Perception and Usage Pattern of e-Resources for Enhanced Academic Learning among Undergraduates in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria (Published)
The study is on Perception and Usage Pattern of e-Resources for Enhanced Academic Learning among Undergraduates in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The study population consisted of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED) Undergraduates. Structured questionnaire was developed for the study and used for the data collection. A sample size of 100 students was purposively chosen as the respondents of the study. AFUED undergraduate students hold a strongly positive perception of electronic information resources for learning, with all eight items exceeding the 2.50 decision threshold. The statement that e-resources provide more current and updated information than printed materials recorded the highest individual mean (x̄ = 4.10, SD = 0.88), indicating a strong consensus that the currency of e-resources is their most valued attribute. Close behind were statements affirming personal motivation to use e-resources more (x̄ = 4.01, SD = 0.91) and confidence in e-resources as the best tool for information provision (x̄ = 3.98, SD = 0.91). Students also strongly agreed that they gain a lot from using e-resources (x̄ = 3.96, SD = 0.90), and that e-resources facilitate quick access to needed information (x̄ = 3.90, SD = 0.89) and make study easier (x̄ = 3.90, SD = 0.90). Perceptions of the value and ease of use of e-resources (x̄ = 3.78, SD = 0.90) and of personal exposure to e-resources (x̄ = 3.81, SD = 0.91) rounded out the strongly positive pattern. The results reveal that all six barriers presented were strongly affirmed by respondents, with every item recording a mean score exceeding the decision threshold. High cost of access attracted the highest mean (x̄ = 4.22, SD = 0.96), identifying financial barriers as the most critical impediment to e-resource use among AFUED undergraduates. Unreliable internet connectivity ranked second (x̄ = 4.17, SD = 0.95), a finding that underscores the persistent infrastructure challenge facing Nigerian universities. The surfeit of irrelevant information on the internet was also strongly affirmed (x̄ = 4.10, SD = 0.95), suggesting that information overload and quality discrimination constitute a significant challenge alongside access barriers. Lack of internet access to web-based information resources (x̄ = 3.73, SD = 1.00) and inability to evaluate the usefulness of web-gathered information (x̄ = 3.70, SD = 0.98) were affirmed at moderately high levels, indicating that both physical access and evaluative information literacy remain substantial challenges. Lack of IT knowledge to effectively utilise e-resources (x̄ = 3.48, SD = 1.04), while recording the lowest mean in this section, still exceeded the threshold and remains a meaningful barrier.
Keywords: Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Nigeria, Ondo, Pattern, Perception, Undergraduates, e-resources, enhanced academic learning, usage
Awareness and Utilization of Social Media Services for Library Information Sourcing Among Undergraduates in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria (Published)
The study is on Awareness and utilization of social media service for library information sourcing among Undergraduates in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria.This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised all undergraduate students registered at Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo. A sample of 100 undergraduate students was drawn using a stratified random sampling technique, stratified by department and level of study. Data were collected using the Awareness and Utilization of Social Media Library Information Sourcing and Delivery Questionnaire (AUSLISDQ), a researcher-designed instrument validated by library science experts. The instrument consisted of four sections aligned with the research questions and scored on a four-point Likert scale: Strongly Agree (SA) = 4, Agree (A) = 3, Disagree (D) = 2, Strongly Disagree (SD) = 1; and for frequency items: Daily = 4, Weekly = 3, Monthly = 2, Never = 1. A mean score of 2.50 and above was adopted as the decision rule for a positive/affirmed response. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC), and Chi-square, were employed to test the four null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. All data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Only five of the nineteen platforms assessed exceeded the 2.50 frequency threshold: WhatsApp recorded the highest mean by a considerable margin (x̄ = 3.33, SD = 0.88), confirming its dominance as the preferred social media tool for academic information sharing. Facebook ranked second (x̄ = 2.92, SD = 1.06), followed by Wiki (x̄ = 2.81, SD = 1.08), Instagram (x̄ = 2.54, SD = 1.06), and YouTube (x̄ = 2.58, SD = 1.01). All remaining platforms, including LinkedIn (x̄ = 2.40), Twitter/X (x̄ = 2.44), Zoom (x̄ = 1.96), Blogs (x̄ = 1.85), Skype (x̄ = 1.85), TeacherTube (x̄ = 1.68), The strong and consistent affirmation of social media use across all eight academic work categories, with research (x̄ = 3.17) and lecture preparation (x̄ = 3.14) as the leading academic drivers. The breadth of academic purposes for which social media is used suggests that students have organically integrated social media into their academic information ecosystems, a development that provides an opening for libraries to institutionalise and formalise this behaviour through structured social media information services
Keywords: Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Nigeria, Ondo, Undergraduates, Utilization, awareness, library information sourcing, social media services
Awareness, Attitude and Exploration of Library Services among Undergraduates in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria (Published)
The research is on Awareness, Attitude and Exploration of Library Services among Undergraduates in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria. The population comprises all undergraduate students in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo. Simple Random sampling technique was used for the study. The sample size of the study was seventy (100) degree students. The research design for the study is descriptive survey research design. The finding revealed that students expressed high satisfaction with most of the library services provided, specifically, services such as the library education programme, the borrowing period for library books, duration of opening hours, number of books borrowed at a time among others were well satisfied with. The research concludes that this is a practical evidence that Adeyemi Federal University Library is doing a good job, however, other services rated low should be strengthened and built up. It is recommended that undergraduates in the university should continue to explore the services of the library and the library staff should also be more proactive in rendering a 21st library services to them.
