Document Type : Articles

Author

College Librarian I, Library and Information Science, University Library and Information Services, Central Luzon State University, Philippines

Abstract

 
The online public access catalog (OPAC) is a digital portal to the library's collection that allows users to search, locate, and access a wide range of academic resources. One of its key functions is to make books and other library materials easily accessible and retrievable. The main purpose of this study was to assess students’ awareness and use of the OPAC in the Central Luzon State University Library. The data were gathered using a survey questionnaire. The frequency, percentage, and weighted mean were analyzed, and the data was interpreted. The findings show that students widely use OPAC, though not all of them are aware of all of the functions that OPAC provides. Findings also indicate that a lack of proper orientation and a lack of OPAC terminals are the main reasons for not using the OPAC. The vast majority of students were satisfied with the OPAC. However, a small percentage of students remain dissatisfied with it. This insight is essential for libraries to better alter and tailor their systems, services, and instructional programs to suit their student population's evolving needs and technological expectations. 

Keywords

Adedibu L.O. (2008). Catalogue use by science students in the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. International Jounal of Library and Information Services (Libri), 58(1), 58-62. https://doi.org/10.1515/libr.2008.006
Aju, D. T. (2020, January). Undergraduates’ awareness, utilization and satisfaction with online public   access catalogue (OPAC) in public university libraries in Nasarawa State.   Library and Information Perspectives and Research, 2(1), 18-29. https://doi.org/10.47524/liprv2i1.2
Ansari, M.A. (2008). Awareness and use of OPACs in five Delhi libraries.        Electronic Library, 26(1), 111-129. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470810851789
Coyle, K. & Hillmann, D. (2007). Resource description and access (RDA):  Cataloging
        rules of the 20th century. D-Lib Magazine,13(1/2).  Retrieved from
Devendra & Nikam, K. (2013). Attitudes of law university library users towards the use of OPAC/Web OPAC in Andhra Pradesh: A study. SRELS Journal of   Information Management, 50(3), 327- 35.
Fabunmi, O.M. & Asubiojo, B. (2013). Awareness and use of Online Public Access Catalogue by students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 922. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/922/
Fati, O.I. & Adetimirin, A. (2015). OPAC awareness as a factor affecting OPAC use by      undergraduates in two Nigerian libraries. International Journal of Academic Library and Information Science, 3(3), 72-80. Retrieved from https://www.academicresearchjournals.org/IJALIS/PDF/2015/March/Fati%20and%20Adetimirin.pdf
Jiang, T., Chi,Y. & Gao, H. (2017). A clickstream data analysis of Chinese academic library 
OPAC users' information behaviour. Library & Information Science Research, 39(3), 213-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2017.07.004.
Kumar, P. & Mahajan, P. (2015). Use and usage of OPAC in public libraries in Chandigarh City (India): A Study. Journal of Information and Knowledge, 52(3), 189–195. https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2015/v52i3/70333
Kumar, R. & Singh, J. (2017). Use of OPAC in the university library of GGIPU, Delhi.      
      Indian Journal of Information Sources and Services, 7(1), 16-20.   
Kumar, S. & Vohra, R. (2011). Use of online public access catalogue in Guru Nanak Dev University library, Amritsar: A study. Journal of Information Management, 48 (5),519-528. https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2011/v48i5/43954
Liang, S. & Wu, D. (2019). Predicting academic digital library OPAC users' cross-device transitions. Data and Information Management, 3(1),40-49. https://doi.org/10.2478/dim-2019-0001
Msagati, N. (2016). Awareness and use of OPAC by distance learners: The case of the Open
            University of Tanzania. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 1482. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1482
Mi, J. & Weng, C. (2008, March). Revitalizing the library OPAC: Interface, searching, and display challenges. Formation Technology and Libraries, 27, 5-22. Retrieved from  https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:62581698
Mulla, K.R. & Chandrashekara, M. (2009). A study on the effective use of online public access catalogue at the libraries of engineering colleges in Karnataka (India). International Journal of Library and Information Science,1(3), 029-042. Retrieved from https://egranthalaya.nic.in/DFILES/egranthalaya/Articles/Mulla-and-Chandrashekara.pdf
Rajput, P.S., Naidu, G.H.S. & Jadon, G.S. (2008). Use of online public access catalogue in Devi Ahilya University library, Indore. Journal of Information and Knowledge,45(1), 55-62. https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2008/v45i1/44160
Yusuf, F. & Iwu, J. (2010). Use of academic library: A case study of Covenant University        Nigeria.   Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal, 30.
Velmurugan, V.S. &Amudha, G. (2012). Usage patterns of OPAC among faculty members in Indian colleges. International Journal of Communication Studies, 6(3), 37–40.

Vijayakumar, S., & Manasa, S. (2018). Attitude of OPAC users at Regional Institute of Education, Mysuru: A survey. Journal of Library & Information Science, 8(2), 267-277.  Retrieved from http://irjlis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/8-IR480-82.pdf