The Impact of Information Communication Technology on Nigeria’s Public Academic Libraries
Chapter One
Objective of the Study
- Establish the extent to which ICTs are used in ABU libraries
- Determine the challenges faced by ABU libraries in adopting ICTs
- Analyse the effects of ICT determinants of adoption on ICT adoption at the Ahmadu bello university libraries.
CHAPTER TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW
ICTs in Higher Education
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) enhance the quality of teaching and learning, research productivity of faculty and students, as well as the management and effectiveness of universities (KENET, 2008). ICT use in education is at a particularly dynamic stage in Africa; new developments and announcements happening on a daily basis somewhere on the continent (Farrell, 2007). During the last two decades higher education institutions have invested heavily in ICT which has had a major impact in the university context, in organization and in teaching and learning methods (Youssef et-al 2008). But, according to a World Bank Institute survey, the state of ICT infrastructure in African universities can be summed up as “too little, too expensive, and poorly managed.” Oliver (2002) adds that the impact of ICTs in higher education has not yet been felt.
There has recently been intense interest in the ways in which technology can be used to support students in Higher Education (Issroff and Scanlon, 2002)). It should be noted that with the world moving rapidly into digital media and information, the role of ICT in education is becoming more and more important (Nadira et-al, 2010). In higher education and human capacity building, there are significant patterns of change because ICTs are impetus for change in traditional concepts of teaching and learning, as well as prime motivation behind the change in scholarly and professional activities. (Minishi-Majanja, 2007).
Although a study by Farrell (2007) placed Nigeria and West africa higher among other sub-Saharan countries in ICT up-take in higher education, Nyaigotti-Chacha (2004), noted that higher education institutions the world over are facing new challenges which require reforms in their management and governance styles. Jowi (2003) adds that while higher education institutions have responded rather slowly in the past to changing circumstances, there is now an urgent need for them to adjust rapidly in order to fulfill their missions and the needs of other stakeholders. Business-like approaches in information management ought to be adopted by libraries in institutions of higher learning. Relevant, timely and accurate information products and services are imperative if academic libraries are to meet the needs and demands of the current generation of information audience (Makori, 2009).
Utilization of ICTs in Libraries
Libraries are caught midstream between print versus a digital setup. Future libraries will evolve from present libraries through specific corrections and improvements introduced into the existing structure and framework (Swanson 1979). The library of the future is unlikely to be a physical entity as we know it but would probably be a Web portal providing access to information (Smith 2005). Due to inappropriate resources and integration of ICTs, libraries are not utilized fully by the users and if the services being offered are not what users need, then, not surprisingly, users will ignore these offerings but with the integration of ICTs both at the back and front end would enhance users potential and more young people could turn their attention to libraries (Gould and Gomez, 2010).
To improve libraries, we should begin by trying to identify and understand the problems intended to be solved. Different types of libraries have evolved in response to different kinds of problems. The evolution of libraries is likely to last for a long period of time. According to Banerjee (1996), libraries will be in ceaseless transition, and the library environment will be perpetually changing and that this situation will place considerable demands on staff, requiring a vast range of knowledge as well as a high degree of flexibility.
The advent and use of ICT has made it possible for remote libraries to access the huge databases of big libraries in developed countries for the purpose of adopting or adapting their bibliographic data for their own library use; and indeed the online catalogues have transformed the landscape of cataloguing and classification (Adekele, 2010).
Utilization of ICTs in Academic Libraries
Academic libraries are those libraries located in institutions of higher learning mainly universities and colleges and are primarily intended to serve the students and the faculty. The main objective of such libraries is to assist its users in the process of transforming information to knowledge (CHE 2007). As fountains of knowledge, academic libraries provide services to support learning and research.
In one of his many papers, Swanson (1980) stated that libraries are not designed-at least not in the sense that one might design a computer or a factory, rather; they have evolved in response to certain problem situations and have been shaped by countless, relatively independent, individual decisions. Several authors (Hellen, 2007 and Makori, 2009) have indicated that academic libraries are currently operating in a new technological environment and that they need to adapt to it. Otike (2004) adds that one of the major challenges that libraries and the library profession will face in the new millennium is how to cope with electronic and paperless literature however, academic libraries in Nigeria need to integrate technological solutions into mainstream information products and services.
CHAPTER THREE:
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
This study utilized the descriptive research process. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), a descriptive research process determines and reports the way things are. This study attempts to describe such things as characteristics, hardware, software, computerized services and attitude of libraries and librarians towards ICT. Descriptive research design lays a greater emphasis on sample selection because the major concern is to obtain a broad picture of the social problems prevailing in the defined universe and recommendations to bring about the desired change (Majumdar, 2005).
