Availability of Appropriate Technology in Library Automation Practices at Multimedia University, Kenya

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the availability of technology in library automation and to identify the significance of infrastructural, financial and human resources in library automation practices. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to establish the role of the provision of e-resource facilities on library automation practices, to determine the extent of ICT training on the automation of library practices and to determine the extent of support for library automation practices in Kenya. The target population consisted of 1 librarian and the 2 assistant librarians, 105 departmental library staff and 2100 library users of Multi-Media University. This amounted to a target population of 2208. The sample comprised of a whole population of librarian, assistant librarians, 20% of departmental staff were used and 10% of library users comprised the sample of 234 respondents. Random sampling was used in selecting the departmental staff. Stratified sampling was used in selecting library users according to their stage of study. Appropriate research tools were used in collecting primary data which was supplemented with secondary data. Many university libraries had challenges in ensuring effective automation of their services. From the findings, there existed incompatibility issues and prohibition by programmers.  In regard to the evaluation of the availability of the right automation technology it was found that there was only a moderate availability of appropriate technology on library automation. The provision of e-Resource facilities was moderately rated. This demonstrated that although there was sufficient commitment for university library automation, there lacked sufficient ICT training on such technology and that there was only a moderate provision of e-resource facilities. More was needed to be done to ensure compatibility of library technologies. The study recommended that university library administration should integrate their ICT training arrangements. This is aimed at achieving an all-participatory approach to automation as well as achieving better automation practices. Further, there was need to adopt a common automation technology so as to solve incompatibility issues. A similar study that shall employ longitudinal survey and employ case study analysis to corroborate these research findings is suggested by from this study. Further research on the suitability of the automation technologies adoption is suggested.