COMPARING MAJOR US OPAC SYSTEMS FOR DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

The lack of an understanding of the characteristics, skills, and searc hing abilities of a specific user group in computer-based information systems hinders library and information science professionals from mak ing the best decisions when designing, acquiring, and managing informa tion systems. The objective of this study is to provide information on the characteristics of a specific group of international college stud ents from a developing country in order to assist system managers in t he selection of OPAC systems. The major conclusions of this study are: (1) the academic level and age of students affect the preference towa rd an OPAC, but academic major of the students does not affect the pre ference; (2) system designers should prepare more specific instruction s regarding searching methods; (3) there is a negative relationship be tween the number of searching methods that the respondents knew in usi ng OPACs and the frequency of manual card catalogue use; and (4) menu- driven systems should be the first selection of OPAC systems for Korea n students. Recommendations are proposed when designing, adopting, or managing a new OPAC system. Topics for further studies on the characte ristics of OPAC systems and their use are also suggested.