The findings of this study revealed more differences than similarities among the four
university libraries. This is not surprising, especially since these libraries vary in terms of the
educational system with which they are affiliated. Libraries at both LAU and USEK are
perceived as important entities by the university administration, unlike those at LU and BAU.
Due to the fact that BAU has recently received accreditation from a European accrediting
body and is planning to migrate to a new library system (discovery service platform) in the
near future, it is expected that not only access to the system will be improved, but also
internet connectivity and information discovery.
Based on the findings of this study, both BAU and LU and to a certain extent USEK
contributed the least to their users’ experiences in terms of learning outcomes and planning
for future careers. This is due to inadequate staffing, lack of informational professionals,
dated online catalog, weak library collections, poor technology infrastructure, and absence of
information literacy programs. These problems also seemed to be at the crux of the users’
dissatisfaction with the quality of services and information resources.
Despite the many differences among the four libraries, the qualitative data showed
similarities across the participants in relation to the need for extending library hours,
improving facilities, and enhancing information technology