The Implementation Status Of Integrated Library System For Enhancing Library Operations And Services: Case Of Koha In Selected Public University Libraries, Ethiopia

Abstract

The goal of this study was focused on investigating the implementation status of KOHA open sources integrated library management system implementation at Addis Ababa, Debre Berhan and Wolkite university libraries. The researcher addressed the current library automation status using KOHA open sources ILS, the functionality of core modules, as well as challenges that affect implementation of open sources integrated library system. Those university libraries were selected using convenience method. The research design used for this study was cross-sectional study. Both qualitative and quantitative method was used to collect data from the library staff. To collect the data interview and questioners were used. One director one ICT team leader of library and one head of circulation, cataloging and acquisition was used for interview from each university libraries using purposive method for qualitative and all the technical library staff who are directly involved with the activity of library system and circulation staff were used for questioners for quantitative data. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the use of SPSS version 20 and to see the significance, inferential statistics, i.e. analysis of variance (linear regression) were used. The results shown that the five core modules of ILS were significant for enhancing implementation of ILS. ILS is capable of handling the operations of more than one basic library functions. The finding shown the cataloging, OPAC, circulation modules are fully implemented in KOHA library system in AAU while, circulation is partially implemented in DBU and WKU libraries. On the other hand, acquisition and serial control part of the system was not yet functional in all universities.