AN EVALUATION OF COMPUTERIZED LIBRARY BORROWING SYSTEM OF INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

ABSTRACT

The study focused on the Evaluation of computerized system of borrowing library informational resources in Federal University Dutsinma Library. The objectives of the study were to provide better and efficient services to staff and users of the library, reduce the workload of employee, faster retrieval of information about the desired book, provide facility for proper monitoring and reduce paper work and provide data security, and  proper storage capacity. The significance of this study is to evaluate computerized system of lending in the library. The study was carried out among personal working in the library and the users of the library. Seventy three staff and One Hundred users were selected and questionnaires were issued to them to fill and 155 were returned and were used for the study. The data gathered were analyzed in percentages and tables the study discovered that there are problems affecting the computerization of FUDMA Library such as lack of power supply, inadequate funds, lack of skilled staff. The study suggested that there the government should allocate enough funds to the library, a  standby generator should be provided as a supplement for power supply, skilled staff on computer application should be recruited and also a provision should be made for staff training/workshop on computer application.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Now, in our society all over the world technology is the most important advancement, a necessity in bringing about progress as we move along in this computerized world. These changes in effect make man’s life easier and more convenient. The relationship between the library and computer is constantly changing that the use of computer contributes to the way man learns and communicates.

A library can be defined as a room or building where books are kept and referenced. It is an area of multifarious activity on book management. A library as a repository of knowledge houses collections of books, both reference and general, technical reports, periodicals, journals, conference proceedings and the likes. Consequently, truth and knowledge can be found and acquired from the library through the aforementioned sources. The information contents of any of the collections can be recorded on microfilms, audiotapes, microchips and other materials traditionally kept in the library, which is charged with the responsibility of acquiring, organizing, maintaining, and judicial circulation of the books and other library materials through the various sections of the library, for efficient use of the library by the users.

A computerized library system for a high school keeps track of all books and periodicals in the library and their check-out status. The library system also interfaces with an external relational database which stores information about the library users (students, faculty, and staff), including whether they have any library items checked out. Library users can access the catalogue and recall books and periodicals. Library employees have the same access as well as additional capabilities

Librarians have the responsibility not only to know about the ways in which libraries will be managed using techniques of computerized , but also to be aware of the changes that computer can bring to the library services in the near future. Mean While, a library and the librarians are challenge to derive more techniques from the manual operation to that automated or rather computerized system.  (Grace, 2011)  Traditionally, library systems are implemented manually. Forms are given to librarians and they fill them of using pens. The school administrators process them manually and compiled on large bulky file kept in the cabinet. The manual library system is very costly, time consuming and tedious.

With a high speed and accuracy the old systems of books borrowing was more primitive because of its inherent in nature, which is associated with slow in operation and this create lawlessness in data accession. However with information technology, automation borrowing system allows unlimited numbers of clients to be adequately furnished on touch of a button they require information on the internet all over the globe.

According to Ahmed (2002) what the users of library require is to check their respective books loan status and place hold on to book that are already on loan . Similarly, the clients would only identify himself /herself to the system with an ID and password (like for an ATM).  It therefore, appears all together that a barcode scanner is used to replace the normal system of books borrowing; access to information of what ever in nature is now secured, reliable and satisfying.

1.1.1     Historical Background of Federal University, Dutsin-Ma

The Federal University, Dutsin-ma is located in Dutsin-ma Local government Area of Katsina State, which is located in the North-Western region of Nigeria, bordering Niger Republic, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa States.  The establishment of the Federal University Dutsin-ma along with eight other Federal Universities, is in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s determination to run a technology driven economy with the aim of achieving the vision 20:2020, to further improve the nation’s knowledge base and expand access to education, which is a defining factor in the establishment of institutions of learning in Nigeria. The overall goal of the establishment was to tackle the challenges of inadequate space for eligible university applicants. Thus the nine new Federal Universities, which were established in States where none existed, are positioned to strike a balance between access, equity and quality, thereby creating an avenue for indigenous appreciation of educational values. The establishment of Federal University Dutsin-ma along with eight other universities as a first phase in the approved establishment of twelve new universities on the basis of equity and access was consequent on a memorandum presented by the then Minister of state, Education, Olorogun Kenneth O. Gbagi to the Federal Executive Council, at its 39th meeting held on Wednesday, 10th November, 2010, recommending the establishment of 44 additional tertiary institutions nationwide. Under the chairmanship of Prof. Julius A. Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), a twelve-member technical committee developed the modalities for the location and take-off of Federal University, Dutsin-ma and the other eight universities in the report presented to the Honourable Minister on Monday, 15th November, 2010. This was followed with a visit by the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayat Ahmed Rufa’i, OON accompanied by the Director (Tertiary Education), Federal Ministry of Education and the executive Secretaries of NUC as well as the Education Trust Fund (ETF). With the support of the State Government, permanent as well as take-off site were identified, subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council, and Council approved the sum of N1.5 billion take-off grant, to be sourced from the ETF.

