Influence of automated cataloguing system on manual cataloguing system in the library: a case study of selected academic libraries in south-west, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examied the automation of cataloguing and classification practices in academic libraries in South-West Nigerian and what effect the automated cataloguing systme has on manual cataloguing in the the libraries. The study population comprised 110 library professional and paraprofessional personnel working in the cataloguing section of the ten federal and state university libraries in South-West Nigeria. Total enumeration technique was used to randomly select the study population for this study. Data for this study was 4 collected using questionnaire. A 5-point Likert scale were used with 1-5 representing ‘strongly agree’, ‘agree’, ‘undecided’, ‘disagree’ and ‘strongly disagree’ respectively, to elicit information from the respondents. A total of 110 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. 85 copies of the questionnaires were retrieved and valid for analysis. Data were analysed using charts, table, frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The result of the study find out that automation is changing positively the way bibliographic details are being created and displayed. Cataloguing is now quicker with the automated system and that automated system is preferred to the manual system. The study highlighted various benefits of cataloguing automation such as automation improve interpersonal relationship, saves time, easy feedback from library user, etc. The study recommends that libraries should not be satisfied with the little benefits derived from the partial automation of the cataloguing and other sections of the libraries but should fully automate the systems and continuously upgrade the automated systems especially as technology unfolds.

Keywords: Academic libraries, cataloguing, automation, automated systems.