ABSTRACT
Information and Communication
Technology has become the rave of the moment in global socio-economic affairs.
It has become so important that every country, organization or institution no
matter how highly or lowly placed want to identify and embrace it. This
research work was on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
as a tool for information service delivery in University libraries. The population
of the study were all the university library in Edo State which included
University of Benin Library, Ambrose AlIi University Library and Samuel
Adegboyega University library, and the professional
librarians i.e. those with BLS above in library and information science. The
research instrument used was the Questionnaire. The data collected data analyzed
using simple descriptive statistics. The analysis showed the majority of the
respondents have working experience between 1-10 years. The study revealed that
ICTs are used in Catalogue and classification, Interlibrary information
sharing, Registration of library users, Reference services e.t.c. thus so, as
majority of the respondents (see table 6) agreed. It also revealed that these
facilities are in good working condition. In view of these, the following were
recommended as a means to check challenges that were found during the study.
The body responsible for funding academic libraries should ensure that the
amount budgeted for the library is completely utilized in developing the
library, and not diverted. The library should also develop some fee-based
service such as, selective dissemination of information, abstracting and
indexing services to individuals etc. this will help them generate funds internally
to augment what is being allocated to them for the acquisition of additional ICT
facilities to enable larger number of users to access them.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Information
and communication technology has become the rave of the moment in global
socio-economic affairs. It has become so important that every country,
organization or institution no matter how highly or lowly placed want to
identify and embrace it. The world presently is knowledge-driven and
information has taken the centre stage in virtually everything, hence utilizing
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) is therefore a sine qua non
for a qualitative service delivery in university libraries.
A
library is an organized collection of sources of information and similar
resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing.
It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical
building or room, or a virtual space, or both. University libraries are of
essence to the survival of University education in the world. This attribute of
library's importance has a role to play on the larger society because a well
planned library impact positively on the University community; both the staff
and student population. Meeting these objectives by libraries in University
requires them using new tools such as information and communication
technologies for functions and services in the library.
Information and communication
technologies (ICTs) are sets of tools and resources used to communicate,
create, manage information, store and disseminate information (Ani, et al.,
2005). They (ICTs) encompass a wide range of rapidly evolving technologies including
telecommunication technologies, such as telephony, cable, satellite, TV and
radio, computer-mediated conferencing and videoconferencing, as well as digital
technologies, such as computers, information networks (Internet, 'the World
Wide Web, intranets and extranets) and software applications. Interestingly,
Valerie et al., (1999) sees Information and Communication Technologies
(I;CTs) as computer-based tools used by people to work with the information and
communication processing needs of an organization. They include the computer
hardware and software, network and several other devices (video, audio,
photography camera, etc) that carries information (text), images, sound, motion
and so on into common digital form. Types of ICTs however includes; computers,
software programs, audiotapes, audio visuals, phones amongst others
According to Aniekwu et al., (2002),
Information and Communication technologies (lCTs) is an instrument of social
economic renaissance and if properly used, it could assist growth and
development of libraries in our higher institutions in Africa, this is because
it has introduced new role in libraries by bringing about the revolutionary
journey from traditional to digital ways of providing library services.
Furthermore Anunobi., (2005) buttressed that accessing varieties of information
and knowledge sources in libraries is now simple, easy and independent of time,
place and subject disciplines. Information and communication technologies
(ICTs) has a wider spectrum of applications with enormous relevance to
university teaching and learning activities. Information and communication
technologies (ICTs) utilization is, the presentation and distribution of
instructional content through web environment (e-teaching) or systems offering
an integrated range to support learning and communication (Chisenga, 1995).
Instructional service delivery has to do with teaching/learning activities that
take place in the classrooms. Therefore, quality of instructional service
delivery entails the extent of effectiveness to which lecturers carry their
classroom teaching/learning process. According to Bryson (1990), the central
purpose of libraries is to provide service: access to information and information
and communication technologies, especially computers, information networks and
software applications, are making it possible for libraries to provide a
variety of library and information services to their clients.
However,
Taking into account the rate at which innovative use of ICTs is
being introduced and the ever declining costs of ICT facilities, it is hope
that it won't be long before libraries start using satellite and' mobile phone
technologies to deliver information services to their clients located in remote
and inaccessible areas. This study is however bent on investigating the use of ICT
as a tool for service delivery in some Universities in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Introduction
of ICTs in Nigerian University libraries have witnessed tremendous progress as many
libraries have gone ahead to acquire these ICTs. Most libraries in Nigeria have
not computerized any of their functions, the public card catalog and the
visible index are still finding tools for books and journals in most libraries.
