Digital Divide as Predictors of Access to Information Resources in ICT Based Services in Colleges of Education in Borno State (Published)
The study investigated the digital divide as predictors of access to information in ICT- based library services in colleges of education in Borno state. The objectives that guided the study were to: Assess the socio-economic status of users in accessing information resources in Colleges of Education in Borno state; Examine the impact of geographical location of users on access to information resources in Colleges of Education in Borno state and, Determine the impact of literacy level of users in accessing information resources in Colleges of Education in Borno state. In line with the objectives, three research questions and three null hypotheses were answered. This study adopted descriptive survey research design. The targeted population of this study was one hundred and six eighty-four (164) registered library users of Shehu Kyari library, Umar Ibn Ibrahim College Education science and Technology Bama and College library, Waka Biu College of Education. The study adopted purposive sampling technique since the entire population can be managed. The researcher used a self-designed questionnaire as the research instrument for data collection using the modified four (4) likert scale with 1= Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Disagree, 4 = Strongly Disagree. The regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that: There is a positive very high relationship [r = 0.68] between the Socio-Economic Status of users and access to ICT – Based library services Borno State tertiary institutions. Furthermore, a significant relationship exists between socio economic status of users and access to information in ICT- based library services carried out in the libraries [0.02 < 0.05].; There is a positive high relationship [r= 0.73] between the geographical location of library users and access to ICT – Based library services Borno State tertiary institutions. Interestingly, a significant relationship exists between the geographical location of library users and access to ICT – Based library services carried out in the libraries [0.04 < 0.05].and, there is a positive high relationship [r= 0.73] between the literacy level of users and access to ICT – Based library services Borno State tertiary institutions. Furthermore, a significant relationship exists between the geographical location of library users and access to ICT – Based library services carried out in the libraries [0.01 < 0.05].
Keywords: Borno State, Colleges Of Education, Digital Divide, predictors access to information ICT- based services
Librarianship in The Era of Digital Divide: Review of Literature (Published)
Librarianship is an evolving discipline having its feet in partially every profession. It is the foundation upon which all other professions in the world over built their structure of existence. It is no longer news that the application of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has revolutionized the practice of librarianship. This paper therefore, examined the place of librarians in the digital divide. Furthermore, the assumption that those who have knowledge of ICTs are adequately equipped with functional information than those who do not was also examined. Who librarians are and their responsibilities, effects of digital divide on librarianship practice, factors contributory to the digital divide and the challenges confronting the practice in the digital divide were highlighted. The paper concluded that training and re-training of librarians in the form of capacity building is inevitable if librarians will occupy their space in the digital era.
Keywords: Digital Divide, Information & Communication Technologies, Librarians, Nigeria, librarianship, university libraries
Digital Literacy and the Implication on Nigerian Digital Library (Published)
Digital libraries are emerging concepts in Nigeria, and digital literacy is a necessary tool or skill needed in making use of resources in the digital library. Most Nigerian libraries are faced with challenges in library usage and services due to inadequate literacy and digital skills required to make maximum use of digital library. This in turn has led to digital divide among both users and staff. Libraries owe it to their users, to make information accessible to all, irrespective of their locations, languages and literacy levels, as libraries support all forms of literacies from basic to digital. How then, can all these be made possible if users are not digitally literate?. The study hope to bring to light the essence of digital literacy in digital libraries, consequence of not being digital literate, and ways libraries can promote digital literacy. The study employed qualitative approach as research design. The researcher searched online journal articles, databases and looked at various studies carried on digital literacy, the importance, digital libraries, implication of digital literacy in libraries and ways libraries can promote digital literacies in their libraries with focus on Nigeria and proffered solutions for tackling the menace of digital divide to digital libraries and to the society generally.
Keywords: Digital Divide, Digital Library, Digital Literacy, Information Communication Technology