Developing an online public access catalogue for Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School Library Nakulabye

Abstract

The purpose of the project was to create an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) for the library at Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School Nakulabye that would boost access to library resources by providing bibliographic descriptions of library materials accessible through use of electronic gadgets such as a computer.The study objectives where to; examine how accessibility of resources is done at Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School library, determine the challenges faced by Our Lady of Fatima secondary school library in ensuring accessibility of resources at Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School library, establish the requirements needed to develop an Online Public Access Catalogue at Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School library, and to develop an Online Public Access Catalogue for Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School library. The study adopted a qualitative approach with case study design and data was collected through semi-tructured interviews, observation and document review methods. Data was collected from a population sample of respondents that consisted of a librarian, teachers and students of Our Lady of Fatima secondary school library. The study found out that Our Lady of Fatima Secondary School library had a shelflist that was used as a means of searching and retrieval of library resources, a record book used to register in the new books brought in the library and a register where details of users that borrowed resources were recorded manually. The study also found out that no form of technology was being used in Our Lady of Fatima secondary school Library. The study concluded that the implementation of an Online Public Access Catalogue would ease the searching and retrieval of information materials from Our Lady of Fatima secondary school library,Nakulabye. The study recommended the Our Lady of Fatima secondary school library should adapt the Online Public Access Catalogue to ease searching and retrieval of library resources.