Measuring the success of library 2.0 technologies in the African context: the suitability of the DeLone and McLean’s model

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the adoption of library 2.0 technologies among undergraduate students in the African context, and focused at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) of Tanzania. Not much research has been done to investigate the successful adoption of library 2.0 systems in the African context. This study assessed the success factors for the adoption of library 2.0 applications by using the DeLone and McLean’s information systems (IS) success model. A case study research design was used in this study. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all first year undergraduate students (n=408) at MUHAS, with a rate of return of 71.8%. This study used the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach to investigate the research model. The study findings confirm the validity of using the proposed IS model for library 2.0 adoption assessment. The users’ intention to reuse is quite important, and accurately predicts the usage behaviour of library 2.0 services. The perceived net benefits had the strongest effect on users’ intention to reuse library 2.0 systems than any other determinants within the model. Among the three quality-related constructs, service quality had the strongest total effect on perceived net benefits and intention to reuse. Compared with system quality, information quality had the largest effect on user satisfaction. It is thus important for librarians to consider all these factors for effective adoption of library 2.0 projects in research and academic institutions. This is the first comprehensive study focusing on the health sciences library patrons’ usage behaviour of library 2.0 applications in Tanzania, and reveals findings that are useful for planning and implementing library 2.0 initiatives in other institutions with similar conditions.