Introducing a Working Prototype of an Open Access Platform Built Discovery (Electronic Resources Management) System (ERMS): a Case Study of a Nigerian University Library

Abstract

Introducing a working prototype of an open source discovery system to a higher educational institution presents an opportunity for technology adoption evaluation, which may be useful to other institutions. This paper presents the experience of the introduction of a working prototype of an Electronic Resources Management System (ERMS), a system built on ABCD software, to the University of Jos (Unijos) Library, Nigeria. The introduction of the system to Unijos Library serves as a pilot to the introduction of the system and ABCD software to libraries in Nigeria. The ERMS was built on the ABCD site module and it was presented to two categories of prospective users and the Server Administrator at the University Information Communication Technology (ICT) Directorate: firstly, to the Library staff who will work with it from the back end, to the students who will make use of the front end and, lastly, to the Server Administrator who will configure the system for the Web. At each presentation, participants were allowed to raise observations, suggestions, and make constructive criticism of the system. Participants evaluated the system based on motivation, user-friendliness, future expandability, cost implication, search results order and functionality matters; the evaluation results were positive. All participants at both presentations supported the adoption of the software with a suggestion for improved site colour combinations. Eventually, the Library Management requested that the ERMS be installed on another computer that would be made accessible to all stakeholders for a stipulated period, so that they could further study the system and give more useful suggestions before the system would finally be implemented.