A virtual reference system for Multitech Business School (MBS)

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to design a Virtual Reference System for Multitech Business School and the study started with the researcher identifying the reference services offered at MBS which were, information literacy skills, current awareness service, selective dissemination of information, inter library loans, reader advisory services and photocopier services that were still provided via the reference desk. The research project applied a quantitative study where a conclusive research design was employed to provide conclusive answers to the research study objectives. The population study was 1630 that made a sample of 310 respondents. A simple random sample was used to select respondents to respond to the questionnaires and a judgmental sampling technique was used to interview the librarians. Challenges that were faced with offering of reference services at MBS included inadequate reference materials, outdated reference sources, limited staff, limited time, ignorance about use of the reference materials and lack of finance. Solutions suggested were additional budget to the library, assessment of users, providing computer literacy classes to students, use of basic technology, request of donors and the main solution suggested was to design a VRS for MBS. The proposed system was designed using markup languages entailing PHP, HTML, JavaScript, CSS and a wampserver that served as a local host for the system. The system was tested and validated confirming that it can store data and retrieve information for Multitech Business School. The study recommended that: the librarians should task it upon themselves to educate the students on use of the VRS and avoid crowding the physical library, adjust the library budget to award more finance in purchase of adequate reference sources and computer literacy to be taught to all students regardless of the program affiliated.