attitudes of librarians towards application of information technology in ...

ATTITUDES OF LIBRARIANS TOWARDS APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN PAKISTAN

MUHAMMAD RAMZAN

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULLFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

FACULTY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA KUALA LUMPUR 2010

DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my mother (Ahamadan Bibi), who took care of my studies until the last breath of her life.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I wish to express my gratitude to almighty Allah for giving me the strength to complete this work. I would like to thank my thesis supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Diljit Singh, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FCSIT), University of Malaya, for his guidance, supervision and patience. He has been supportive, positive and encouraging. I am also indebted to Dr. Noor Harun, the Dean, and staff of FCSIT for their kind cooperation and consideration towards me as an overseas student. I specially acknowledge the intellectual contribution, sustained effort, guidance and magnanimity of Professor Irfan Amir, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), in helping me in all aspects and phases of this study. Special thanks are due to Prof. Arif Zaman for his academic guidance. My thanks are also due to the management, faculty and staff of LUMS, especially Asif Ch, Ashraf Sharif, Nadeem Bashir, Musood Ishfaq, Farrah Arif, Nadia Kanwal and Aqila Zaman for their help in literature search, questionnaire design, survey, pilot test, data analysis, citation styles, formatting, editing of the text and other aspects of my research. My father, Chaudhry Faqir Muhammad, brother, Altaf Hussain, wife, Nasim Akhtar; beloved daughters, Afshan, Saadia, Naila, Javeria, Sara, Eman and sons, Muhammad Irfan and Usman Chaudhry, deserve my special thanks and gratitude for their prayers, patience and support and for bearing my absence. My friends Essa Khan, Sajid Mahruf, Iqbal Cheema, Rao Shakeel, Aamir Rasul and Shahbaz Ahmad were a source of moral support and encouragement. I would also like to acknowledge the authors whose works this study has drawn from, particularly in the literature review and questionnaire design. Lastly, I am grateful to the librarians of academic libraries in Pakistan who took time from their busy schedules to complete my questionnaire.

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ABSTRACT Librarians, being key stakeholders in the development of libraries, play a strategic role in application of IT in libraries. Their attitudes are critical in determining the levels of IT application. However, there is a lack of studies on librarians’ attitudes towards IT application. This study investigated the attitudes of librarians towards application of IT in academic libraries in Pakistan. Data was collected from 288 head librarians of sampled libraries through a questionnaire survey, and 219 (76%) valid questionnaires were used for analysis. Findings revealed a good state of development in IT applications as 69.3% respondents had two or more PCs, 91.3% had e-mail and Internet, and 87.6% had some degree of automation. A majority, 75.8% of the respondents had access to online journals and e-books through the National Digital Library. However, 4.6% respondents were without PCs, 8.7% had no email and Internet, 11% had not started automation, and only 8.2% were 100% automated. The majority of the respondents were not using state-of-the-art integrated library systems for automation. Respondents overall showed positive attitudes toward IT with a mean of 3.71 measured on a 5-point Likert scale through 42 IT attitude statements. They generally had positive attitudes towards impact of IT (mean= 3.43), IT costs and resource allocation (mean= 3.59), IT training for staff and users (mean= 4.19), and for general statements on IT (mean= 3.64). However, respondents showed negative attitudes on statements concerning job fears because of IT, maintaining automated library inventory, data storage on computers, cost of IT tools vs. their worth for Pakistani libraries, and need to abandon rules developed to handle print resources in favour of new rules to manage e-resources. Results revealed perceives confidence in IT application, perceived capabilities of IT and perceived usefulness of IT as important dimensions of librarians’ attitudes toward IT application in academic libraries in Pakistan. Libraries’ level of IT availability (r=.210, p.05, between public (M= 4.18, SD= 0.39) and private sector librarians (M= 4.26, SD= 0.49)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived capabilities of IT” (See Table 4.61).

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Table 4.61 Type of Library and Perceived Capabilities of IT Type of Library Public

N 170

Mean 4.1784

SD .39

Private

49

4.2562

.49

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed)

1.152

217

.250

Type of Library and Perceived Usefulness of IT The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that a statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = 2.22, p.05, between librarians of city (M= 3.22, SD= 0.69) and town academic libraries (M= 3.07, SD= 0.59)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived confidence in IT application” (See Table 4.63). 196

Table 4.63 Location of Library and Perceived Confidence in IT Application Location City

N 191

Mean 3.2247

SD .69

Town

28

3.0779

.59

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed)

1.074

217

.284

Location of Library and Perceived Capabilities of IT The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = 1.17, p>.05, between librarians of city (M= 4.18, SD= 0.42) and town academic libraries (M= 4.28, SD= 0.38)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived capabilities of IT” (See Table 4.64).

