Researcher: DAVID A. CABONERO
Course: Master of Arts major in Library Science
School: Centro Escolar University, Philippines
Subject Area: Library Automation
Year of Graduation: March 2004
Introduction
The rapid developments in computers in libraries around the world led to the increased used of information and communications technologies in creating and delivering better library and information services.
Statement of the Problem
The main thrusts of this study is to determine the present status of Saint Mary's University (SMU) Library. Specifically, it answers the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the respondents with regard to: age, gender, and tear level (students), highest educational attainment, and length of service in SMU (faculty and librarians)?
2. What is the status of SMU library as perceived by the students, faculty, and librarians with regard to the library collection, organization of the collection, library staff, library services, physical facilities, information technology facilities, and financial support?
3. How did the perceptions of the respondents compare on the aforementioned areas?
4. What are the functions and services of SMU library that need to be automated as perceived by the respondents?
5. What automation plan can be prepared for SMU library?
Methodology
The survey questionnaire was the main instrument used in gathering data. It was administered to five hundred six (506) respondents. The accomplished assessment tools were gathered for analysis, tabulation and interpretation using the statistical measures which include the frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation and analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Findings
1. Profile of the Respondents.
The following are the profile of the respondents: 1) Majority of the students (50.9 percent) were aged 18-19; 64.6 percent were female; and 31.1 percent were sophomores; 2) Twenty-eight percent of the faculty were aged 26-32 years old; 68 percent were female; majority of them were pursuing their Master's degrees; and 48 percent had served the school for 1-5 years; 3) Fifty percent of the librarians were 26-30 years old; 75 percent were female; 60.5 percent were pursuing their Master's degrees; and 62.5 percent have stayed for 1-10 years.
2. Status of Saint Mary's University Library, College Department
The following were the analyses of the data on the status of the SMU library: 1) The students and the faculty respondents perceived the library collection as “good” while the librarian respondents perceived it as “very good;” 2) The respondents agreed that the card catalog, periodical index, research aids, vertical files, and CD-ROMs were effective and adequate; 3) The students and librarian respondents perceived as “good” the readiness of the librarians for automation of the library services while the faculty perceived it as “very good;” 4) The students and librarians perceived as “good” while the faculty perceived it as “very good; the services of the library; 5) Both students and librarians perceived the physical facilities of the library as “good” while the faculty perceived it as “very good;” 6) All the respondents perceived it as “moderately sufficient” the computers and the printers in the library; and 7) The respondents agreed that the library fees were spent solely for the library and that the Director of the Libraries had full responsibility of preparing the library budget.
3. Comparison of the Perceptions of the Respondents
There was a significant different between the perceptions of the students and faculty on library collection. The students perceived as “good” while the faculty perceived it as “very good;” The perception of the students differed very significantly from those of the faculty on the aspects library staff, library services, physical facilities and financial support. The students perceived them as “good” while the faculty perceived it as “very good.”
4. Priority Needs for Library Automation
The respondents prioritized the library functions and services in the following order: 1) card catalog; 2) security control; 3) circulation control; 4) reference service; 5) indexing module; 6) cataloging module; 7) serial module; and 8) acquisition module. They also suggested the development of the electronic resources in the following order: 1) Internet access; 2) CD-ROMs; 3) Online databases; 4) CD-ROM databases; and 5) electronic journals.
5. A Proposed Automation Plan for Saint Mary's University Library.
The following activities were identified: 1) First priorities to be implemented in 2004-2005 are the acquisition, cataloging, indexing, OPAC, the reference/information services, and Internet access; 2) Second priorities to be implemented in 2005-2006 are the circular module and the digitization of important documents; 3) Third priorities to be implemented in 2006-2007 are the electronic journals, online databases, and security control system; and 4) The last priority to be implemented in 2007-2008 is the serial management.
Conclusions
1. There is a need to improve and modernize the collections, facilities and services of the library;
2. Saint Mary's University is financially capable of supporting the needs of its library, especially the automation of library function; and
3. The consensus of the library users is that there is a need to improve the library through information and communications technology.
Recommendations
1. Implementation of the library automation plan to improve the services of Saint Mary's University library; and
2. Continuous evaluation of the automation development to ensure implementation of the program.