On 7th February, 2011, in his capacity as Visitor to Federal Universities, the President and Commander in Chief, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, appointed Prof. James O.I. Ayatse and Mal. Muhammad Yusuf Abubakar as Vice Chancellor and Registrar, respectively. These appointments were communicated by the Honorable minister of Education on Wednesday, 9th February 2011, and took effect from 16th February 2011. The Vice Chancellor and Registrar officially assumed office on 10th March, 2011, the day they were formally presented to the Government and people of Katsina State by the Honorable Minister of Education. The Vice Chancellor subsequently appointed MrSadiq Momoh Jimoh and Mallam Musbahu Naiya as the Deputy Bursar, and Deputy Librarian, respectively. The Federal University Dutsin-ma whose main objective is to encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring higher and liberal education matriculated her pioneer students of 219 spread across three faculties, namely: Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Arts and Management Studies, and Faculty of Science and Science Education. There are 1754 students consisting of 1255 males and 499 females registered in the 21 Departments of the three Faculties.

University administration and governance the federal government of Nigeria stands as the sole proprietor and source of funds for the federal university, Dutsinma, while his Excellency, the president and commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria is the visitor to the university. However, from the its inception till date, Katsina state government under the leadership of his Excellency, governor Ibrahim ShehuShema , FNIM has contributed generously towards the infrastructural development on the take-off campus.

At full administrative maturity, the visitor will exercise his control through the Federal Ministry of Education. The National University Commission, the chancellor, who essential is ceremonial, and governing council. The vice chancellor is the chief Executive and Accounting officer of the University. He is supported by other principal officers such as the Deputy Vice chancellor(s), the Registrar, the university Librarian and the Bursar

FUDMA library was established alongside its parent institution in 2012. The basis of its establishment is to support teaching, varying and research of the University staff and students. It is an academic library with the sole aim of acquiring, organizing and disseminating   relevant and up to date information needs of its clientele, it has acquired and presently maintains library materials in a variety of formats, including, but not limited to: print books, reference, journals and periodicals, audio and video materials, and a wide range of online and electronic resources which includes e-Books, e-journals, e-magazines, online encyclopedia, database among others. The library has since inception begun operation using the integrated library software (Koha) for its major activities. The library has increased its holdings and continues to increase since commencement of activities. Approximately, 90% of our books are online including reference and serial materials downloadable journals are made available to users for open and easy access. This we do following due process of cataloging them using integrated library software (Koha) making it easy for the library patrons to access it collection from anywhere in the world at their own convenience through the online public access catalogue (OPAC), also enabling staff to track library holdings real time online by viewing materials that are available for pick up, if on loan or not among other things. Computers are mounted in the e-library for clients use. Also you will find computers in the Circulation, technical, serial and reference section for downloaded journals and e-reference materials. It was formerly an attachment building adjacent to the then political science ad sociology department   before   it was finally moved to its present building in April 2013, which was built through the efforts of TETFund 2012 intervention.

