An automated circulation system for Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Secondary School Library

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to design an automated circulation system for Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Secondary School Library that provides a convenient, easy-to-use, internet based application for librarians and users to track and manage the library resources. The objectives of the study were to; identify the types of information resources, find out how circulation of library materials, identify the challenges in circulation of library materials, identify the requirements for an automated circulation system and design an automated circulation system for Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Secondary School Library. The study employed a case study research design since the study targeted a particular institution that is Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Secondary School Library. The study adopted interview, questionnaire and observation methods to collect data. Purposive sampling was used to choose 2 teachers and 2 librarians as well as stratified sampling to select 45 students. The study found out that majority of library users at Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Secondary School Library were students. Majority of the information resources in the Library were text books accessed by the users to meet their learning teaching and research needs. Library staff use counter books and registers in the management of the information resources and users details. The major challenge faced with the library circulation system is the inadequate information resources caused by inadequate funding in the Library. The study concluded that an automated circulation system would help the library staff provide library resources to the users, inadequate information materials and inadequate funds as the major challenges would be solved by increasing the library funding so as to support the library users meet their needs. The study recommended that the library staff should increase on the library funding, develops a library circulation policy, acquire more computers for the users to access and more staff with technical it skills, should digitize all information materials to promote the access and provision.