=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1830/Paper30
|storemode=property
|title=Relevance and Use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) in University Libraries in North-Central Nigeria
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1830/Paper30.pdf
|volume=Vol-1830
|authors=Abdullahi Shaba Mohammed,Katamba Abubakar Saka
}}
==Relevance and Use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) in University Libraries in North-Central Nigeria==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1830/Paper30.pdf
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications
(ICTA 2016)
Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
November 28 – 30, 2016
Relevance and Use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) in University
Libraries in North Central Nigeria
Abdullahi Shaba Mohammed1 and Katamba Abubakar Saka2
1
AUST Library, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja
2
Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
1
shabakatcha@gmail.com, 2s.katamba@futminna.edu.ng
Abstract—OPAC is an acronym of Online Public Access continuous researches and development has created that
Catalogue and it is an online database of holdings in a library problem of not only identifying what has been published in a
or group of libraries whereby users search catalogue to locate given field of knowledge but also getting access to the
variety of information resources such as books, monographs, needed information [1].
serials, theses, audio visual material and other information In order to resolve this conflict, bibliographic control
resources. OPAC enables user to have easy access to holdings mechanisms need to be put in place. This is a systematic
in library or group of libraries thereby saving the time of user. recording of published and unpublished information
The study investigated the relevance and use of online public resources in whatever format. One of such mechanism the
access catalogue in universities of Jos, Ilorin as well as African
“Library Catalogue” and hence Online Public Access
University of Science and Technology, Abuja. Three research
questions were formulated to include variables such as
catalogue according to [2] is “a computer form of library
relevance, use and challenges. Descriptive survey was used catalogue to access materials in the library with ease and thus
with population of 24,033 users (undergraduate and it is the database of the collection of a library or group of
postgraduate students and faculty members). Stratified libraries whereby users search catalogue, access and retrieve
sampling technique was used to select 377 users. Four point information/information resources with ease and time-
likert scale questionnaire was used in data collection. Mean saving” [3]. This is a computerize version of manual
and standard deviation was used to analyze data. Findings catalogue which allow user’s access to information resources
showed that OPAC was relevance in the use of mobile phone via internet using author, title, subject, etc as access points.
and computer system to access information resources as well as OPAC can be used as means of getting access to library
for academic and educational purposes. OPAC was used to collection that are not only online but also those that are
access e-journal/books and to determine the existence of physically on the shelves. Despite the penetration of ICT in
document on shelve. Inadequate ICT skills, lack of awareness every facets of human life including librarianship most
of website addresses and indifference of library staff were the libraries in Nigerian are yet to implement or embrace the use
challenges in the accessibility and use of OPAC. OPAC as information retrieval device and few academic
Recommendations were proffered e.g. management of libraries that are using the technology we faced with some
university libraries operating OPAC should provide more challenges.
computer systems for easy accessibility to information This study was confined and limited to only three
resources in university libraries in North Central, Nigeria.
university libraries (Jos, Ilorin and AUST Abuja) that are
Keywords-relevance; accessibility; use; users; OPAC;
operating Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) as at the
university libraries; north central; Nigeria time of this research. Location of other universities financial
and time constraints and non-operation of OPAC in the other
university library in north central Nigeria as limited the study
I. INTRODUCTION to these three university libraries.
An organization, institution or establishment usually
consists of various information systems. These systems
include archives, museums, libraries, information centres, II. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
media centres, Information and Communication Technology,
etc. Library is considered as one of the information systems Every library is expected to packaged and manage its
that is charged with the responsibilities of acquiring, collection in the form of cataloging. In this era of ICT it is
processing, organizing, storing, preserving and disseminating expected that academic libraries adopt the use of OPAC so
information resources to users on request. Libraries acquire that users can effectively exploit information resources.
and store vast amount of information resources and can only Unfortunately it has been discovered that users
be accessed if they are well managed and packaged. encountered problems of accessing information in the course
However, the exponential growth or rapid increase in the of using OPAC. One begin to wonder what has been
published and unpublished materials which was caused by responsible for his negative situation. This study is to
164
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
investigate the relevance and use of OPAC in three while descriptive statistic was used to analyze data. Result
university libraries in the North Central Nigeria. showed that OPAC allow users to search information
resources outside the university and offers two or more users
III. RESEARCH QUESTIONS accessed to the same electronic resources [9].
The following research questions were formulated to
guide the study.
