| dc.description.abstract | The aim of the study was to improve library services at IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTVS) through digitalisation. The objectives of the study were to; identify library services provided at ISTVS, establish the enabling environment for digitalisation at ISTVS library, identify the challenges encountered during digitalisation of library services at ISTVS and proposed strategies to strengthen digitalisation of library services at ISTVS. The study used a descriptive case study research design while adopting a mixed research approach. 31 library users were conveniently selected and 2 library staff were selected by census to participate in the study respectively. Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used to collect data.
The researcher used a questionnaire, interview and observation methods to collect data on the digitalisation of library services at ISTVS. The population of the study comprised of the students and staff of ISTVS. The sample size of 33 respondents clustered as (staff -11 and students -22) was used in the study, with a response rate of 100% which was judged useful for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed low levels of information literacy, lack of motivation, limited training of library users, insufficient ICT infrastructure, poor internet facilities, information overload and inadequate funding as inhibitors to successful digitalisation library services at ISTVS. The study recommends the following: the institution’s leadership needs to appreciate the diverse inhibitors of digitalisation for provision of library services and map out strategies to deal with this problem; the designers of the library information access systems should enhance perceived usefulness either by adding additional functional capabilities to the system, or by making it easier to invoke the functions that are already in existence; that those in charge of developing access packages and systems should try to make the navigation and design layout easily understandable and less challenging to use; and lastly, academic institutions should put in place policies and regulations to encourage digitalisation and implementation of these strategies.
The findings further indicated that lack of skills in digital technology is a major challenge in the digitalisation of library services. It was also clear that providing a roadmap for digitalisation of library services requires a strategy for copyright protection, preservation policy, and publicity and awareness of the digitalised information services. | en_US |
