Perception, use and effectiveness of open source library systems by academic librarians in selected tertiary institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the perception, use, and effectiveness of open source library systems by academic librarians in selected institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria. Fifty-eight librarians drawn from five academic libraries represent the sample for the study. The research adopted a descriptive survey approach, using a questionnaire to gather data to test five aspects of use and perception. The findings show that most of the respondents perceived open-source library systems as effective for handling academic libraries' services; the effectiveness of the open-source systems from the librarians' perspective depends on its practical usability and efficiency. Librarians profile such as position/designation, educational level, years of experience, and gender affect the perception of open source system OSS; while erratic power supply, lack of funding and equipment are the most common challenges faced by libraries and librarians concerning the use of open-source library systems. Observation from the literature reveals that there are published researches on open source, however, there is a need for more research in this area concerning Nigeria's academic libraries. Furthermore, most of the published studies consider various aspects of the adoption process, reasons for adoption, the process of training and maintenance, and not perception which is an important factor that determines use. This study provides a significant potential to explore the effectiveness of open source library systems in academic libraries by academic librarians in tertiary institutions libraries in Nigeria. The findings of the study add to the existing literature to provide a better understanding and creating awareness on the best practices in the application of open-source library systems to library operations.