Factors associated with the library personnel’s readiness to use library automation

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the library personnel profile, work-related characteristics, exposure to ICT use and level of knowledge, attitude and readiness to library automation. Likewise, the study will determine the attitude and readiness of the personnel towards library automation when grouped according to personnel profile, work-related characteristics, exposure to ICT and level of knowledge about library automation as well as relationship between attitude and readiness towards library automation. This study used descriptive analysis and employed a one-shot survey design among eight (8) State Universities and Colleges in Iloilo and Guimaras Provinces. A total of 42 library personnel served as the respondents of the study. Complete enumeration was employed. This descriptive study employed a self-administered questionnaire to collect the data. Frequency distribution, mean score, percentage were used to measure the library personnel personal, work-related characteristics, utilization of ICT, knowledge, attitude and readiness towards library automation. The data collected were tabulated, computed and processed through a computer based program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results of the study revealed that majority of the library personnel have ages ranging between 39 years old and below with the mean age of 38 years old. There was moderate age gap between the young and old with the standard deviation of 12 years. Most of the personnel were non-library science with clerk/administrative aide position having casual/contractual job status, and with 10 years and below length of service. Majority have not attended any training/seminar related to ICT and library automation. But among those who have attended, most of them have attended a total of 1 to 3 days which are usually held outside the region or at the national and funded by the school. Most of the library personnel use ICT 2 to 3 times a week and a small proportion are daily users and usually utilize are computer printer. On the other hand, the software which they use most commonly utilized are the internet, Microsoft Office word, and Microsoft Office excel. Most of the library personnel have high level of knowledge on library automation. Majority of the library personnel have very favorable attitude towards library. The top five statements which reflect favorable attitude of the respondents to library automation are: library automation can easily monitor the in and out of the library materials; make fast and easy retrieval of information; give quality, high speed and effective service; dissemination of information, products and services globally; and the best way of sharing resources. On the other hand, the top five statements which reflect the reason why library personnel do not have favorable attitude to library automation are: library automation cause delay to the library services because of complicated computer commands; encourage staff laziness; stressful to employees and can lower down job.