Modeling the School System Adoption Process for Library Networking.

This study developed a preliminary model of the stages of school system participation in library networks and identified the major activities for each stage. Constructed from a study of the literature on innovation adoption and diffusion, observation, and informal interviews, the model is composed of four primary aspects: technological support, financial support, human support, and activities and applications. Within each aspect, anticipated events in each of the three stages of participation in a network are identified. The population for the study included school systems in one or more of three types of networks: OCLC vendors, state regional multitype networks, and statewide school networks. A questionnaire based on the preliminary stage model was mailed to a random sample of 674 school systems in 17 states; usable responses were received from 362 school districts in 13 states. Descriptive statistics were used to provide a profile of the respondents by state, type of network, position of respondent, size of school district, school type, and level of involvement in a network. Chi-square and gamma coefficient tests were performed on each variable in the questionnaire in relation to the level of involvement reported by the respondents, and 16 of the 19 variables in the model tested significant. When analyzed by type of network (school vs. OCLC), 11 events tested as significant. Research support for the general activities leads to the conclusion that this model can serve as a guide to understanding the process and provides a pattern for other school systems to follow as they explore resource sharing. It is noted that events in each phase will differ depending on local support, and that movement will be a gradual transition as schools move into a shared resources environment. (2 references) (BBM)