Keywords: Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Nigeria, Ondo, Undergraduates, attitude, awareness, exploration of library services
Marketing of Library Services: A Survey of University Libraries in North East, Nigeria (Published)
The study investigated the current form of marketing of library services in university libraries in the North East, Nigeria. The study was guided by three objectives which include: ` identify the current form of marketing of library services in universities in North- East, Nigeria, determine the challenges faced by librarians in marketing of library services in universities North-East Nigeria and recognize strategies for enhancing marketing of library services in universities North-East Nigeria. Three research questions were formulated. The study employed the descriptive survey design. The population of study was the one hundred and ninety librarians working in the university libraries in the North- East were used. A questionnaire developed by the researcher was used as instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was adopted for data analysis. The study found that the current form of marketing is relatively poor. Marketing is more traditional in nature as responses shows less use of ICT’s. This implies the probable underutilization of library resources as traditional method has been proven inadequate in service delivery in the era of ICT. The challenges identified by the study are numerous. They include lack of adequate staff, inadequate ICT facilities, lack of trained staff with marketing skills, poor power supply to the library, inadequate funding, and lack of technical know-how to effectively use the ICT facilities, Lack of management user interface to ease communication with staff among others. Strategies for enhancing the marketability of library services include adequate ICTs, effective internet service, steady power supply, user/management interface, and trained staff among others.
Keywords: Library Services, Marketing, Nigeria, North –East, university libraries
Resource Sharing and the Need for virtual Libraries in Nigeria University (Published)
This paper sets out to discuss resource sharing and the place of virtual libraries among university libraries in Nigeria it is obvious that university libraries in Nigeria have been beaten hands down in meeting the needs of user. These are an underutilization and considerable disparity between and within the academic libraries in their levels of application and use of information and communication technology. Majority of the university libraries stills use the traditional methods of service provision and resource sharing, suggesting the most library authorities have not done much to embrace and integrate this information technology in their routine operations operation. Universities are compiled to shift gears in other to justify their existence in the changing information environment, and there is need for studies that address various issues that relate to technology adoption and use. The advent and pervasive role of the virtual library in academic libraries and its potential impact on learning, teaching and research, show that all efforts should be directed towards this laudable project.
Keywords: Nigeria, University, resource sharing, virtual libraries
Assessment of Soft Competencies Strategies Among Information Professionals’ in Selected Academic Institutions in South West, Nigeria (Published)
The library is a service-focused organization. As a result, in addition to having technical expertise, an information professional heading a library needs soft skills to deliver high-quality services to stakeholders and improve performance. This essay is the outcome of research done in academic institutions in South West, Nigeria, to identify the soft skill attributes that information professionals need in order to efficiently and successfully manage libraries, as well as to look at the soft skill attributes in information professionals. Studying the soft skill performance was done with stakeholders including students, non-teaching personnel, and teaching staff in mind. Questionnaires were distributed in the institutions located in six geographical location which University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti. From each institution 5 teaching staff, 5 non-teaching staff and 10 students were identified for the study and were asked to rate soft skill performance of Information professional of their respective institutions. The findings demonstrated that there are no appreciable differences in the soft skill performance of information professionals across the Southwest Nigerian academic institutions. Additionally, the study’s conclusion said that there is a positive association between information professionals’ performance in soft skills as reported by stakeholders and the soft competencies that all stakeholders from the institutions demand. The authors have provided some recommendations to enhance the performance of information professionals in the institutions with respect to soft skills based on the study’s findings.
