ABSTRACT

This study examined the automation of academic libraries: challenges and benefits (Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo state). Four research questions as wel I as four objectives guided the study. The research design for this study is the descriptive survey design, which was used to carry out and obtain information for the research. The area of study is Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo state. The population of the study are professionals and para-professionals working in the Federal polytechnic Nekede Library, which consists of 62 staffs. The sample size is 62, using the complete census (Ogomaka & Nnadozie, 2016). Questionnaire was the major instrument for data collection. Data analysis was done by the use of descriptive statistics methods, (mean and standard deviation) was employed to analyze the data using the IBM SPSS. The findings revealed that the Cataloguing and OPAC services have been automated. Majority of the staff have agreed that the library is partly automated which implies that not all the services have been automated. This study thus recommends that; the library should be involved in planning for automation in libraries in Nigeria so that the issue of skilled manpower will be entrenched in the planning documents, management of the library should ensure that they convince the approving authorities on the need to purchase more computers and quality equipment and software that will be relevant to the need of the library, the library management should be able to convince the funding authority to fund the library because automation is capital intensive, maintenance of systems must occupy top priority, while ensuring that adequate back up schedule is maintained. For systems sustainability, constraints power back up should be maintained.