in order to promote the durability of such systems
The University library should appoint a permanent IT professionals to oversees the affairs of the automated system an identifies the exact time for upgrades of the automated system.
The University should make a course in computer applications mandatory to all admitted students in the university; this will help them with the fundamental knowledge needed to be able use the automated system provided.
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