Paste your From the findings of the study, it is evident that library users have a highly positive attitude towards the application of information communication technology services and its applications. Base on their perception, there was generally a high level of acceptance of the ICT and the library systems among the users. Most of the users were on the view that ICT has improve the quality of service offered by the library and has save them valuable time since accessing information has been much easier.
The findings agreed with the two theories that were adopted in the study’s theoretical framework which were technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989) and the diffusions of innovations theory (Rogers, 1962). The technology acceptance model tries to explain the factors that may hinder or motivate adoption of technology. This theory suggests that self efficacy, beliefs and perceptions guide the people’s behavior towards technology. This was observed in this case of University of Eldoret library where Library staff and students have a belief that perceives ICTs has improved their services in the library.
It was also evident that the majority of the respondents acknowledge the use of ICT based on its usefulness.ICT has enhanced the efficiency and quality of services offered within the library as the students are able to obtain latest information from the library setup especially through the availability of free internet wireless internet.ICT has also increase resource sharing among the students and staff working in the library.
The finding was in agreement with Sagolsem, Purnima Devi and Vikas (2009), Mohammed Haneefa (2009), Rajagopal and Chinnasamy (2012), Nair (2009), Borrego (2010) who reported similar results that majority of librarians showed favorable attitude towards information technology. They were prepared to accept modern technology in library activities, which helped to improve the efficiency of library services.
5.2 Perceived benefits of ICT in University of Eldoret library
From the findings of the study, it was evident that majority of the respondents supported the statement that there has been easy and increased accessibility of information in the library this could be because ICTs enables easy search for information like the location of the reference materials and also their state i.e. if the reference materials are on loan, or whether they are on short loan or long loan. Also, ICTs has enabled easier access to user’s details; thus the staff can efficiently manage the library resources due ease accessibility of information in the library.
The findings was in agreement with Adeleke & Olorunsola (2010) that Information and communication technologies is being used by libraries for book and serial acquisitions, classification and cataloguing, reference service, money transition, user orientation service, interlibrary loan, circulation service, electronic contents, document delivery service, e-mail and chat assistance, web 2.0 interactive sharing, photocopies services and bibliographic service. They further mention that these opportunities not only enable libraries to provide quick information to users but also benefiting remote libraries.
It was evident it was cheaper to maintain a digital library than a traditional library especially in terms of space. A traditional library incurs high costs in paying staff, book maintenance and overheads costs. Digital libraries may reduce or, in some instances, do away with some of these fees. This is in agreement with (Ibianye 2012 findings that the cost of maintenances a digital library is much lower than that of a traditional library especially with regards to space. Traditional library always incurs high costs in staff payments, booking of maintenance, overheads, and additional books. Digitized libraries have lessened or, in some cases, have done away with these fees.
The University of Eldoret has been employing ICT and electronic information resources and services in the library and running all its operation using ERP system to satisfy the diverse information needs of its users. The ICTs is used UoE library attempts to deliver numerous applications such as local-area network, local area networks, online information services (the Internet), online databases, library databases while ERP system is used for student registration, hostel booking, fee payment and issuance of exam cards. This is line with Ghuloum &Ahmed (2011) findings that ICTs used in academic libraries tries to deliver several applications such as local area networks, wide-area network applications, CD-ROMs, online access catalogues, online databases, library databases, online information services (the Internet), retrieval systems, digital online archives, mainframe computers, microcomputer labs, and other digital content services.
The use ICT in the university library for the book and serial acquisitions, classification and cataloguing, reference service, user orientation service, circulation service, intra-library loan, bibliographic service and photocopies services. These opportunities enable the library to provide quick information to its users. The findings was in line with Awour & Kefah, (2013) findings who held that since the inception of ICTs several library functions and activities can now be done better at the same times which were previously difficult or impossible to carry out are now possible as a result of ICTs. ICT has contributed greatly to the performance of librarians in the discharge of their duties such as cataloguing, reference services, circulation management, serials control etc.
The library is embracing ICT library systems and infrastructure for both library operations and services. This ensures quick and easy access of book and other materials for the large numbers of its library users providing them with relevant accurate and current information.this was in lines with Saleem, A (2013) findings that Computer has brought in a new impact to the library and information usage. Information Communication and Technology in libraries, has assisted library staff to provide value added quality information service and give more remote access to the inter-nationally available information resources.
5.3 Availability of ICT in the University of Eldoret Library
According to findings on availability of ICT resources and services for uses by both library staff and students, it gathered that UOE library has very good ICT resources. It is evident that Availability of technology has enables easy access and retrieval of library resources and reduces time for searching and books and other library materials. This is in line with findings of Krubu and Osawaru’s (2011) that identified ICT resources and the use of the resources available at John Harris and Benson Idahosa University libraries were search engine, internet, CD-ROM, Online database, and World Wide Web. These resources were used for acquiring, storing, processing, retrieving, and disseminating information. They also mentioned that ICT has made it possible for academic libraries in Nigerian to use the internet for search engines such as Yahoo, Google, e-mail etc. to access on-line digital resources such as Amazon, Wikipedia etc.
It was also evident that availability of technology has enables easy access and retrieval of library resources and reduces time for searching and books and other library materials. This is line with Syed & Esmail(2013) findings that identified the availability of Information Communication and Technology facilities has provide access to e-resources among the students in the university libraries thus enabling the students to access the information easily. Availability of technology has revolutionized information delivery services between students within the university and their friends and relatives within the country and abroad via social networks like Face book, Twitter, Instagram, Linked in and other access to information overcomes physical and time barriers allowing for easier access to information"
Furthermore there we feeling that there is a high demand for library staff of proper and adequate skills to help in adoption usage and maintenance of ICT facilities in the library.