AUTOMATION OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES, CHALLENGES AND GAINS
ABSTRACT
This project discusses about the Automation of academic libraries in Imo state, the challenges and gains. A case study of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, Library. It discusses mainly on the challenges and gains of automation on various functions of academic libraries as well as its impacts on the library staff.
Twenty five (25) questionnaires were administered and all of them were returned which represent the 100% return.
The study shows that automation has great impacts on academic library and the library staff has received automation positively. There are also recommendations for problems identified during this study at the end of this project.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Information technology (the convergence computer technology and telecommunication ahs pervaded over all human activities in the last decade). One cannot do anything without technology teaching aspect of our lives like making calls (telephone) banking Susanne and even library operations. It has changed and continues to change the world our parents knew. This has led to library Automation.
Library Automation is seen as the computerization of library records and functions. It uses computer software and hardware for task that otherwise require a lot of paper work and staff time. It also make possible of a wide, free automation is traced to the continuous interaction between technology purpose and applications. One of the reasons for library automation is the apparent or visible improvement in the access to information by users in the library.
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 helps to save staff time and it reduces work load. This increase efficiency has also helped to decrease delay, backlogs, errors, staff dissatisfaction etc.
The efficiency has affected 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 statistics, 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.
There are many other areas in which automation helped or has advantage over manual system.
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 automation many individual cannot afford to learn the skill to use them at the movement and without being a computer literate you cannot use the automated library effectively.
