Guidelines for ICT Utilization in Lake Side College Library

Abstract

The study focused proposing the guidelines for ICT utilization in Lake Side College library and was guided by specific objectives namely; to establish how ICTs are used in Lake Side College library, to determine the challenges faced by Lake Side College School library in utilising ICTs, to suggest ways of mitigating the challenges faced by Lake Side College Luzira school library in adopting ICTs. The study was qualitative in nature using a purposive and simple random sampling to select 50 respondents, these included librarians, teachers, students and were subjected to a questionnaire and interview guide to which they provided responses. Regarding the extent to which ICTs are used in Lake Side College School, the study found that the school more often uses ICT. The library just like any other departments has computers that are used both by the teachers and students. Concerning the challenges faced by Lake Side College School library in adopting ICTs it was found that; inadequate number of PCs, low Internet connectivity, power shortage, limited time allocated for students to use computers and negative attitude of school management on ICT are the challenges. Regarding the ways of mitigating the challenges, it was suggested that increasing on the number of computers, subscribing to Internet providers that have a strong Internet, allocating more time for ICT in the libraries, ensuring that the generator has fuel to enable ICT services continue even when there is no electricity and attitude change by the top management towards ICTs would be ideal ways of mitigating the challenges. It was therefore concluded that Lake Side College School has tried to adopt ICT in the library and other departments at school however the library is still faced with a number of challenges in trying to adapt to the use of ICTs. The study therefore recommended that the financial outlay required in procuring ICT facilities is enormous to the extent that institutions such as Lake Side College School may not be able to provide it alone. It therefore becomes imperative for the school to enter into partnership with ICT providing organizations for the purpose of equipping their institutions with ICT facilities. This will enable the school equip the library well.