Preparedness towards adoption of cloud computing technologies by academic libraries in Kenya

Paul Kibet Maina, Daniel Wambiri Muthee
2020 International Journal of Research in Library Science  
In many developing countries including Kenya, there is a great challenge determining the preparedness of libraries towards the adoption of cloud computing technologies. Paucity of resources and Information technology capabilities, lack of manpower, inadequate skills, inadequate infrastructure, and inadequate power supply have been identified as key impediments to institutions towards successful adoption of cloud computing. Despite the benefits of cloud computing technologies, education sector
more » ... s not fully implemented this emerging technology. The objective of this study was to assess the preparedness of academic libraries towards of adoption of cloud computing technologies so that academic libraries can have clear path on how to prepare and measures to put towards cloud computing adoption. The study was undertaken at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology library, Kiambu County, Kenya where 40 librarians were involved in the study. Random sampling procedure was used to select the sample population. The study used descriptive study design to carry out research. The results from the study showed that the library was experiencing shortage in infrastructure due to low student to computer ration, low bandwidth, only one OPAC point and centralized servers. Most library staff posed basic ICT skills with just few staff being experts in areas where cloud computing skills are required. The study recommends that the government and the university should concentrate on ways of making cloud computing affordable by budgeting more funds to improve the ICT infrastructure in the library. The library should concentrate on impacting the library with skills; invest more to improve the ICT infrastructure in the library. . National Institute of Standards and Technology defines cloud computing as "a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction". Examples of services and softwares that depend on cloud computing include Preparedness towards adoption of cloud computing technologies by academic libraries in Kenya 2020,© IJRLS All Rights Reserved www.ijrls.in Page 201 library management softwares (KOHA), Duracloud, serial solutions, institutional repositories Google Apps, virtual storage, web servers, EZproxy. Cloud preparedness assessment that was done in most firms identified technological capabilities which include the IT infrastructure, human resource deals with skills and attitude and external capabilities which include security, policies and regulations as key factors aspects of preparedness of cloud computing. (Workineh et al., 2017). In most developing countries, paucity of resources and IT capabilities are key impediments to institutions towards successful adoption of cloud computing. Institutions of higher learning in developing countries have more interests in adopting cloud technologies but there are few empirical studies on organizational levels that guide towards the process (Workineh et al., 2017). This has led to a big question on the key organizational capabilities required for leveraging cloud computing readiness and increases the chances of adoption in the institutions. 85% of companies migrating to cloud architecture started by investing in company's infrastructure, this therefore means a stable infrastructure is very important in adoption of cloud computing technology confirming that adoption of cloud computing depend heavily in resources as key driver and barrier to adoption (Molla & Licker, 2014). Despite the benefits of cloud computing technologies especially for the public sector, the private sector has been leading the way in the implementation of cloud computing with limited availability, availability of internet, cost and skills required being the key challenges to adoption (Chavula et al., 2019). Human resources capabilities refer to training and experience posed by the staff in an organization. Organizations where staffs have accumulated more knowledge and skills will easily adopt cloud computing successfully. This makes knowledge and skills key indicators to cloud adoption readiness in an institutions (Workineh et al., 2017). Globally, a study conducted by AMD found that every region in the world appears to be at different stages of cloud computing implementation where organizations worldwide are implementing cloud-based solutions signaling a healthy uptake of the technology with North America leading followed by Asia (AMD, 2014). Alliance business intelligence in the USA researched on usage of cloud computing in 72 academic, public and special libraries mainly in the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK and the results showed that 22.5% of those libraries were using online subscribed and hosting cloud services signaling a change in service provision in libraries worldwide (Ramesh & Yadagiri, 2015). Academic institutions in Africa continue to adopt cloud-based services in different percentages South Africa (50%), Kenya (48%) and Nigeria (36%) (CISCO, 2013). Most tertiary institutions in Africa have not fully adopted cloud computing in libraries due to challenges such as lack of manpower, skills, inadequate infrastructure, and inadequate power supply (Yusuf et al., 2017). These observations necessitated a study to determine the preparedness of academic libraries in terms if ICT infrastructure towards the adoption of cloud computing. Statement of the Problem Cloud computing adoption presents academic libraries with great opportunities in different dimensions of technology, data and community. Successful cloud computing adoptions can enable the academic libraries to save time, finances, and simplify daily workflows in line with Ranganathan's five laws of librarianship. Currently, adoption of cloud services in most academic libraries is very minimal with only basic services such as hosted corporate email services yet when fully utilized cloud computing can offer much solutions to many challenges being experienced in libraries such as limited budgets for books and infrastructure, limited space for books storage, changing needs of users, lack of trained human resource and high costs of maintaining the local infrastructure. Preparedness towards adoption of cloud computing technologies by academic libraries in Kenya 2020,© IJRLS All Rights Reserved www.ijrls.in Page 205 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY To find out relevant information for this, Jomo Kenyatta University of science and technology library located in Kiambu County, Kenya was studied. The study used descriptive study design to carry out research, the design is recommended when one seeks to find out the attitude, opinions, expectations, and opinions from people. Random sampling procedure was used to select the sample population that finally participated in the study. Random sampling was considered suitable for this study because the researcher wanted to give the respondents an equal opportunity to respond to the questionnaire. The study used Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determination where 40 librarian were chosen to participate in the research. Kenyatta University Post Modern Library was chosen because it has similar characteristics and levels of cloud computing adoption with JKUAT library. The questionnaires were distributed by the researcher and picked after two weeks. For data analysis, inferential and descriptive techniques will be used to infer and make conclusions and recommendations. On ethical consideration, the researcher obtained approval to conduct research from National Council for Science and Technology (NACOSTI) with permit number NACOSTI/P/19/2990. RESULTS AND FINDINGS The researcher first sought to establish the personal information of the respondents in terms of gender, age and Level of education , this was important since it enabled the researcher to establish the relationships of the respondents' characteristics and ICT skills. From the findings 60% were males and 40% females. In the age brackets 42.5% were in the age bracket of 31-35 years, 22.5% respondents in the age bracket 26-30 years, 12.5% in the age bracket of 36-40 years 17.5% were above 35 years and finally the minority 5% who were below 25 years. In education levels, 24 (60%) had bachelors, 6 (15%) were diploma holders and 7 (17.5%) were master's degree holders while 3(7.5%) had PhDs. The findings indicated that staff below 30 years had more skills and understanding on ICT and cloud computing.
doi:10.26761/ijrls.6.1.2020.1320 fatcat:a5ehtmxmffbfbnaxwif5xhgs2e