In support of this submission Aguolu and Aguolu, (2002) buttressed that library
and information services in Nigeria have yet to transend the traditional
functions of information provision to library users despite the overwhelming
presence of ICTs in majority of University libraries in Nigeria. The researcher
is of the opinion that though there exist ICTs in university libraries, the
extent of it been used for information delivery to users could not be
ascertained. This study is bent on addressing this existing gap of lack of
information regarding the extent of ICTs use for information delivery in
University libraries by investigating the use of ICTs as a tool for service
delivery in selected University libraries in Edo State Nigeria.
1.3 Objective
of the Study
Specifically,
the research was conducted to
1. Identify
the types of ICTs available in University libraries in Edo State Nigeria.
2. Identify
the operation performed with ICTs facilities in University libraries
3. Determine
the extent of using ICTs in library services.
4. Ascertain
if the use of ICT facilities has created benefits in service delivery in
universities libraries.
5. Identify
factors that hinders the application of ICTs in service render.
1.4 Research
Question
The
study sought answers to the following questions
1. What
are the ICT facilities available in the library?
2. What
Services in the library are ICTs applied for?
3. To
what extent are ICTs used to render LIS to patrons?
4. What
are the benefits for using ICl's in LIS?
5. What
are the factors hindering the use of ICT resources
1.5 Scope
of Study
The
study will be on the use of ICTs as a tool for service delivery in selected
libraries in Edo State Nigeria. Interestingly this study will focus only on ICT
as a tool with other variables will be included. However, only University
libraries within Edo State zone will be used for the study while other
libraries will be excluded from the study.
1.6 Significance
of the Study
It
is hoped that the result of this study will help academic libraries which do
not apply ICT facilities for library
functions recognize areas were ICT can improve service delivery, and the ICT
they can use. With that they can invest more into ICT development. For
libraries using ICT facilities for various operations, they will be acquainted
with other areas were ICT can be
employed and the institutions applying such. The government and the general public
will also be aware of the state of ICT facilities in Nigerian universities in
the Edo State so as to know the plight of students and library staffs in other
to which areas necessary assistance is needed in other to improve the standard
of service delivery in our libraries.
1.7 Limitation
of the Study
During
the conduct of this research work, 'the researcher encountered problems which
affected the quantity and quality of data collected. Problems encountered
included that of financial constraint and the reliability of responses from the
population of research sampling.
1.8
Operational Definition of Basic Terms
Information communications technology (lCT): A set of technological tools and
resources used to communicate and to create, disseminate store. Also it can be
defined as the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to
store, retrieve and transmit data
Library: This is an organized collection of sources of information
and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or
borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a
physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both.
University library: this are academic library is generally located on the
campuses of colleges and universities and serve primarily the students and
faculty of that and other academic institutions. Some academic libraries,
especially those at public institutions,
are accessible to members of the general public in whole or in part.
Service delivery: This
is a process of getting services as effectively and quickly as possible to the
intended recipient.
Information and communications technology (ICT):
Information and communications technology (lCT) is often used as an extended
synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that
stresses the role of unified communications- and the integration of telecommunications
(telephone line and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary
enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which
enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information
Information: Information, in its most restricted technical sense,
is a sequence of symbols that can be interpreted as a message. Information can
be recorded as signs, or transmitted as signals. Information is any kind of
event that affects the state of a dynamic system that can interpret the
information.
Communication: is
the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts,
messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, written, or behavior.
It is the meaningful exchange of information between two or more living
creatures.
Technology: is
the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques,
crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem,
improve a pre-existing solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied
input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the
collection of such tools, including machinery, modifications, arrangements and
procedures.
1.9 Summary
This
chapter focuses on the concept of ICT as its important to modern day academic
exercise especially as it relates to its use in the library. The chapter
vigorously exposed various definitions of ICT in relation to its use in the
study. While various types of ICTs were listed. The problem that ignited the
study was stated in 1.2, while the study objectives and research question were
outlined. The area of the study was shown as also in the chapter and factors
that hindered the research investigation proper. The chapter was concluded with
an array of definition of concepts relating to the study proper.
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