ABSTRACT
The research was geared towards the impact of electron
resources on information service delivery in polytechnic libraries also the
extent at which they are used for service delivery. Findings revealed that
electronic resources are available in polytechnic libraries. The findings
showed that these available electronic resources are not adequately applied to
the services being rendered by librarians to their patrons. Furthermore, it is
revealed that the working experience of a librarian is a determining factor in
handling the challenges to electronic resources in polytechnic libraries. The
research was able to prove that accuracy in information service delivery in
libraries are hinders by network (internet) speed in service delivery in
polytechnic libraries.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Backgrounds
to the Study
The rapid growth in information
communication technology (ICT) has changed the communication process and
reduced the cost of communication for individuals. Electronic resources can be
seen as the most recent development in information technology and show relationship
among the most powerful tools for invested in human history that is fast
becoming more important for academic community (Kumar 2008). Furthermore,
electronic information resource simply referred to as electronic resources or
e-resources, these are information stored in electronic format in computer or
computer related facilities (CD-Roms, digital librarian or internet). Haridasan
and Khan (2009) defined it as resource in which information is stored
electronically and accessible through electronic system and network, different
types of electronic resources include; e-journal, e-book, online database,
electronic conference proceeding and
CD-ROM databases. These resources could be used to supplement printed information
source in libraries.
Dadzie (2005), the attribute of
electronic resources library ease the access to needed information to be done
remotely by learner or academic staff within the comfort of their home or
offices without physical visit to the library. Thus electronic resources
promote efficiency in dissemination of information for various purposes in
polytechnic. Ellis and Oldman (2005) opined that electronic resources are more
of a tool to assist in conduction research; a way of scanning a lot of
materials quickly. This act of providing access to electronics resources by the
polytechnic library to fast track the delivery of information via electronic
media in referred to as electronics information services (Thaunskodi, 2012).
Appleton (2006) defined electronic
information services as delivery of information tools/products to “meet the
need of requesting user electronically” usually by computer mediation. Access
to information is imperative to successful conduct of research, administrative,
quality control and teaching in the polytechnic system. Hassian, Kang and Shin
(2012), discussing the impact of electronic resources on information service
delivery among academics, opined that access to relevant information is
necessary for academic staff to make efficient decision in their research
development. This view was affirmed by Adeloye (2002), who opined that the use
of electronic resources helps to provide access to information for problem
solving and decision making among students, library staff, management staff and
academicians. Moon (2012) used the term information to describe the institution
that use electronic resource to provide wider access to information to aid
teaching, learning, managerial, and administrative and research purpose. Commenting
on the advantage of electronic resource on information delivery service in the
polytechnic system; Dadzie (2005) stated that electronic resources are
invaluable research tools that complement the print-based resources in a
traditional library setting. Other advantage according to this researcher include;
access to information that might be
restricted to user due to geographical location or finance; access to more
current information and provision of extensive link to addition resources of
related content in view of the potentials, advantage and benefit of electronic
resources over the modern electronic information environment, accessibility and
ultilization of resources is fast becoming a norm hence, electronically stored
information accessed through e-resources, could facilitate knowledge sharing
among student and academic, promote information dissemination and contribute
positively to the teaching and learning process in polytechnic.
Ukoha (2005), took a cursory survey of
education in Nigeria that revealed a catalogue of problems and gaps that
include a towering infrastructural inadequacy and lack of access to information
and resources for learning. He further stated that information and
communication technology is a powerful tool that would facilitate the ongoing
revitalization of the education process. In the words of Shamsul (2009), the
use of electronic information resources in libraries has profoundly affected
all aspects of information acquisition, storage and transfer.
Ukwoma (2009), electronic resources are information resources
found not physically in print formats but in soft non-print form accessed only
through electronically manipulated machines such as computer machines, CD-ROM
readers, opaque readers, projector, etc. Ekwelem and Okafor (2009), electronic
information sources are information sources that are available and accessed
electronically through such computer-networked facilities as online library
catalogues, the internet, world wide web, digital libraries and archives,
government portals and websites, CD-ROM and databases. Oldman (2005), stated that electronic information resources are online
information resources that include bibliographic databases, electronic
reference books, search engines for full text collections, digital collections
of data and data sets. In line with the above stated definitions, the study is
based on the premise that “Electronic Information Resources are Information
resources that are stored in books, CD-ROMS, databases or other related storage
media that are only accessible only through electronically manipulated media. Interestingly
the uses of electronic information resources in polytechnic libraries have aided
libraries vis-a-vis librarians as they have the ability to do full text
searching across a large number of resources in one go and ability to download
print or save the desired document instantly.
However, the use of electronic
information resources is attributed to the global challenges of multiplication
of print materials which has plagued the polytechnic in the 21st century.
