Framework for ICT applications in enhancing library service usage: A case of university libraries in South-Western Uganda

Background/ Objective of the Study: The study examined the Impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications in enhancing library services usage in selected Ugandan universities. The objective of the study was to propose a framework and evaluate its effectiveness for ICT applications in enhancing library service usage.

Research Methods: The research adopted a deductive approach using SERVQUAL and UTAUT to guide the formulation of data collection instruments. The descriptive survey research methodology was used where the study population involved 148 Library staff and 16 student leaders. The total sample size was 116 determined with the use of Sloven’s formula. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysis done using SPSS 21.0 to generate descriptive statistics, correlations and model evaluation.

Findings/Discussion: Descriptive statistics revealed that respondents believe ICT significantly enhances service quality and standard deviation of 1.49 reflected a moderate variability in these perceptions. When evaluating the effectiveness of proposed strategies for ICT implementation, varied opinions were given. In this study, the Automatic Linear Modeling (ALM) was employed to validate the Integrated framework adopted from both UTAUT and SERVQUAL and assess how well the identified predictors contribute to explaining user satisfaction.

Conclusions: The ALM confirmed the robustness and relevance of the framework for predicting user satisfaction with ICT services in libraries. By confirming the relationship between ICT service quality and user satisfaction, this framework provides valuable insights for library management, offering a pathway to enhance ICT resources through user trainings and support systems, ultimately improving the overall user experience in university libraries