Table 4.64 Location of Library and Perceived Capabilities of IT Location City

N 191

Mean 4.1832

SD .42

Town

28

4.2817

.38

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed)

1.169

217

.244

Location of Library and Perceived Usefulness of IT The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = -1.35, p>.05, between librarians of city (M= 3.57, SD= 0.56) and town libraries (M= 3.72, SD= 0.57)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived usefulness of IT” (See Table 4.65). Table 4.65 Location of Library and Perceived Usefulness of IT Location City

N 191

Mean 3.5681

SD .56

Town

28

3.7232

.57

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed)

-1.355

217

.177

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4.9.3 Gender and Librarians IT Attitudes

Are there statistically significant mean differences in different dimensions of IT attitudes between male and female librarians? Gender and Perceived Confidence in IT Application The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = -.105, p>.05, between male librarians (M= 3.20, SD= 0.69) and female librarians (M= 3.21, SD= 0.62)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived confidence in IT application” (See Table 4.66).

Table 4.66 Gender and Perceived Confidence in IT Application Gender Male

N 176

Mean 3.2035

SD .69

Female

43

3.2156

.62

Total

219

T

df

Sig (2-tailed)

-.105

217

.916

Gender and Perceived Capabilities of IT The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = -.598, p>.05, between male librarians (M= 4.19, SD= 0.42) and female librarians (M= 4.23, SD= 0.39)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived capabilities of IT” (See Table 4.67).

Table 4.67 Gender and Perceived Capabilities of IT Gender Male

N 176

Mean 4.1875

SD .42

Female

43

4.2300

.39

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed)

-.598

217

.555

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Gender and Perceived Usefulness of IT The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = .458, p>.05, between male librarians (M= 3.60, SD= 0.55) and female librarians (M= 3.55, SD= 0.65)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived usefulness of IT” (See Table 4.68).

Table 4.68 Gender and Perceived Usefulness of IT Gender Male

N 176

Mean 3.5966

SD .55

Female

43

3.5523

.65

Total

219

T

df

Sig (2-tailed

.458

217

.647

4.9.4. Computer Use at Home and Librarians IT Attitudes

Are there statistically significant mean differences in different dimensions of IT attitudes of librarians who use and those who do not use computers at home? Computer Use at Home and Perceived Confidence in IT Application The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that a statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = -2.554, p.05, between librarians who are not using (M= 4.17, SD= 0.49) and those who are using computers at home (M= 4.21, SD= 0.38)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived capabilities of IT” (See Table 4.70).

Table 4.70 Computer Use at Home and Perceived Capabilities of IT Computer Use at Home No

N 71

Mean 4.1690

SD .49

Yes

148

4.2087

.38

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed

-.659

217

.511

Computer Use at Home and Perceived Usefulness of IT The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [t (217) = -1.95, p>.05, between librarians who are not using (M= 3.48, SD= 0.53) and those who are using computers at home (M= 3.64, SD= 0.58)] with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived usefulness of IT” (See Table 4.71).

Table 4.71 Computer Use at Home and Perceived Usefulness of IT Computer Use at Home No

N 71

Mean 3.4806

SD .53

Yes

148

3.6394

.58

Total

219

t

df

Sig (2-tailed

-1.952

217

.052

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4.9.5. Highest Professional Qualification and Librarians IT Attitudes

Are there statistically significant mean differences in different dimensions of IT attitudes of librarians who have certificate, diploma, bachelor degrees, masters, MS/M. Phil and doctorates? Highest Professional Qualification and Perceived Confidence in IT Application The results of running a One-way ANOVA showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [F (5, 213) = 1.488, p>.05] between the librarians who have certificate, diploma, bachelor degrees, masters, MS/M. Phil and doctorates with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived confidence in IT application” (See Table 4.72).

Table 4.72 Highest Professional Qualification and Perceived Confidence in IT Application ANOVA Between Groups Within Groups Total

Sum of Squares 3.355 96.072 99.427

df 5 213 218

Mean Square F .671 1.488 .451

Sig. .195

Highest Professional Qualification and Perceived Capabilities of IT The results of running a One-way ANOVA showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [F (5, 213) = 2.155, p>.05] between the librarians who have certificate, diploma, bachelor degrees, masters, MS/M. Phil and doctorates with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived capabilities of IT” (See Table 4.73).

