Cloud Library For Efficient Utilization Of Eresources Among Libraries In Ethiopian Public Higher Learning Institutions

Abstract

Academic libraries of Public Higher Educational Institutions in Ethiopia (PHEIE) suffer from common problems like flexibility associated with e-library services, lower levels of efficiency, unequal distribution of information resources and huge costs involved in managing the entire Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. The main aim of this study was to investigate ways in which resource sharing among Ethiopian university libraries could be enhanced through the use of cloud technology with a view of suggesting a framework for effective application of cloud library in resource sharing. The methodology employed to conduct this study was survey research and the respondents’ drawn from Jimma, Mizan-Tepi and Hawassa Universities, which comprised of librarians, ICT professionals, students and staffs. Simple random sampling method was used to select samples from study population and a purposive sampling method was used to select study areas and samples for interview. Data for the study was collected through questionnaire, semistandardized face-to-face interview and observation. The preliminary results of the research show that 76.5% of respondents agreed cloud library was best means to increase resource sharing among universities. The majority of the respondents indicated that cloud library will benefit users in many ways; by access to all services at one point with M=4.7, SD=1.2 as well as ease to get disseminated information with Mean=3.6, SD=1.3. The study found that cloud library had a potential to minimize duplication of e-library projects with M=3.75, SD=1.28 and to enhance abilities to integrate libraries with each other by a M=3.79, SD=1.28. It found also that cloud library technologies are not available in EPHLI and thus can be said that their impact on resource sharing had not been felt. Hence, the recommendation for the availability of cloud library technology applications for access of EPHLI libraries in Ethiopia was provided.