An Online Information Retrieval System for Uganda Women’s Network Resource Centre.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to design ‘An Online Information Retrieval System for Uganda Women’s Network. Library users at UWONET, especially the new users who do not have enough skills in utilizing and accessing library materials find problems whereby they have to inquire from fellow users on what the library requires them to do and Most of the new users do not know how to borrow the reading materials, working hours, plus the rules and regulations of the library which leads to lack of effective utilization of the library’s collection. The Online Information Retrieval System intends to train, orient, and provide instructions to users that will help them improve their skills so as to ensure maximum utilization of the library’s holdings. The study was guided by four research objectives; to examine the information materials found in the Uganda Women’s Network resource center, to find out how information materials are stored in the Uganda Women’s Network resource center, to assess the challenges encountered in information retrieval and to design an appropriate Online Information Retrieval System for the Uganda Women’s Network resource Centre. The study also used quantitative data collection methods to gather information using structured questionnaires and qualitative methods were used for interviews on a few selected respondents. The data from these categories of respondents was used in a triangulated fashion with statistical data from the primary respondents. The study found that the main retrieved materials in UWONET library included; Books of fiction, Books of biographies and autobiographies, Books which supplement the college courses such as education, business, foreign languages, history, literature, General books not related to specific subjects and books on special fields not included in the college program of instruction, Magazines and newspapers which include current issues and bound volumes, Government reports and publications. The researcher recommended that Uganda Women’s Network should adopt the proposed Online Information Retrieval System as it will develop learning attitude and skills for independent information seeking as well as exploiting the library’s resources effectively to both staff and users. The researcher also recommended that Museum resource center should adopt an Online Information Retrieval System because it provides a high degree of interactivity and connectivity to users, easy to use, update, access, and printed on demand.