Table 4.73 Highest Professional Qualification and Perceived Capabilities of IT ANOVA Between Groups Within Groups Total

Sum of Squares 1.822 36.025 37.848

df 5 213 218

Mean Square F .364 2.155 .169

Sig. .060

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Highest Professional Qualification and Perceived Usefulness of IT The results of running a One-way ANOVA showed that no statistically significant mean difference existed [F (5, 213) = .674, p>.05] between the librarians who have certificate, diploma, bachelor degrees, masters, MS/M. Phil and doctorates with regard to their score on librarians IT attitude subscale, “perceived usefulness of IT” (See Table 4.74).

Table 4.74 Highest Professional Qualification and Perceived Usefulness of IT ANOVA Between Groups Within Groups Total

Sum of Squares 1.091 68.936 70.027

df 5 213 218

Mean Square F .218 .674 .324

Sig. .643

Summary The results of running an independent sample t-test showed that no statistically significant mean differences existed between librarians working in cities and towns with all dimensions of librarians IT attitudes. No statistically significant mean differences existed between private and public sector librarians and their IT attitude dimensions of perceived confidence in IT application and perceived capabilities of IT. A statistically significant mean difference existed in public and private academic librarians and their perceived usefulness of IT. No statically significant mean differences existed in male or female librarians with all dimensions of their IT attitudes. A statistically significant mean difference existed in those librarians using computers at home and those not using computers at home with regard to their confidence in IT application. No statically significant mean differences existed in librarians who were using or not using computers at home on their perceived capabilities of IT and perceived usefulness of IT. The results of running a One-way ANOVA showed that no statistically significant mean differences existed between librarians with different professional

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qualifications (certificate, diploma, bachelor, master, MS/M. Phil and doctorate and their IT attitude dimensions (perceived confidence in IT application, perceived capabilities of IT and perceived usefulness of IT).

4.10. Correlation Analysis One of the objectives of this study was to determine the interrelationship between

independent

variables

(organizational,

demographic

and

librarians’

professional characteristics) and dependent variable (different dimensions of librarians IT attitudes). Spearman’s rho was deployed to measure the significance, intensity, direction and relationship between independent variables with different dimensions of librarians IT attitudes.

4.10.1. Organizational Variables and Librarians IT Attitudes

Are there statistically significant relationships between different dimensions of librarians IT attitudes and libraries of varying collection size; user size; staff size and library budget? Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation (rho) was performed to find the significance, intensity and direction of relationship between organizational variables (collection size, user size, and staff size and library budget) with different dimensions of librarians IT attitudes (perceived confidence in IT application, perceived capabilities of IT and perceived usefulness of IT). A visual inspection of Table 4.75 shows that no statistically significant relationship existed between librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived confidence in IT application” and organizational variables “collection size (rs=.011, p>.05), user size (rs=.024, p>.05), staff size (rs=.132, p>.05) and library budget (rs=.017, p>.05).”

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Table 4.75 Organizational Variables and Perceived Confidence in IT Application Correlates Perceived Confidence in IT Application Collection Size (Books) rs= .011 p = .868 User Size rs= .024 p = .727 Staff Size (Librarians) rs= .132 p = .052 Library Budget rs= .017 p = .806

Table 4.76 Organizational Variables and Perceived Capabilities of IT Correlates Perceived Capabilities of IT Collection Size (Books) rs= -.075 p = .271 User Size rs= -.002 p = .975 Staff Size (Librarians) rs= .066 p = .331 Library Budget rs= -.144 p = .033

A visual inspection of Table 4.76 shows that no statistically significant relationship existed between librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived capabilities of IT” and organizational variables “collection size (rs=-.075, p>.05), user size (rs=-.002, p>.05) and staff size (rs=.066, p>.05).” A significant negative relationship existed between librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived capabilities of IT” and “library budget (rs=-.144, p.05), user size (rs=.096, p>.05) and library budget (rs=.022, p>.05).” A significant relationship existed between IT attitude subscale “perceived capabilities of IT” and “staff size (rs=.145, p.05), age (rs=-.025, p>.05), experience as a librarian (rs=-.031, p>.05) and experience as a head/chief librarian (rs=.011, p>.05).”

4.10.3. Librarians’ Professional Characteristics and their IT Attitudes

Are there statistically significant relationships between different dimensions of librarians IT attitudes and their experience in computer use, recency in IT training, level of IT knowledge, level of awareness of new technologies, and level of written contribution on IT in libraries?

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Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation (rho) was performed to find the significance, intensity and direction of relationship between librarians professional characteristics (experience in computer use, recency in IT training, level of technology knowledge, awareness about new technologies and level of written contribution on IT in libraries) and different dimensions of librarians IT attitudes .

