Effects of Technological Changes on Library Operations and Services at Egerton University Library

Abstract

The operations and services of libraries have experienced significant changes due to introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This has introduced an array of both technical and managerial issues that can have adverse impact on information management if not checked. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of technological changes on library operations and services with a view of proposing a framework to guide the management of technological changes as they affect library information management practices at Egerton University. The objectives of the study were to: trace the history and drivers of technology application at Egerton University Library between 1999 and 2013; establish the technological changes and their implications on library operations, services and staff skills and knowledge; assess the adequacy of the existing ICT policy; examine the technological benefits and challenges associated with introduction of ICTs affecting library operations and services and propose a framework to guide adoption of new ICTs in the management of library operations and services. The study adopted Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) as its theoretical framework. A qualitative paradigm using case study as the research method was employed. Purposive sampling technique was used to select fifty (50) respondents comprising of both professional and para-professional staff from the library, and four (4) staff drawn from ICT and Procurement Departments. Data was collected using face-to-face interviews and analyzed thematically. The study established that the benefits accrued from technology adoption far outweighed the negative effects. Amongst the notable benefits were: greater level of efficiency in operations and productivity; achievement of excellent services; cost reduction in acquisition of information resources through consortia and increased access to wider range of resources and remote access. The negative effects were: cost of IT equipment, installation and maintenance; staff/user training and retraining; problems of data conversion/transfer and security; absence of permanent physical collection and generation of electronic-waste. Technological changes and technology adoption are inevitable and libraries and information centres must find a suitable framework that will enable them keep up to date and be at par with the rest of the world. The study proposed ITIL framework for managing the challenges by guiding the library in the development, adoption and implementation of information technologies. ITIL framework has aspects such as financial management for determining the cost of implementing a change, capacity management, software asset management, lifecycle configuration management and license management.