Awareness, ownership and use of weblogs by librarians in Nigeria
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211252210 |
| Published date | 03 August 2012 |
| Pages | 507-515 |
| Date | 03 August 2012 |
| Author | Akinniyi A. Adeleke,Jeremiah Habila |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Awareness, ownership and use of
weblogs by librarians in Nigeria
Akinniyi A. Adeleke
Redeemer’s University, Redemption City, Nigeria, and
Jeremiah Habila
Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose – The paper aims to report the level of awareness, ownership and use of weblogs by
librarians in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts a survey research approach using online
survey software to elicit information on issues relating to librarians’ awareness, knowledge, ownership
and use of weblogs.
Findings – Data analysis shows that librarians demonstrate remarkable level of awareness and
knowledge about weblogs and their benefits to professional practice and services but they neither own
nor use the technology.
Research limitations/implications – The study was limited by a low response rate to the survey.
Less than 7 per cent of the members of the online NLA forum used for the data collection responded.
This implies that internet culture is still in its formative stage among librarians in Nigeria.
Practical implications – The paper concludes by enunciating the need for awareness creation,
training and re-training programmes for librarians to start creating and maintaining personal and
institutional weblogs and other social networking media that could enhance professional practice and
services.
Social implications – The study promises to sensitize librarians and other information
professionals in Nigeria and other developing countries to the social values of weblogs and similar
technologies in terms of communication, networking, knowledge sharing and other usefulness.
Originality/value – The paper contributes to empirical research on library use of Web 2.0
technologies in Nigeria and literature in the field of library and information science.
Keywords Weblogs, Blogs,Web 2.0 technologies, Libraries,Librarians, Information science,Nigeria
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Weblogs are evolving media through which libraries can promote their operations and
market their services nowadays. Evidence from library and information science
literature reveals how libraries and librarians deploy the potentials of this technology
to various tasks meant to satisfy library patrons. Traditionally, libraries employ the
opportunities provided by newspapers, newsletters, radio and television to market
libraries in the real world. Also, many libraries produce brochures, pathfinders, and
newsletters to attract users to services and products as well as to inform their patrons
of new developments. However, recent advancements in computer and information
technology have helped savvy librarians to discover weblogs as anothe r potent means
to market libraries and their services.
Weblogs, though, are not new. Clyde (2004) reported various areas where libraries use
weblogs, including: to provide news or information to users and librarians; to provide links
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Awareness,
ownership and
use of weblogs
507
Received September 2010
Revised November 2010
Accepted January 2011
The Electronic Library
Vol. 30 No. 4, 2012
pp. 507-515
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640471211252210
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