The utilisation of new ICT services in academic libraries in the state of Kuwait : an interpretive case study

Information and communication Technology (ICT) holds the key to the success of modernising information services. Hence, ICT services impacted on every sphere of academic library activity as well as presenting an opportunity to provide value-added information services and access to a wide variety of digital-based information resources to their users. Today, academic libraries are using modern ICT services to automate their main functions, implement efficient and effective library cooperation and resource sharing networks, implement management information systems, develop institutional repositories of digital local content, and initiate ICT-based capacity building programmes for library staff and information literacy programmes for library users. However, innovative use of ICT services in Kuwait Academic Libraries (KAL) is not widespread and it is made difficult by several challenges, including lack of funds to sustain the ICT infrastructure, inability by library staff to keep up with the developments in ICT, quality and quantity of ICT facilities in the libraries, inadequate qualified staff to manage ICT services both at the strategic and operational levels, absence of institutional policies and strategies to support and guide the use of ICT services in the libraries. Hence, this study focuses on the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), which is one of the most important higher education institutions in the State of Kuwait. The purpose of this research is twofold. Firstly, to investigate the main challenges facing the implementation of ICT solution in academic libraries; and secondly to develop a strategic framework for ICT implementation in academic libraries in the State of Kuwait.Multiple data gathering techniques has been used, including questionnaire, interview, observation, documentation, in order to thoroughly understand the phenomenon. The findings identify that there is the imbalance in the implementation of ICT services in the KAL libraries. The main reasons for this shortage are the lack of technological services, the lack of financial support, the lack of awareness among society regarding these libraries and finally, the lack of cooperation among the decision makers in the Ministry of Higher Education and the KAL management. To conclude, the results emphasize the need to better understand the importance of ICT in the academic libraries as well as highlight the need for decision makers in the Ministry of Higher Education and KAL to review and improve the current situation. Although the research is limited to academic libraries in the State of Kuwait, the study may be equally applicable to other academic libraries in many analogous developing countrie