Meshal Shehab Al-Fadhli, Msc. Electronic Information Management.
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2005.
Professor: Ian M. Johnson.
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers that inhibited three major academic establishment libraries in the State of Kuwait: Kuwait University, the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), and the National Scientific and Technical Information Centre (NSTIC) from implementing Electronic Document Delivery to enhance the Inter Library Loan services, although it has been increasingly used in the western countries for more than 10 years.
A case study was conducted to examine the availability of relevant technology and personnel with appropriate expertise in these Kuwaiti academic libraries. Data were collected from reviewing the available literature, from interviews, and from ground observation.
In addition, 40 questionnaires were distributed to librarians, who were working to provide the Inter Library Loan service at these three Kuwaiti academic establishment libraries to assess staff attitudes and perceptions.
According to the study results, there are several of barriers that inhibited these Kuwaiti libraries from adopting new technologies to develop their services. However, the major factors are a need for understanding the importance of the resource sharing concept, familiarity and confidence in using IT, through having intensive courses, and serious initiatives to overcome the shortage of professional staff in these libraries
