Diffusion of open source integrated library systems in academic libraries in Africa. The case of Uganda
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-05-2017-0052 |
| Published date | 13 August 2018 |
| Date | 13 August 2018 |
| Pages | 430-448 |
| Author | Shana Rachel Ponelis,Philliam Adoma |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
Diffusion of open source
integrated library systems in
academic libraries in Africa
The case of Uganda
Shana Rachel Ponelis
Department of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, USA, and
Philliam Adoma
Department of Library Services, Muni University, Arua, Uganda
Abstract
Purpose –Libraries globally automate their operations and services using integrated library systems (ILS)
to increase operational efficiency and meet the ever-evolving demands of their users. Open source ILS (OS
ILS) has become more popular globally. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the diffusion of OS
ILS in academic libraries in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach –Rogers’diffusion of innovation (DoI) supplemented by the fit-viability
theory was used as a theoretical framework. A questionnaire was developed based on extant literature and
distributed electronically to representative members of a Ugandan university library association.
Findings –The diffusion of OS ILS in Ug andan academic librar ies approximates the S-c urve
expected based on DoI. U gandan academic librar ies are adopting OS ILS for mo re flexibility to
meet changing needs at wh at is perceived as an affordable cost but no t all are fully satisfied. Koha is the
most adopted OS ILS and is a lso being considered by a ll libraries without any ILS or a proprietary ILS.
The information and commu nication technology ( ICT) infrastructure, organizational proc urement
policies and national pr ocurement legislati on, human resource capac ity and limited finances a re
barriers to diffusion . The total cost of ownership and technic al skills required are of particular c oncern for
OS ILS.
Research limitations/implications –The research was limited to a single African country and the
recommendations may not be transferable to other African countries. Future research can expand the survey,
the countries studied and/or address the methodological limitations of this study.
Practical implications –When embarking upon library automation using OS ILS or migrating to an OS
ILS solution libraries should consider their ICT infrastructure, local support community, available training
and be realistic about the costs. Local library associations should provide guidance on OS ILS selection,
ongoing training, and opportunities for knowledge sharing. LIS schools should consider expanding their
curriculum to include library automation and, in Uganda incorporate training on Koha as OS ILS. Libraries
and library associations should advocate to reduce restrictive organizational procurement policies and
national procurement legislation.
Originality/value –Studies on country-level diffusionof ILS are comparatively few, particularly in African
countries.This is the first country-level study of OS ILS diffusionin Uganda. This study can positivelyimpact
future patterns of diffusion for optimal deployment of OS ILS software by informing academic libraries,
university management, library association, LIS schools,and policymakers in Uganda and across theAfrican
continent, and encouraging academicsand researchers to teach and study library automation usingOS ILS.
Keywords Academic libraries, Developing countries, Diffusion of innovation, IT adoption,
Open source software, Integrated library systems (ILS)
Paper type Research paper
Library Management
Vol. 39 No. 6/7, 2018
pp. 430-448
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-05-2017-0052
Received 31 May 2017
Revised 15 September 2017
Accepted 9 October 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
The authors express their thanks to all the librarians who were willing and able to take the time to
complete the questionnaire and to share their thoughts and experiences regarding OS ILS in general
and in their institutions in particular. Limited initial results from this study were presented at the IFLA
2015 IT Section Satellite Meeting “Transforming libraries with open digital technologies”, Stellenbosch,
South Africa, August 13-14, 2015.
430
LM
39,6/7
1. Introduction
Library automation is the application of information and communications technologies
(ICTs) to perform library functions such as acquisition, circulation, cataloguing, reference
service, and serials control (Amekuedee, 2005) to improve efficiency and enhance access to
library resources (Webber and Peters, 2010). Libraries automate their operations and
services not only to increase the efficiency of the operations but also to meet the
ever-evolving demands of their users who seek seamless connections to information
sources that facilitate remote access to local and international databases to meet their
information needs, and to make locally generated knowledge accessible globally.
The most common information system that facilitates library automation remains the
integrated library system (ILS). The effective adoption of ILS in academic libraries will
ultimately “accelerate the level of knowledge acquisition and consequently improve
national development”(Ani et al., 2005, p. 706).
Access to information and knowledge can be promoted by increasing awareness among
all stakeholders of the possibilities offered by “different software models, including
proprietary, open source and free software, in order to increase competition, access by users,
diversity of choice, and to enable all users to develop solutions which best meet their
requirements”(World Summit on the Information Society, 2003). Free and open source
software is “licensed to users with the freedom to run the program for any purpose, to study
and modify the program and freely redistribute copies of either the original or modified
program without royalties”(Singh and Sanaman, 2012, p. 810). Commercial vendors have
traditionally provided ILS software but several open source ILS (OS ILS) solutions have
been developed over the past several years since the first comprehensive OS ILS,
Koha, which was first developed in 1999. Since it is challenging for proprietary ILS vendors
to offer all the features required by the many diverse global user communities and provide
localized support at an affordable cost, OS ILS software seems to offer a viable alternative to
facilitate and accelerate automation in libraries in developing countries (Hopkinson, 2009;
Singh and Sanaman, 2012) to support access to information, dissemination of knowledge in
support of teaching, research and innovation and local knowledge generation, and
knowledge dissemination. There is a history of OS diffusion and adoption in academic
libraries in African countries such with Unesco’s CDS/ISIS cataloguing software released in
1985 (Hopkinson, 2009). Nevertheless, according to Adera Amollo (2013), OS software has
not yet been optimally deployed in libraries, particularly in developing countries.
Several studies of OS ILS implementations at particular institutions are reported in the
literature including, in Kenya (Adera Amollo, 2013), Nigeria (Egunjobi and Awoyemi, 2012;
Omeluzor et al., 2012; Uzomba et al., 2015) and Uganda (Buwule and Ponelis, 2017;
Greenberg and Versluis, 2005). Country-level studies, such as the study of ILS adoption in
South Africa (Stilwell and Hoskins, 2012), are comparatively fewer. The purpose of this
study is to better understand the diffusion of OS ILS in academic libraries in Uganda.
The results of the study can therefore serve to better inform librarians and university
management in Uganda and beyond when making decisions about OS ILS adoption in
academic libraries in order to positively impact future patterns of diffusion for optimal
deployment of OS software. Professional library associations in Uganda as well as
policymakers and legislators may find the recommendations helpful in this regard.
The results may also be of value to faculty at LIS schools in terms of curricular development
and research. Although Uganda represents a particular country context, there may be
similarities to other African countries relative to countries outside the continent that may
make recommendations more relevant and transferable to other African countries than
studies from outside the continent.
The paper is structured as follows: first, relevant literature is reviewed and background
context is provided. Second, the research objectives and questions are defined in the context
431
Academic
libraries
in Africa
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