Journal of Library Services and Technologies (2019), 1(1), 57-72 ISSN: 2616-1354 (Print) 2636-7424 (Online) Available online at credencepressltd.com Comparative analysis of card and online public access catalogue (OPAC) preferences among students in selected Nigerian universities Adeyinka Tella Adewoyin, OlaideOriyomi Dept. of Library and Information Science, University of Ilorin, Nigeria E-mail: tella.@unilorin.edu.ng Oluwatoyin Oso Ajayi Crowther University Library, Oyo, Nigeria Abstract This study examined card catalogue and online public access catalogue (OPAC) preferences among student library users in selected universities in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design and data was gathered randomly from four selected university libraries. Data collected through a self-designed questionnaire were analysed using frequency counts, simple percentage and cross tabulation. The findings revealed that the highest percentage of the university library users preferred OPAC to card catalogue because OPAC can be accessed anywhere in the campus unlike the card catalogue that can only be accessed within the library, OPAC saves time, convenient and more user friendly compared to card catalogue. Most prominent challenges identified associated with the two include lack of privacy when searching the OPAC, and need to wait until it is ones turn to use the OPAC. While on the other hand, spending a lot of time waiting to use the card catalogue, non-user friendliness, and difficulty in pulling the catalogue cabinet drawer are all associated with card catalogue; however, difficulty in interpreting the information retrieved is common to both. From the findings of the study, conclusion and recommendations were made. Keywords: Card catalogue, OPAC, Preferences, Information materials, Library users, Students, Nigeria Introduction In any human setting, it is usual to organize objects that are within one’s environment, especially those that are frequently used. This is to facilitate easy retrieval whenever the objects are needed. This is referred to as principle of organization. If there were no prior organization of objects, it would be difficult to retrieve a particular object from among the various objects in the collection when needed. Similarly, different information carriers which are normally acquired and stored in the library for use must be organized in order to facilitate easy retrieval when the users of a library want them (Aina 2004). Aguolu and Aguolu (2002) defined library as a social institution, created to conserve knowledge, preserve the cultural heritage, provide information, undergird and underpin education and research, and serve as a fountains of knowledge. Omoike and Oke (2014) posited that libraries normally acquire a large number of information carriers. There are many retrieval tools for accessing documents in a collection. The retrieval tools surrogates of information carriers stored in a collection are substitute of the actual documents. They facilitate easy retrieval of documents within a collection. Retrieval allows users to peruse and select the necessary documents required. Academic libraries collect material to support the teaching and research objectives of their parent bodies. The library serves both the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, researchers from other academic institutions, and students. Experience has shown that the majority of users of academic libraries are students. The library collection is organized to give easy access to material in meeting the information needs of the users, which is why the catalogue is the most essential tools in organization of library materials. Catalogues provide various access points such as author, title and subject. These are entry points that a user will approach in Journal of Library Services and Technologies, Vol. 1 Num. 1, 2019 57