Dissertation Information for Victor Chukwuma Igwilo NAME: - Victor Chukwuma Igwilo
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1980)
ADVISORS: - Allen Kent
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - E. Blanche Woolls - Kenneth Leon Montgomery - Ellen Detlefsen - Jay E. Daily
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER-BASED CIRCULATION CONTROL SYSTEMS IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
Abstract: The overall purpose of this study was to provide guidelines for the development of computer-based circulation control systems for the university libraries in Nigeria. It was the thesis of the study that systems approach methodology and its related integrated systems concept in a distributive computing environment could be used in satisfying this purpose.
Designed to answer five basic research questions, the study included a review of the literature, questionnaire surveys, and interviews. The research instruments--three written questionnaires and three interview schedules--were developed, refined and pretested. The population sample for this study consisted of 1,104 librarians, systems specialists, and university faculty, staff and students from two universities, the Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ibadan.
Sixty-seven percent of mailed questionnaires were returned. The results were tabulated and analyzed as they relate to the specific areas the study addressed. The Chi square test and T-test statistics were used first, to determine if differences existed in the way different groups and institutions involved in the study responded to similar questions. The analysis of the questionnaire and interview responses served mainly to provide the framework for the formulation of the guidelines. Expert opinion, recorded in the literature, served to fill in gaps, elaborate and provide rationale where needed.
Set against the needs of the libraries and the constraints in the Nigerian university environment, the opinion of the professional librarians and systems specialists, as well as drawing on the experience of experts expressed in the literature, the following conclusions were reached as guidelines for the development of computer-based circulation control systems in the university libraries in Nigeria: (a) In the development of computer-based systems in the university libraries in Nigeria the best approach is a logical process where possible applications are identified by looking at all library activities which are mostly labour intensive, and install them with the detailed perspective needed to assure that each separate unit can be linked with the other. (b) The development approach for computer-based circulation control systems would be based on an integrated systems concept with a machine-readable data base designed from the bibliographic record (catalog). (c) An integrated data base would be supplemented by the concept of distributed computing or processing. The idea is that both the mini and the mainframe computers should be used, with each processing need handled by the computer system best suited to it. (d) The development of computer-based circulation control systems should not be based on computing power supplied by commercial bureaux; rather the university computer center facilities would be used with a dedicated minicomputer installed within the library. (e) Given the present infrastructure in the country, a completely on-line real-time system will not be feasible immediately. Rather, an intermediate solution to the off-line/on-line provided by the hybrid concept would be adopted as a short range approach. In the long range approach, both the mini and mainframe computers would operate in an on-line mode based on the principles of "80%-20%" rule. This suggests that approximately 20% of the circulation files (the highly active files) are retained in the library for processing with the dedicated minicomputer which would transact about 80% of the circulation data processing and information requirements. This means that although the mainframe computer has 100% of the files, it would only function when the minicomputer fails to satisfy a request or an action required.
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MPACT Scores for Victor Chukwuma Igwilo A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:22:19
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