DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEB BASED STUDENT COLLABORATIVE LIBRARY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter discusses the background to the study, statement of the problem, objectives of study, significance of study, scope of study, limitations of study and operational definition of terms.

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Times are fast changing; we now live in a jet age which is mainly characterized by rapid changes in technology. It is indeed an age of information explosion.

One of the major inventions that have driven the world to a fast pace of technological advancement is the computer. The computer is primarily an electronic information processor that is rapidly changing the way we acquire, organize, recall, access, analyze, synthesize and apply information. The effectiveness with which the information is generated and communicated determines the rate of progress of a society and the fulfillment of its people. Modern society is information driven and information today is a universal need.

Moreover, computers have affected the ways with which people use information. It has changed the rate of work done, the method for accomplishing the work alongside the relationship among the people carrying and using the information. However, computers and libraries are not left out in the utilization of computer to carry out their day-to-day activities especially as it concerns the amount of information generated. Libraries have evolved over the years which gave rise to digital libraries. The idea of the project is to make Federal University of Technology, Minna; School of Information and Communication Technology in particular to be part or benefit from this rise of digital libraries.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There are so many problems with the current way of operating libraries in Federal University of Technology, Minna. Some of which are:

1. The users of the library need be physically present which most times could lead to congestion of the library.

2. Inability for the library resources to be accessed twenty-four hours per day.

3. The library resources cannot be concurrently used. It is one at a time.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The proposed system Web-based Student Collaborative Library has its objectives which it is set out to achieve. They are as follows:

a) To explore the current process of operating library in the School of Information and Communication Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna.

b) To design and implement a Digital Library System for the School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT), Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna).

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In implementing the objectives of this study, the advantages of a web-based student collaborative library over the current way of operating library are enormous. Users will be able to access library resource digitally without the inconveniences of users carrying books, journals, magazines etc. which could result in rapid wear and tear of this library resource. Besides, it will afford users the opportunity to access digital books simultaneously without waiting for the book to be returned to the library. The system will also help to eliminate some of the routine manual work prevalent in the current way of operating library in SICT, FUTMinna.

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY

The scope of this study includes the following:

Ø Reading and downloading.

Ø Registration of books/uploading of digital resources

Ø Registration of users.

Ø Comments by users on books.

Ø Expert advice/answers to issues/questions which is in the mode of forum.

Ø Database management.

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

The proposed system will not take into consideration audio and video collections. It is web based not a stand-alone delivery system. It is strictly limited to the School of Information and Communication Technology in Federal University of Technology, Minna. Also, time constraint during the time for this project work is short.

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

§ Web: Often called World Wide Web is a complex system of interconnected elements i.e. computer devices.

§ Collaboration: Means working with others to do a task or share ideas.

§ Collaborative learning: is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together.

Digital: Relating to or using signals or information represented by discrete values of a physical quantity.

§ Library: A building or room containing collections of books, periodicals and sometimes films and recorded music for people to read, borrow or refer to.

§ Digital Library: Is a type of information retrieval system in which collections are stored in digital format.

§ Information: This is a collection of facts or data.