Table 4.81 Librarians’ Professional Characteristics and Perceived Confidence in IT Application Correlates Perceived Confidence in IT Application Experience in Computer Use rs= .181 p = .007 Recency in IT Training rs= .022 p = .749 Level of Technology Knowledge rs= .175 p = .009 Level of Awareness of New rs= .161 p = .017 Technologies Level of Written Contribution on IT rs=.110 p= .106 in Libraries

A visual inspection of Table 4.81 shows that no statistically significant relationship existed between librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived confidence in IT application” and librarians professional characteristics “recency in IT training (rs=.022, p>.05) and level of written contribution on IT in libraries (rs=.110, p>.05). A statistically significant positive relationship existed between librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived confidence in IT application” and librarians professional characteristics “experience in computer use (rs=.181, p.05).” A statistically significant positive relationship existed in 207

librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived capabilities of IT” and librarians professional characteristics “level of technology knowledge (rs=.169, p.05) and level of written contribution on IT in libraries (rs=.070, p>.05).” A statistically significant positive relationship existed between librarians IT attitude subscale “perceived usefulness of IT” and librarians professional characteristics “experience in computer use (rs=.190, p.05), experience as a head/chief librarian (rs=-.088, p>.05) experience in computer use (rs=.119, p>.05), recency in IT training (rs=.033, p>.05), and their level of written contribution on IT in libraries (rs=-.077, p>.05). The results of running Spearman’s (rho) test showed that a statistically significant positive relationship existed between librarian IT attitudes subscale “perceived usefulness of IT” and libraries staff size (rs=.145, p.05), librarians’ year of latest professional qualification (rs=.043, p>.05), age (rs=-.025, p>.05), experience as a librarian (rs=-.031, p>.05), experience as a head/chief librarian (rs=.011, p>.05), recency in IT training (rs=-.015, p>.05), level of technology knowledge (rs=.120, p.05). Among all the independent variables, librarians’ level of awareness of new technologies showed significantly positive relationship with all dimensions of librarians IT attitudes. This implies the higher the awareness about new technologies the more positive their attitudes toward IT would be. Respondents’ year of latest professional qualification, their age, experiences as a librarian and experiences as a head/chief librarian showed negative significant correlation with librarians’ confidence in IT application. This implies that younger librarians showed more confidence in IT application compared to more senior and older librarians. A number of variables such as libraries’ location, collection size, user size, librarians’ gender and their written contribution did not show significant mean differences or relationship with any of librarians IT attitude subscales.

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4.11. Hypotheses Testing The following hypotheses were established to test the significance, intensity and direction of relationships. They are (1) libraries IT availability and librarians’ attitudes toward IT, (2) libraries’ IT use and librarians attitudes toward IT (3) librarians’ frequency of IT use and their attitudes toward IT (4) librarians’ level of IT knowledge and their attitudes toward IT and (5) libraries’ expenditure on IT and librarians’ attitudes toward IT. Findings of hypotheses tests are explained below.

H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between libraries’ levels of IT availability and different dimensions of librarians’ attitudes toward application of IT in academic libraries of Pakistan. The attitudes of librarians toward information technology were assessed using 42 IT attitude statements, measured on a five-point Likert scale. The mean score was derived for each of the respondents across 42 statements. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the dimensions of librarians IT attitude scale. Regarding levels of IT availability, respondents were asked to check the number of computers, availability of different kinds of hardware, availability of e-mail, Internet, network access levels, library management system, web applications, percentage of library operations automated and the number of online books, e-journals and databases. Respondents’ levels of IT availability were obtained through computing the availability of all kinds of hardware, information access technologies, software, IT services and availability of electronic resources in respondent libraries. In order to obtain a numerical value of the responses on IT availability in libraries, key variables were assigned weights, keeping in view their importance for libraries. Assigning weights is a very important concept in data analysis as it allows you to give different weights to different cases. Busha and Harter (1980), Powell and Connaway (2004) and Pickard (2007) mentioned that investigators assign numerical

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values to obtain ranking and mean of the responses for data analysis. Based on experience, understanding and familiarity with the IT tools being used in academic libraries in Pakistan, the researcher used his judgment to assign the weights to key variables as given in the ‘weight table’ as Appendix-E. Because of weighing, total scores of IT availability for each respondent was obtained on a ratio scale and labelled as libraries IT availability. The results of running a Pearson Product Moment correlation test showed that a statistically significant positive relationship existed in “libraries’ levels of IT availability” and librarians IT attitude subscales [(perceived confidence in IT application, r=.150, p