2026-11-10T10:11:19Zhttps://repository.slads.sc.tz/api/oaioai:repository.slads.sc.tz:cmsj1u9av0041k8c53ellpia22026-11-10T09:59:31Zdepartment:LIMtype:dissertationASSESSMENT OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION SYSTEMS IN ENHANCING INFORMATION SERVICE DELIVERY IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A CASE OF KAOLE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTUREMwajabu Hassan AthumaniLibrary automation systemsInformation service deliveryKaole College of Agriculture (KCA) LibraryOnline Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)User satisfaction and operational efficiencyICT infrastructure and power supplyUser orientation and staff trainingABSTRACT
This study assessed the role of library automation systems in improving information
service delivery at Kaole College of Agriculture (KCA) Library. It aimed to examine the
contribution of automation to library operations, evaluate user satisfaction, identify
challenges affecting automated services, and propose improvement strategies. The study
used a descriptive research design with a mixed-method approach. Data were collected
from 30 respondents (25 library users and 5 librarians) through questionnaires,
interviews, and observation, and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic
analysis.
The findings revealed that library automation has improved multiple areas of library
services, with circulation services being the most improved (32%), followed by OPAC
services (28%), information retrieval (24%), and cataloguing processes (16%). The
majority of respondents (80%) strongly agreed that automation has improved efficiency
in service delivery, and 76% were highly satisfied with automated library services.
However, the study identified internet connectivity (40%), inadequate ICT infrastructure
(24%), and power outages (16%) as the main challenges affecting the effective use of
the automation system.
The study concludes that while library automation has positively contributed to
information service delivery at KCA, its effectiveness is limited by infrastructure
challenges. The study recommends strengthening internet connectivity, upgrading
automation systems regularly, increasing funding for library automation, conducting
continuous staff training, providing user orientation and training, ensuring stable power
supply, and establishing a system monitoring and feedback mechanism to ensure
sustainable improvement of automated library services. School of Library, Archives and Documentation Studies (SLADS)2026TextDissertationapplication/pdfhttps://repository.slads.sc.tz/records/cmsj1u9av0041k8c53ellpia2enAll rights reservedhttps://repository.slads.sc.tz/api/records/cmsj1u9av0041k8c53ellpia2/file