designing an information retrieval system for ssingo sss library

Description

The study aimed at designing an information retrieval system for Ssingo SSS library. The objectives of the study were; to examine the current system of retrieving information materials in Ssingo SSS library, to identify the challenges associated with the retrieval system used in Ssingo SSS library, to identify the requirements for designing an information retrieval system for Ssingo SSS library, to design an information retrieval system for Ssingo SSS Library. The study adopted a descriptive research design that intended to present a description of state of affairs as it existed at the research site. The questionnaires, interview guides, and the observation guides were used in data collection necessary in designing an information retrieval system for Ssingo SSS library. The findings revealed that there is a variety of information materials managed by the school library that are used by users which include; text books and reference books, holy books, periodicals like magazines and news papers, reports, charts and many others. The research findings also show that these information services and products are not effectively utilized with reasons of not knowing these services. The research revealed that there different challenges faced with the librarians in the retrieval of information for users which included; limited funds, absence of online information system, absence of user education, limited resources and equipments, limited staff to attend to users’ needs, and lack of information materials in the library. These challenges stimulated the researcher to come up with an information retrieval system for the school library to simplify the work of librarians in the retrieval of information. The research findings also established the requirements for an information retrieval system and these were; a user friendly interface, a facility that provide online help to the users, ability to give authority to librarians to manage its operations, compatible with different operating systems, ability to allow data searching and display of search results, also have a facility for preservation of the information objects, ensure security of the collections. Some of the recommendations were; digitisation of all the documents in the library, provision of more ICTs in the library, training of both Library users and the staff, provision of Full time power supply, engaging users in decision, increasing the budget for the library, proper maintenance of ICTs in the library