Library information and communication technology in Nigerian universities
| Date | 07 August 2009 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07419050911000490 |
| Pages | 8-10 |
| Published date | 07 August 2009 |
| Author | Sylvester O. Anie,Edwin I. Achugbue |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Library information and communication
technology in Nigerian universities
Sylvester O. Anie and Edwin I. Achugbue
8LIBRARY HITECH NEWS Number 7 2009, pp. 8-10, #Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/07419050911000490
Introduction
Library Information and
Communication Technology (ICT)
Policies are official statements that
articulate the objectives, goals,
principles and strategies intended to
guide and regulate their development,
operation and application for library
services and resources. Library ICT
policies must take into account other
policies such as those dealing with
education, information, culture and
linguistics.
ICTs include electronic networks
with complex hardware and software
linked by a vast array of technological
protocols. According to the United
Nations Economic Commission for
Africa (1999), ICTs cover internet
service provision, information
technology equipment and services,
media and broadcasting, library and
documentation centers, network based
information services and other related
communication activities. ICT policies
focus on the ability of libraries to take
advantage of the technological
opportunities available to them and
exploit them for educational
advancement. There are many libraries
that have yet to formulate and integrate
library ICT policies have been plagued
by slow growth and ineffective
utilization of their services and
resources. The lack of coherent library
ICT policies is likely to contribute to the
development of an ineffective
infrastructure and a waste of resources.
In developing countries such as Nigeria,
the use of ICT for library services is
hampered by a number of factors or
constraints.
Literature review
A library ICT policy is roughly
defined as the wide array of rules and
policies that govern the handling of
information that is central to librarians
work (Adomi, 2008). The delivery of
library services in Nigerian university
libraries is based largely on print
materials. Abifarin conducted a study
which focused on the availability and
use of ICT in Nigeria libraries and
concluded that the era of ICT had not yet
arrived. Garcha and Buttlar revealed
some unsuccessful automation efforts in
some African Countries, particularly in
Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya in the 1990s
(Ibegbulam, 2000). There are numerous
accounts over the past years that provide
evidence of unsuccessful automation
attempts of libraries in Nigeria. For
example, the University of Ilorin made
an unsuccessful attempt at automation in
1983, and succeeded in 1997 by
automating a few library activities.
Delta State University in Abraka,
attempted a library automation project
and failed completely. A few other
libraries have recorded some successes
after two attempts. The problem facing
most Nigerian university libraries has to
do with funding. Most automation
projects start with high hopes only to be
faced with a lack of funds to see the
project completed and implemented.
Experience has shown that the manual
approach to library services is becoming
ineffective and inadequate in providing
an information service (Ibegbulam,
2000).
The objectives and content of ICT
policies have similarities and
differences in international, national,
local and organizational contexts. A
2007 UNESCO report presents a
comparison of some basic features and
linkages of various ICT policy levels
(UNESCO, 1998). Several studies have
tried to explain the role and the added
value of ICT the provision of various
library services..
Objectives and methodology
This study was carried out to assess
the views of librarians about the impact
of ICT policies on the utilization of
library resources and services. The
study also was an attempt to inventory
the available information technologies
being used for library operations,
identify the advantages and
disadvantages arising from the adoption
of ICT policies for library services, and
to determine constraints preventing the
adoption of ICT policies.
A survey methodology was designed
for this study and a questionnaire was
used to collect data from respondents.
The researcher’s decided to use
stratified sampling to select participants
for the study. A total of ten
questionnaires were administered to the
staff of each of the selected Federal
University libraries in Nigeria which
include Nnamdi Azikiwe University in
Awka, University of Nigeria in Nsuka;
Federal University of Agriculture in
Umudike; Federal University of
Technology in Akure; Obafemi
Awolowo University in Ile-Ife;
University of Ibadan and University of
Lagos. Out of the 80 questionnaires, 4
questionnaires were completed and
returned from each of the selected
universities with the exception of
University of Ibadan that completed and
returned 8 questionnaires, resulting in a
sample size of 36.
Findings and discussion
Table I reveals the automation
profiles of the responding university
libraries. Responses from the above
table suggest that library automation in
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