MICROCOMPUTERS IN THE CURRICULAR OF THE AFRICA REGIONAL CENTRE FOR INFORAMATION SCIENCE(ARCIS)

Abstract

The conference organizers deserve commendation for their attention to promoting the widespread use of microcomputers in developing countries. However, most papers describing the environment of microcomputer utilization or non-utilization in developing countries lack empirical data, making it difficult to understand the magnitude of the problems and challenges involved. The authors emphasize the need for definite studies of specific applications and their implications, such as the doctoral study at the University of Ibadan. The study, conducted by Alabi, considered the cost-effectiveness of designing and mounting a microcomputer-based circulation system in Nigerian university libraries. The value of the study lies in its implications, such as providing specific guidelines on microcomputer applications in Nigerian libraries, choosing single or integrated applications systems, selecting hardware and vendors, converting manual records to machine-readable ones, and maintaining the new computerized system. The authors call for definitive answers or guidelines based on verifiable data to a host of practical and sometimes conflicting microcomputer applications environments in developing countries.