What is the relevance of OPAC in the accessibility V. METHODOLOGY
and use of information resources in university Descriptive survey was adopted while the population
libraries in North Central Nigeria? consisted of 24,033 users drawn from three University
What is the purpose of using OPAC in university libraries in North Central Nigeria. These Universities
libraries in North Central Nigeria? include; University of Jos, African University of Science and
What are the challenges discovered in the Technology, Abuja and University of Ilorin and are the only
accessibility and use of OPAC in university libraries three university libraries that are operating and implementing
in North Central Nigeria? OPAC system as at the time of this research. However,
postgraduate students in Universities of Ilorin and Jos did not
IV. LITERATURE REVIEW register with the university libraries as OPAC users. The PG
students are also expected to register with the universities’
In a study on the use of OPAC among student of OPAC websites before been considered as OPAC users.
sociology at the University of Botswana, in a research, [4] Registration with university libraries as library users is
reported students’ search for library collection has the major different from registration as OPAC users. The population of
reason for using OPAC. A study conducted by [5] to registered PG students with OPAC website cannot be
determine the availability and accessibility of information determined in this study because the PG students’ from
sources to undergraduate students through distance learning universities of Ilorin and Jos did not registered with
programme in University of Abuja. Variables studied include university libraries OPAC websites. The same situation exist
availability, accessibility and barriers to access information on the part of faculty members of the two universities.
resources. Questionnaire was used in data collection. Results Table I spelt out the population of users of OPAC in the
showed that the availability and accessibility of textbooks, three university libraries.
journals, newspapers, dictionaries, attribute, encyclopedia, A sample size of 377 OPAC users was selected using
seminar papers, Compact Disk-Read Only Memory, internets stratified sampling technique and it involves dividing
and telephones, Majority of the respondents indicated lack of population into layers (strata) using 50%, 45% and 5%
public libraries in Abuja metropolis city as a major barrier to respectively based on the population of each university
access information sources among distance learning students. library OPAC users.
A study was conducted by [6] on OPAC use at Guru
Nanak Development University Library, Punjab with Four point likert scale type of close-end questionnaire
emphasis on the awareness, frequency of use and level of (strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree) was
satisfaction. It was discovered that majority of OPAC users used in data collection [10] and [11] such that mean score
were able to locate information through OPAC although was used to analyzed the likert scale questionnaire. The
users were not satisfied due to difficulties and encountered in modified version of the likert type of questionnaire was in
a bid to search, access and locate information through first instance subjected to validity and reliability. The
OPAC. reliability co-efficient of 0.72 was obtained from split half
An empirical study was conducted by [7] to determine method of pilot study. Modified copies of questionnaire were
the internet access and use among undergraduate students of administered on 377 users of OPAC.
Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu. Questionnaire was used Analysis of data was carried out using descriptive
in data collection while frequency counts and percentages statistics involving mean and standard deviation to answer
was used to analyzed data. Results showed that almost all research questions. A mean score of 3.0 and above is
respondents indicated that their departments were connected considered as an acceptable mean while below 3.0 is rejected
to the internet and thus have access to the internet through mean.
mobile phones. Study further revealed that
academic/educational purposes advanced for using internet
by undergraduate students.
In a related study [8] investigated the use of OPAC by VI. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATINO OF FINDINGS
users of John Harris Library, University of Benin. The study Out of the 377 copies of questionnaire administered, 299
was aimed at investigating the access point of OPAC to card copies representing 79% were filled and returned in usable
catalogue and the challenges involve in the use of OPAC. form.
Closed ended type of questionnaire was used Result showed From table two and based on the response rate of 299
that access point was mostly through title, author and subject respondents, the highest respondents were from university of
and that skills were acquired during orientation programme Ilorin and were undergraduate students. This showed that
and teaching of a course on the use of library. this category of users used OPAC in most cases to access the
An investigation on the effects and challenges in the use needed information. The lowest respondents were from
of OPAC in Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan and African University of Science and Technology, Abuja which
University of Lagos Library, Nigeria was carried out. might be attributed to the fact that the university offer
Questionnaire was the only data collection instrument used, postgraduate programmes only.
