OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE, HOUSEKEEPING USE AND CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

This research examined the use of open source software in federal university libraries in Northern Nigeria. The objective of the study was to ascertain if the libraries were using open source software for their automation process, what type of open source software is used, what libraiy housekeeping functions it suppoded and what constituted the challenges associated in using the software. The research design adopted for this work was the survey research method while questionnaire was the research instrument used in the collection of data. The study involved the population of librarians from the Federal University libraries in Northern Nigeria. Out of (45) copies of questionnaire administered, forty-three were returned to the researcher which were used for delta analysis. The data collected were analysed using frequency counts and presented in tables. The results of the study showed that KOHA was the open source software in use by both libraries. From the findings, it was revealed that the majority of the respondents agreed that the software supported major housekeeping functions of the library and also performed well above average. Circulation management and registration of users were the function most identified by majority of the respondents as functions performed by their library software. Challenges such as lack of regular updates and lack of adequate support for all library housekeeping functions were also recognized by the majority of the respondents as part of the factors hindering the use of their library 's software.