But the advents of electronic information resources in libraries have given
room for the radicalization of library activities. This is because librarians
now have media to meet different needs of users. In the words of Hawthorne
(2008) “these trends gave room for computer-based service and revolutionized
bibliographic research in the 1970s”. This historic migration has tried to satisfy
the changing information needs of library users, including ease of access,
interaction richness and low cost. Hence these studies went ahead to prove that
disciplinary factors have influenced the use of electronic information
resources. This means that some disciplines or faculties of study feel the push
in utilizing electronic based information resources than others. Tenopir (2003)
shows that users’ discipline and institutional context strongly affect the use
of electronic resources. It was revealed in these studies that electronic
resources are typically more widely used by students and staff in natural and
technical sciences than in the humanities and social science. Earlier study
corroborating this finding above: Abels... et al (1996) explored factors that affect
the adoption and use of electronic networks and network services by polytechnics
and colleges. In order to be indispensible, polytechnic libraries and
librarians must recognize a set of roles for providing services to their
patrons because library’s role in information service delivery in Nigerian polytechnic
environment should be in real time. Real time information service delivery
means making leaps in productivity by sharing more information with more
people. Today, polytechnic libraries are struggling to keep their place as the
major source of inquiry in the face of emerging digital technology which has
revolutionized not only the way information is packaged, processed, stored and disseminated,
but also how users seek and access information. Service delivery is a means put
in place to ensure that functions/ activities carried out by polytechnic
libraries are transmitted by the librarians to the library users. These
services are geared towards satisfying the information needs of polytechnic
library patrons.
1.2 Statement
of the Problem
The emergency of Electronic
information resources has tremendously transformed information. Handling and
management in Nigeria academic environment and polytechnic libraries in
particular, observation shown that the emerging electronic information in polytechnic libraries is
reportedly low further observation by the researcher affirmed that student and
academics staff in Nigerian polytechnic
have little access to relevant and reliable information for studies and their
research activities respectively.
However, alleviating these challenges
requires the introduction and use of novel approaches such as making available
and using electronic information resources by librarians. This study therefore
is geared towards impart of electronic resources on information service delivery
in selected polytechnic libraries in Edo State. This study seek to evaluate the
impact of electronic resource on information services in libraries, a study of selected polytechnic libraries in
Edo State with special focus on Auchi polytechnic and Shaka polytechnic in Edo
State.
1.3 Objectives
of the Study
The primary objective of this study is to investigate
the impart of electronic resources on information service in polytechnic
library. However, the study is being guided by striated secondary objective
which include;
1. To
examine the extent of availability of electronic information resources in
polytechnic libraries.
2. To
examine the extent of using electronic resources in information service
delivery in polytechnic libraries.
3. To
find out impact of electronic resource on information service delivery in
polytechnic libraries.
4. I
identify the factors militating against the use of electronic information
resources in information service delivery in polytechnic libraries.
5.
Examine strategies that can be
adopted to enhance electronic information resources use for information
services delivery in Nigeria polytechnic.
1.4 Research
Question
The
following are research questions raised to guild the study
1. Are
electronic information resources available in polytechnic libraries in Edo
State.
2. Are
these electronic information resources used in libraries for information
service delivery to patrons?
3. What
is the impact of electronic resources on information services delivery in
polytechnic libraries.
4. What
are the factors militating against the use of electronic information resources
for information service delivery in polytechnic
5.
What strategies can be adopted to
promote the use of electronic information resources in information service
delivery in polytechnic libraries.
1.5 Scope of the study
This study examines the impact of
electronic information resource on information service delivery in polytechnic
libraries. The study is limited to polytechnic libraries in Edo State, which
polytechnic outside Edo State are not
included in the study. Similarly other types of tertiary institutions such as
universities, colleges of Education etc are also excluded from the study.
1.6 Significant
of the Study
It is hoped that this study will be of
benefit to polytechnic management, Information Communication Technology (ICT)
administrator, librarians system, curator librarian, academics and prospective
researchers. The study will also impose the importance of electronic resources on information service delivery to
academic exercise when used.
Furthermore, it is hoped that findings
of this study will expose the problems affecting the use of electronics
resource on information service delivery in polytechnic. Conclusively, it will
be a reservoir of knowledge that will benefit prospective researchers in this
area of research and also expose them.
1.7 Operational
Definition of Terms
Library: This is a physical building or room
containing books, news papers, films, Map, Printed documents, microforms, CDs,
cassettes, video taps DVD, e-book, audio books etc.
Electronics: This
is a machines used for the purpose
of collecting, storing and disseminating information electronically. It
involves processing, storing and communicating vast amount of data: it is a
potent combination of computers, in which information can be stored and
processed.
Resources: This
is e-book, e-journal, e-database,
digital and internet resources available in electronic format. Resources also
referred to electronic format in computer or computer related facilities
(CD-Rom, digital libraries or the internet etc).
Services: This
is remote access to online catalogue and weblog document delivery.
Information: This
is information or tools to meet the need of requesting users electronically and
this information complement the print-based in library setting.
Liberians:
This
is a person(s) who has a diploma in library science. Also who developing expeditions
and effective locator tools to make complex web of resources more readily
accessible to both sophisticated and naive users,
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