165
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
TABLE I. POPULATION OF THE STUDY
Users
S/N Name of University Postgraduate Faculty % Sample
Undergraduate Total
Masters Doctorate Members Sample Size
1 University of Ilorin, Ilorin 12,800 – – – 12,800 50 189
2 University of Jos, Jos 11,126 – – – 11,126 45 170
3 African University of Science and – 59 23 25 107 5 19
Technology, Abuja
Total 23,926 59 23 25 24,033 100 377
TABLE II. RESPONDENTS BY UNIVERSITIES VII. DISCUSSION OF MAJOR FINDINGS
S/N University Freq (Percentage %) Four research questions were formulated and were
1 University of Ilorin, Ilorin 167 56% used to obtain data from the respondents.
2 University of Jos, Jos 122 41%
The research question one was used to obtain
3 African University of 10 3%
Science and Technology, responses on relevance of OPAC to information
Abuja accessibility and use the popular item discovered was that
Total 299 100 OPAC allow access to information through mobile phone
and computer system. With the current trends, libraries in
From Table III, it was discovered that highest mean of developed nations are using OPAC by which mobile
3.6 was obtained from the item on OPAC provision to phones and computer system connected to internet are now
access electronic information through mobile phones and used to access the needed information. This finding
computer system. Thus, majority of users do access corroborates the research findings that departments in
information and information resources through the use of University of Abuja were connected to internet and
computer as well as browsing through their phones. accessibility was made easier through mobile phones. This
Closed related to this was pre-browsing through library was also supported by research finding that reported
web address with a mean score of 3.4. Before user browse, OPAC as tool that enable users search information
he/she must first of all access the university library web resources outside the university environment.
site. However respondents could not agree with the Research question two sought to find out the purpose
statement on accessibility to information outside the of using OPAC in the three university libraries operating
university environment as it revealed the mean score of this system. The response showed that OPAC was used to
2.1. Outside the university environment neither network access e-journals and books and to ascertain the existence
nor OPAC can be used/accessed. of document on shelve each with mean score of 3.6.
From Table IV, the first two items had mean score of Responses to the two items were positive and accepted as
3.6 revealing that respondents used of OPAC were to users search for documents to meet their information and
access e-journals/books to meet research needs as well research needs. This finding corroborates the findings that
determining the existence of printed document on shelve. reported the availability and accessibility to textbooks,
All these are/geared towards meeting. journals, newspapers, dictionaries, etc, while the later
From Table V, respondents indicated that the three researcher reported that the purpose of using OPAC was
items were accepted thus with the mean scores of 3.5, 3.4 because of academic/educational purposes. These findings
and 3.3 meaning that uses lack ICT skills, were not aware was further supported by research report revealing the
of library website addresses and that attitude of library search for library collection by students was the major
staff was not encouraged. All these problems affect the reason for using OPAC.
level of accessibility to information resources.
TABLE III. RELEVANCE OF OPAC IN THE ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION RESOURCES
S/N Items SA A D SD Mean SD Decision
4 3 2 1
1 OPAC provides access to electronic information via mobile phone and 48 222 11 18 3.6 .824 Accepted
computer system
2 OPAC allow accessibility outside the University environment 151 19 72 57 2.1 1.225 Rejected
3 OPAC allow pre-browsing through the University Library web address 32 21 42 204 3.4 1.013 Accepted
TABLE IV. PURPOSE OF USING OPAC IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
S/N Items SA A D SD Mean SD Decision
4 3 2 1
1 To access e-journals/books to meet research needs 225 40 26 8 3.6 .758 Accepted
2 To determine the availability of particular printed document on shelve 209 64 19 7 3.6 .715 Accepted
3 To determine the collection strength of a library by subject, another and title 158 99 41 1 1.7 1.010 Rejected
166
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
TABLE V. CHALLENGES TO ACCESSIBILITY AND USE OF OPAC
S/N Items SA A D SD Mean SD Decision
4 3 2 1
1 Lack of awareness of library website addresses 181 71 30 17 3.4 .855 Accepted
2 Lack of ICT skills 206 55 20 18 3.5 .865 Accepted
3 Attitude of library staff 188 52 32 27 3.3 .992 Accepted
The third research question sought to find answer to the The management of university libraries operating
challenges involved in the accessibility and use of OPAC in OPAC should improve upon the existing system by
the three university libraries in North Central Nigeria. Lack making provision for more computer systems in the
of adequate ICT skills, awareness of University Library university libraries.
website addresses and attitude of library staff were Management of university libraries in the zone
discovered and accepted as serious challenges. All the three should ensure that there is subscription to e-
challenges has adverse and negative effect on the resources.
level/degree of information accessibility and use. This Management of university libraries operating OPAC
finding corroborates the findings on the study that revealed should organize regular training/workshop for users
users’ inability to locate information but associated with to be proficient in ICT skills and create awareness in
some challenges most of which were parts of the ones reveal the area of website addresses. The library staff
by the present findings on table five. The present findings should be made to have positive change in attitude
however disagree with the finding of collaborative study that thereby attending to users in their areas of challenges
reported absence of public libraries in Abuja metropolitan and information needs.
city as the major obstacle to information accessibility among
undergraduate students of distance learning programme.
