Librarians’ Knowledge and Use of Library Management Software for Information Service Delivery in Federal Colleges of Education In North-West Nigeria

Abstract

Library Management Software (LMS) has become an essential technological tool for automating library operations and enhancing information service delivery in academic libraries. Effective utilization of LMS depends largely on librarians’ knowledge of its functionalities and their ability to apply such knowledge in managing library services. This study explored librarians’ knowledge and use of library management software for information service delivery in federal colleges of education in north-west Nigeria. The study was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and adopted a qualitative multiple case study design. Twelve librarians from Federal College of Education, Kano ( Now upgraded to Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano), Federal College of Education, Zaria ( Now upgraded to Federal College of Education, Zaria), and Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi were purposively selected. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. The findings revealed that librarians possessed varying levels of knowledge regarding LMS concepts, functionalities, and modules. Participants demonstrated familiarity with major LMS modules such as cataloguing, circulation, acquisitions, serials management, reporting, and Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). The study further revealed that LMS was utilized primarily for cataloguing, circulation, information retrieval, user management, and report generation, although the extent of utilization varied across the institutions. Librarians in Zaria reported relatively broader utilization of LMS functionalities compared to their counterparts in Kano and Bichi. Participants attributed their knowledge and utilization of LMS to formal education, workshops, seminars, peer learning, and practical work experience. The study concludes that librarians’ knowledge significantly influences the utilization of LMS for information service delivery. The findings support the assumptions of the Technology Acceptance Model that users are more likely to utilize technologies they understand and perceive as useful. The study recommends continuous professional training and stronger institutional support to enhance librarians’ knowledge and utilization of LMS in Colleges of Education.