Evaluation Of Ict-based Information Resources And Services Utilization In Private University Libraries In Enugu State, Nigeria

Evaluation Of Ict-based Information Resources And Services Utilization In Private University Libraries In Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The broad ideal of this study is to examine ICT- Grounded Information coffers and services application in private university libraries using Enugu State, Nigeria as casestudy.Survey exploration design was espoused for the study and with the aid of accessible slice system, the experimenter named One hundred and fifty( 150) party from three( 3) privates university in Enugu State as the replier of the study. Well structured questionnaire was issued to the replier of which aggregate of 141 responses were recaptured and validated for the study. Data was anatomized in frequentness and tables using simple chance, mean and standard divagation. The findings revealed that a number of ICT installations are at different situations of vacuity in the civil university libraries under study. It also shows that ICT tools similar ase-mails, subject gateways,e-journals,e-books are considerably used to give reference services, in terms of bibliographic tools the CD- ROMs and online databases are extensively used. It further shows that druggies ’ perception is that ICT application is salutary, as it aids in enhancing exploration. colorful problems ranging from shy budget for ICT installations, shy structure, lack of over- graded ICT skill position of druggies, shy good staff in libraries, software and tackle problems are shown to hamper ICT application. The study made the ensuing recommendations acceptable structure, backing, training of library staff on ICT use for exploration, provision of acceptable electricity with back- over power factory, institutional subscription, as results in addressing the problems of ICT application in civil university libraries in South East Nigeria.

Chapter One

Preface

Background of the study

Library is a fast growing association, the ancient styles of maintaining it are no longer dynamic and effective for peregrinations, reclamation and dispersion of information and better service for the scholars; operation of ultramodern ways has come absolutely necessary. A duly motorized library will help its scholars with quick and prompt services. A digital library is an automated or electronic library where conditioning like penetrating; with the help of a computer does resource sharing and storing. The university library is that kind of library positioned in advanced institution of literacy, more specifically a university institution. Madu( 2004) defined the university library as “ one attached to an institution of advanced literacy of the status of a university and that it serves primarily scholars, staff and others who need its services. Because the university library is established to support the objects of the university which is to promote tutoring, literacy and exploration, it’s imperative that it serves the undergraduate, postgraduate, speakers and other members of the university community. For undergraduate scholars, the library is anticipated to give information accoutrements and services especially structured for their academic pursuit. For postgraduate scholars, tutoring staff and exploration fellows, the university library is strategic in furnishing information coffers and services of depth quality. That’s why Agboola( 2005) posit that university libraries are veritably important factors of university institutions. He further argued that no university can lay claim to academic excellence without a good library to back up its tutoring, exploration and public service authorizations. also, the quality of a university is measured largely by the quality of its library. therefore, because of the strategic place the library occupies in the university system, no university can serve effectively without it.

Importantly, Libraries can not live as a single reality and technology to link their coffers, the collections of these digital libraries aren’t limited to surrogate development but extend further to digital vestiges that can not be represented or distributed in published formats. Digital libraries are a shift in electronic content; this enables libraries to apply a growing range of information technology to the operation of collection of print information. The emergence of the World Wide Web is maybe the great symbol to this shift with all operations for scholarly communication, rise of the computationally wisdom, the new part of databases. The term”e-library” refers to information penetrated through the Internet. Unlike traditional libraries,e-libraries aren’t limited by position or time. Libraries have changed with the emergence and operation of IT. They’ve assumed the part of preceptors, tutoring druggies to find, estimate, and use information both in the library and over electronic networks. As the use ofe-library continues to soar, druggies are anticipated to develop information knowledge chops. These chops, as Julien( 2002) observes, will enable druggies to make effective and effective use of information sources. thus, Information knowledge is decreasingly important( especially amongst scholars).

Meanwhile, the relinquishment of information and dispatches technology and its application as an enabling tool was more sluggishly introduced into Nigerian university libraries as they’re seen also as primarily warehouses for books, despite the call for “ virtual libraries ”. The development and perpetration of information technology in the university libraries of Nigeria is still a work in progress, this is because Nigeria is oppressively challenged by lack of introductory architectures which have averted development in utmost areas.

