The study reports on the decision to go forward with plans for library automation, and its details, including the number of computers/their capacity, the networking pattern used in the automation of the Delta State library and the operating systems. A review of the library software currently in use – X‐LIB, and the general features of the software, the required training in general computer application and how to use the X‐LIB, and handle data entry and retrospective conversion is covered. The article also speculates about the future plan of the library and the constraints it may experience due to the automation plan.
The work was based on the report/experience of the Delta State University library in implementing automation with the use of X‐LIB. The researcher adopted a descriptive method to reveal the state of automation of the university library and the experience to date. This is a descriptive case study about implementation of X‐LIB software.
Automation requires intensive staff training and forces future planning for subsequent phases and developments. Research limitations/implications The obvious implications are scale and financial resources, staff development and how far in the future a library wants to stage this phase of implementation. Many libraries already have invested in this process and refined it but in cases like this institution, library automation is still young.
Useful, practical insights based on local experience is what is described.
As a case study other libraries considering this product or going in this direction will find this submission of interest.