At its inception, the Vice Chancellor prof. James O. I.  Ayatse employed the service of a Library Resource Person Prof S.H. BenkiWomboh to set up the university Library. In October, 2012, a deputy University Librarian who had served two terms as University Librarian at Bayero University Kano in the person of Malam MisbahuNa’iyaKatsina was employed to steer the leadership of FUDMA Library with his wealth of experience. In  January, 2015, a full fledge University Librarian was appointed in the person of Babangida Umar Dangani ( PhD) to carry the mantle of leadership in running the affair of the FUDMA library. He is a young, brilliant and dynamic scholar from Ahmad Bello University, Zaria.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

In the existing system all the transaction of books are done manually , so taking more time for transaction like borrowing a book or returning a book and also for searching of clienteles  and books. Another major problem is on preparing the list of books borrowed and the available books in the library will take more time, currently it is doing as a one day process for verifying all records. So after conducting the feasibility study a decision to make the manual library borrowing system to computerized system of borrowing informational materials was taken into consideration. Some of the problems being faced by the Federal University Dutsinma Library that brought about the new system design are as follows:

Fast report generation is not possible, There is a problem of inefficiency in terms of cataloguing system which will result to the obvious difficult in records of book and other reference materials, Information about issue/return of the books is not properly maintained, The manual system of borrowing is defective in nature in terms of its time consumption as it comes to a search for related information from a document especially when such a book was charged oneself to another, and Records are not available in database.

1.3     Research Questions

In conducting this research topic “An Evaluation of Computerized System of Borrowing Informational Resources in Academic Libraries (A Case Study of Federal University Dutsin­­-ma) has the following questions to ask.

1. What are the methods of evaluating the computerized library system of borrowing informational resources in Federal University Dutsin –ma Library, Katsina?
2. What development does the library experienced having the availability of computerized borrowing system of informational resources in Federal University Dutsin –ma Library, Katsina state?
3. What are the problems affecting computerized borrowing system of information resources in Federal University Dutsin –ma Library?
4. What are the measures to be taken in solving the problems affecting the computerized borrowing system of informational resources in Federal University Dutsin-ma library?

1.4     Objectives of the Study

Generally, for any organization to achieve the set objectives for its establishment, it must set in motion some working mechanisms that are of high quality, a library is considered as against organization and a heart of any institution in the quest for achievement of the education aspiration of any growing nation. Here are some specific objectives of the proposed system.

1. To find out the methods of evaluating the computerized library system of borrowing informational resources in Federal University Dutsin –ma Library, Katsina
2. To assess the development that the library experienced having the availability of computerized borrowing system of informational resources in Federal University Dutsin –ma Library, Katsina State.
3. To evaluate the problems affecting computerized borrowing system of information resources in Federal University Dutsin –ma Library.
4. To determine the measures to be taken in solving the problems affecting the computerized borrowing system of informational resources in Federal University Dutsin-ma library.

1.5     Significance of the Study

The significance of this research work goes along with the research objectives. This work is highly important to the management of any library as one of the features of this system is to automate the informational materials management in the library. Also, with the help of this research work, it has broadened the view and understanding of the researcher, inferably, wider and will also serve as a reference and study aid to other upcoming researcher and for academic material. The research shall:

It enables the library administrative staff to have a more reliable effective and accurate way to keep record of their information materials and of the people who borrow their materials in order to avoid duplication of unwanted records.

Also, provides the library clienteles with a modern method of accessing library materials by using automated system, which is more accurate, reliable and with a high speed.

Furthermore, offer the concerned body a means of modernizing their libraries with an automation system and similarly sent in their staff for updating their knowledge by becoming computer literate in the field.

Finally, Provides Automatic printing of warning letters for borrowers who have not returned their informational materials.

1.6     Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This research is restricted to Federal University of Dutsin-ma Library. The delimitation consists of funds, time constraints and easy access to relevant information.  

1.7     Operational Definitions of Some Terms

Automation: – Mean the employment of machines for library processes. Library automation has come to mean the application of computers and related data processing equipment to libraries

Borrowing system: – Is a process of given student, staffs book for loan over a period of     time by using 1.0 card or library borrowing cards

Clientele: – Mean users of the library

Computerized: – Is the systematic use of variety of computer base to provide information need to improve documentation, includes design, planning and implementations

Evaluation: – The making of a judgments about the amount, number, or value of something.

LAN (local area network): – This serves a local area (typically the area of a floor of a building, but in some cases spanning a distance of several kilometers)

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Tagged with: Computerized, Computerized Library Borrowing System, Evaluation, Federal University Dutsinma Library, Informational Resources, Library Borrowing System