Statement of the problem

Information and communication technology( ICT) application has come an necessary part of numerous university libraries around the world. It’s being used to search for journal papers, to pierce reference accoutrements , to conduct exploration and to shoote-mail( Aina, 2010). When effectively employed, it restate into effective stoner service delivery, which in turn lead to bettered access to information; enhanced educational development; enhancement in the status of Nigerian libraries; digitization of original content and conservation of library space. still, when ICT isn’t employed or inefficiently employed, it’ll lead to hamstrung and poor stoner service delivery; it’ll also affect the part of university libraries as sources of literacy, education; invention and exploration for social development, as well as vehicle of communication. druggies on the other hand will also suffer nonstop frustrations as result of lack of ICT application, indeed when employed; scholars who aren’t familiar with the routine of its application will be frustrated and anxious as well as exhibition avoidance geste ( Okiy, 2010). University library druggies will further be discouraged from seeking backing in the library for their academic requirements. The recrimination is that scholars and other experimenters would miss exercising important information that could have made them better scholars. While others may abandon the library to patronize the cyber café in other to pierce information on the internet through other available websites for current academic coffers.

Despite these benefits and the troubles of poor ICT application for stoner services in university libraries, to the stylish of the experimenter’s knowledge, it appear that university libraries in Nigeria, specifically, Private university libraries in Enugu State Nigeria are still at a minimum position of exercising ICT in furnishing stoner services. Although several scholars have written on the application of ICT in university library services, none have specifically directed their study to civil university libraries in South Eastern region of Nigeria. This exploration thus is directed at determining the application of ICT in druggies services of civil university libraries in South Eastern Nigeria, with specific focus on the examination of the vacuity of ICT installations; extent of ICT application, druggies perception of benefits deduced; problems associated with ICT application and strategies in containing the problems associated with ICT application in druggies services of university libraries

Ideal Of The Study

The broad ideal of this study is to examine ICT- Grounded Information coffers and services application in private university libraries in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically the study seeks

Examine the ICT installations available for furnishing stoner services in private university libraries in Enugu State.

Examine the extent of ICT application in stoner services of private university libraries in Enugu State.

Determine druggies ’ perception of benefits deduced from ICT application in stoner services of private university libraries in Enugu State,.

Examine the problems associated with the application of ICT in stoner services of private university libraries in Enugu State.

Exploration Question

The following exploration questions will be used to guide the study.

What are the ICT installations available in furnishing stoner services in private university libraries in Enugu State?

To what extent are ICT installations employed in stoner services of private university libraries in Enugu State?

What are druggies perception of the benefits deduced from ICT application in stoner services of private university libraries in Enugu State,?

What are the problems associated with ICT application in stoner services of private university libraries in Enugu State?

Significance of the study

Findings of this study would be useful to the following groups of people university authorities, university librarians, other library staff, scholars, faculty members, educational exploration institutes, information technology experimenters etc. University librarians will as a result of these findings identify applicable aspects of library services that are imperfect and which enhancement is demanded. It’ll further prop them to cut cost, save time and coffers in furnishing services to clientele using ICT. Academic librarians will by this study appreciate the utility of espousing ICT in furnishing druggies services in university libraries. Other library staff(Para-professionals) will have the practical functional knowledge and understanding of the significance of ICT in achieving access to information. scholars and faculty members will as a result of this finding develop further confidence in the capability of the library to meet their exploration and academic requirements. Eventually, the study will contribute to the being literature and serve as a reference material to both pupil and scholars who wishes to conduct farther studies in related content.

compass of the study

The compass of this study covers only private university libraries in Enugu State, while, the compass of the subject is limited to the study of ICT application in stoner services, banning other sections of the university library similar as cataloguing and bracket sections, accessionetc. and this is with specific focus on the examination of the vacuity of ICT installations; extent of ICT application, druggies perception of benefits deduced; problems associated with ICT application and strategies in containing the problems associated with ICT application in druggies services of private university libraries in Enugu State.

Limitation of the study

As every mortal bid is formerly faced with a constraint, the same was tenable during the period of this study. In the course of carrying out this study, the experimenter endured some constraints, which included time constraints, fiscal constraints, and the station of the repliers. In addition, there was the element of experimenter bias. Then, the experimenter held some impulses that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people canvassed or tried , and how the data gathered was interpreted later. The eventuality for all this to impact the findings and conclusions couldn’t be played down. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population( Librarian, Library Staff and Student) in the study area( Private Universities Enugu State), hence the result of the study may not be suitable for use in comparison to other seminaries, original governments, States, and other countries in the world.