Dissertation (MSc Computer Science)
In this study, the problem of library service provisional using traditional library systems was examined. In Tanzania and some parts of the world in general, it has been revealed that many institutions still they are using physical library materials and moreover, users of the library has to attend a physical point for the sake of accessing library materials. For library users, this has led to minimal utilization of library services due to number of obstacles caused with this system of providing library services and to mention few they include collision on sharing materials such as few numbers of books, delay on accessing the services due to few numbers of staff, and improper record management of library materials.
After going through a survey on documentation and using a questionnaire to study the current level of library services of a traditional library service provision, using a specific case study, the researcher has tried to suggest the use of virtual library tool to examine the performance improvement on library services provision. The tool was constructed using software development methodologies and was installed locally and using web servers within the institution and users were added to the system and were allowed to login using authorization credentials and were permitted to access electronic library materials, accessing a collection of online libraries and a number of hyperlinks of library materials. Statistics were made on the users' frequency of material accessibility, links visited, books and journal ordered or borrowed. The results have shown there is a significant increase of the users visited the virtual library system as compared to the normal traditional library system. It was also revealed that many users were able to access electronic library material. This has signified that a virtual library tool is an important tool for improving library service accessibility in organizations.