Keywords: Nigeria, communication competencies, information professional's competencies, leadership competencies, soft competencies
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
A Bibliometric Analysis of Research in Science and Technology in Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria (Published)
Research in science and technology is a very key component in the development of any country. It helps birth creativity and innovation which are essential for the economic and social progress of the country. The study set out to empirically document the research productivity and impact of research in science and technology, emanating from the Federal University Otuoke. The research adopted a mixed methodology with quantitative and qualitative tools to elicit data for the study and analysis. Researchers engaged in science and technology in Federal University Otuoke- Faculties of Engineering, Science, and Education made up the study population. To elicit data for the study, an online questionnaire was designed and shared on the existing social academic platforms in the university. A qualitative content analysis of the Google Scholar profiles of researchers in these Faculties was also carried out. The study further conducted interview sessions with the Heads of related Departments. Findings reveal that a total of 2,124 publications are visible from 102 science and technology researchers in Education, Engineering and Science. Chemistry is leading with a citation frequency of 5,649 from 500 publications. A significant relationship has been established between publications output and citation frequency/impact.
Keywords: Nigeria, Research, bibliometric analysis., science & technology
A Comparative Analysis of ICT Proficiency Possessed Among The Federal University Library Staff in North East, Nigeria (Published)
The study is a comparative analysis of the ICT proficiency level possessed among the Federal University Library Staff in North East, Nigeria. Four objectives were formulated to guide the study: determine which university library staff possesses the highest basic ICT proficiency among the federal university libraries in the northeast, Nigeria; determine which university library staff possesses the highest intermediate CT proficiency among the federal university libraries in the northeast, Nigeria; determine which university library staff possesses the highest advanced ICT proficiency among the federal university libraries in the northeast, Nigeria, and to; determine the overall average of ICT proficiency of library staff of federal university libraries in the northeast, Nigeria. In line with the objectives, four research questions were answered. The study adopted the descriptive research design of the survey. A questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument with a population of two hundred and seventy-six (276) library staff of all federal university libraries in northeast, Nigeria using a purposive sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation displayed in tables. The study found that: Ramat Library of the University of Maiduguri has a mean of 3.55 and a standard deviation of 0.84, and possesses the highest basic ICT proficiency among the federal university libraries staff in northeast, Nigeria; The University of Maiduguri Ramat Library has the highest mean rating of 2.72 with a standard deviation of 0.92 is hereby declared the “highest library staff that possesses intermediate ICT proficiency skills among the federal university libraries in the North East, Nigeria; The University of Maiduguri Ramat library staff having the highest mean score of 2.05 and standard deviation of 0.73 possesses the highest advanced ICT proficiency skills in federal university libraries in the northeast, Nigeria, and, the overall ICT proficiency possessed in all federal university libraries in the northeast, Nigeria as indicated by the cluster mean is fair. It is recommended among others that the stakeholders in library management should provide effective training for their library staff.
Keywords: Comparative Analysis, Federal University, ICT proficiency, Nigeria, and north east, library staff
Digital Library Services in University Libraries in Nigeria: A Literature Study (Published)
Digitization of information resources for making digital library is the process of converting information into a digital (i.e. computer-readable) format. The result is the representation of an object, image, sound, document, or signal (usually an analog signal) obtained by generating a series of numbers that describe a discrete set of points or samples. The result is called digital representation or, more specifically, a digital image, for the object, and digital form, for the signal. On the one hand it can be argued that dramatic changes have been made at academic libraries in response to the new digital information environment. Most academic libraries, including University Libraries in Nigeria, offers a wide range of digital services and resources. But on the other hand, at a closer examination, one will find that these services and resources are mainly organized according to traditional library principles. In this case a guiding principle for the digital library need to be set up to create systematic and well organized general services and e-resources, for example subject specific gateway services. Thus, the digital part of the library functioned as an extension of the traditional library, an enterprise on the side with relatively high priority in this digital age, especially for of e-journals
Citation: Olubiyo P.O. and Olubiyo L.M. (2023) Digital Library Services in University Libraries in Nigeria: A Literature Study, International Journal of Library and Information Science Studies, Vol.9, No.4, pp.1-12
Keywords: Nigeria, digital library services, university libraries