A framework for the adoption of a library information system in selected South African Universities in the Western Cape

Abstract

In a high internet and smartphone era, it is interesting to note that there is a low adoption rate of a Library Information System (LIS), which can support and encourage e-learning in South Africa. LIS provides several advantages, including easy access, availability of resources, reduced costs compared to traditional libraries, and improved communication. These advantages are a driving force behind the importance of LIS. Despite all the evidence on the benefits of LIS in higher education, there is a gap in its adoption in higher education in South Africa. The positive relationship between library usage and student achievement is another compelling reason for adopting LIS in higher education. This research study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of LIS at selected South African Universities in the Western Cape. The main research question was as follows: What is the appropriate framework for evaluating the adoption of LIS in South African higher education? Three secondary questions are: (a) What are the critical factors for evaluating the adoption of LIS in South African higher education? (b). What are the current patterns and trends for adopting LIS in South African higher education? (c) How do higher education libraries in South Africa encourage the utilisation of their LIS? A structured questionnaire research survey was conducted as the selected quantitative research methodology. The study was based on a sample size of 170 students from the University of the Western Cape and Cape Peninsula University. The key findings of this research study revealed that the critical factors influencing the adoption of an online library system in the South African higher education sector include task and individual characteristics, such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude towards use, user satisfaction and adoption capacity.