REFERENCES
VIII. SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS [1] M.G Ochugwu. “Problem of blilographic control of information
sources” in an introductory text to the library and information
Based on the interpretation of data, the generalization of profession. M.G Ochogwu, A.D Ugah and S.A Uganeya (eds) Katsina
the study was based on the three university libraries – Alla: Climax graphic and publisher limited, 2016, pp, 49-56.
operating OPAC in north central Nigeria and the major [2] Y.A Liman,, U. Shuaibu, D. Danladi & Y.D Mani, Application of
findings are summarized below: ICT in library services and operations; The Nigerian experience.
Relevance of OPAC was that mobile phone and Benue Journal of library, management and information science vol. 6
No. 1 June 2016 pp, 39-53
computer system were used to access information
resources [3] V.N Okafor and S.C Ukwoma. “Access and retrieval of information
in developing countries” in modern library and information science
Access to e-journals and books and to determine the for information professionals in Africa. E.C Madu and C.N Ezeani
existence of document on shelve as well as meeting (eds) Ibadan: Textlinks publishers, pp 173-174, 2010
the academic and educational need where the [4] L. Morrupisi and N.P Mooko. Using the online public access
purpose of using OPAC catalogue at the University of Botswana. Information development
Constraints to the accessibility and use of OPAC 2006 vol. 22 No. 3 pp 179-204, 2006
include: inadequate ICT skills, lack of awareness of [5] G.S Olowonefa and I.F Musa. Availability and accessibility of
information sources to distance learning students. A case study of
university library websites and indifference of University of Abuja. Nigerian Libraries. Vol 40 No. 2, pp 75-88,
library staff. 2011
[6] S. Kumar and R. Vohra. Use of online public access catalogue in
IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Guru Nanak Development University Library, Amristar: A study of
SRELS. Journal of information management vol. 48 No. 5, pp 519-
From the research it can be deduced that mobile phones 528, 2011
and computer systems were the common ICTs in the world [7] E.U Igwebuike, Exploring internet access and use among students of
now. However information resources can exist in both print Godfery Okoye University for effective learning ;Proceedings of the
and electronic format while accessibility to both can be by 12th annual conference/annual general meeting of the Nigerian library
OPAC. Users’ ICT level was low and the resultant effect is association, Enugu state chapter held at liberty center dependent
layout Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria 21st - 23rd November, 2012,
the inability to access the needed information at the right
time: [8] A. Garba, and K.A Emoknohoro. The use of OPAC by patrons at the
John Harris Library, University of Benin. INFOLIB: Journal of
Registered OPAC users can use the mobile phone at their Library and Information Science. Vol. 6 No 1&2 , pp 11-19, 2012
door step, browse, locate and retrieve the needed information [9] A. Adenike and O. Akin. Online public access catalogue (OPAC) in
and materials through various access points. Nigerian Libraries: A case study of Kenneth Dike Library and
However, from the review of empirical study, it was University of Lagos Library. Ozeal journal of social science vol. 6
discovered that found that OPAC allow user to search No. 3, pp 55-65
information resources outside the university environment [10] B.I Igbeneghu. A study of health information needs and utilization of
whereby it is possible to locate both authors, title ISBN, secondary school teachers in Ile-Ife central local government area,
Osun state, Nigeria. International journal of applied technologies in
ISSN and other bibliography details at the same time. library and information management. Vol 2 No. 1 pp 16-27
Manuscript review show that OPAC users locate [11] A.O Anaza, M.A Abdullahi and C.C Ohanado. Information and
information with difficulties and the major reason for using communication technology competence among lecturers of colleges
OPAC was to search for library collection of education in north central Nigeria. Journal of science, technology,
Based on these facts, the study recommends that:- mathematics and education (JOSTMED) vol 12 No. 1, pp 262-273.
167