Effective Planning Strategies: A Key Component for Implementation of Automation in Academic Libraries

Abstract

Academic library, as a dynamic, vital organ in an organization or institution of higher learning, plays an important role in the academic programmes in selecting, organizing and disseminating of information to enrich the curriculum; it is deeply affected by the information technology revolution.  Therefore, the need for effective planning strategies in meeting the demand of the present society in transforming the library into new information service centre becomes pertinent. The focus and aim of the paper is to provide steps to be adopted in the implementation of automated library services particularly in Nigeria. Strategies are the focus of all planning processes and it incorporates purpose, policies, programmes, actions, decisions, collaborations and resource allocation. The study also focused on automation activities as the core management preparation or analytical process of identifying of objectives, effectiveness/ineffectiveness in the context of implementation. The study recommended among others in its conclusion, that librarians or information managers should see the steps, factors and the planning process as provided in the study as a way to eliminate wastage of resources, other sources of funding of the project have also been proffered.

Keyword: Automation, Planning, Strategies, Library, and Components.