Population
The target population comprised of all individuals, objects or things that the researcher reasonably generalizes his/her findings to (Cooper & Schindler, 2006; Mugenda, 2008). The population for this study comprised of the Ahmadu bello University librarians from the following libraries: – Jomo Nigeriatta Memorial Library (JKML) located at its main campus, Institute for Development Studies Library, Population Studies Research Institute Library, Institute for African Studies, Upper Kabete Library, Lower Kabete Library, Parklands Library, Kikuyu Library, Chiromo Library, Architecture, Design & Development (ADD) Library and Medical Library. A total of 11 libraries were selected to take part in this study.
CHAPTER FOUR:
DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Introduction
In this chapter, detailed results of the analyses are presented. The analysis, presentation and interpretation of findings were done with the sole purpose of answering the questions asked by the objectives of the research. The data collected was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. The information was interpreted and then presented using tables, pie charts and graphs.
Data Evaluation
Respondents for this study were librarians from the eleven libraries of the University of
Zaria libraries. A total of 35 questionnaires were administered to the study samples. At the end of field work, 30 valid questionnaires had been filled and returned. This represents a response rate of 86% (30/35). Reasons for inability to collect all the 35 questionnaires include: – some libraries had less staff than anticipated and also the inability for the researcher to get back to the respondents due to various reasons such as misplacement of the questionnaire by the respondent and the distance involved to get to the sampled library.
CHAPTER FIVE:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
In this chapter we summarize the major milestones made by this study. A summary of the dissertation is presented in Section 5.2. Section 5.3 concludes the entire report and points out the implications of the findings. In the light of the study findings, Section 5.4 makes recommendations for library professionals, library users, university administrators and information systems scientists.
The study used a combination of research methods; questionnaire, informal interviews and secondary sources of literature.
The research questions mainly dwelt on the kinds of ICT tools that are available for the provision of library services, the services provided using the ICT tools, the benefits and challenges that the librarians face while using ICTs.
All the research questions below were satisfactorily answered.
- How much are ICTs being utilized in ABU libraries?
- What factors hinder these libraries in adopting new technologies?
Summary of the Key Findings
ICT Tools Available
The research findings identify the following as the mainly used ICT tools available in libraries; Computer is the most common ICT tool available in libraries. LAN, WAN, network servers, barcode readers and printers are also common in most libraries. Majority of respondents i.e. ABU librarians ranked the above tools high because they are the commonly used tools in the provision of library services. Furthermore they can easily be used with minimal training.
However, some ICT tools were found to be uncommon in most of the libraries. Scanners, laptops, LCD projectors and photo cameras were ranked poorly by respondents from most libraries.
ICT Services Available in Libraries
OPAC, full text journals, e-books and barcode circulation services are available in all the libraries. Also among the most common services provided by respondents (librarians) include circulation and cataloguing services. Provision of internet and end user training services has also been rated highly by the respondents.
Some of the least common services provided by most libraries include digitization, photographic, document scanning and printing. Other than printers, the absence of scanners and photo cameras explain why some of the above services like digitization are not popular. A study by Chisenga (2004) established that the provision of digital information is very limited in African libraries.
Factors Hindering ICT Adoption
The introduction and effective use of ICTs in academic libraries to be specific ABU is being hampered by a number of factors. In this study, respondents indicated that the cost of computer hardware, poor communication networks and negative attitude by the librarians are the major barriers to the deployment of ICTs.
Conclusion
New advance in ICT have brought a great opportunities for libraries to enable them fulfill their mission of providing their users with relevant, timely and up-to-date information. Gone are the days when library’s collection was its pride and determined value. Academic libraries should take the advantage of this and ensure that the relevant technologies (hardware and software), well trained and adequate skilled manpower are available to give better and value added services. For academic libraries persisting in a traditional way of doing business is a sure recipe for disaster for our future generation.
Results of this study can help librarians to better understand some of the basic ICT tools that can be used in an academic library environment to help improve efficiency and service delivery to the library users.
Recommendations
The recommendations are in light of the findings of this investigation and with the view to remedying the situation in academic libraries with regards to ICT adoption.
To remain viable sources of information, academic libraries have to strategically incorporate ICTs in their day to day library services. Although ICTs are not the entire solution of academic libraries, they are indispensable in the quest for the success in the provision of quality services and scholarly information.
Given that ICT is an area of constant innovation and development, there is need for continuing professional development in academic libraries. Library staff should be encouraged and given opportunities for attending internal training programmes, workshops/seminars as well as well as other external training programmes offered by private firms. However, retraining should not start and end with workshops/seminars, more formal and structured training programs should be incorporated.
While computers and internet connectivity are available in abundance, there are some ICT facilities that are rarely/not available in most of the libraries. These are mainly digitization facilities such as scanners and photo cameras. Figure 4.3 in chapter 4 shows the availability of digitized electronic thesis and dissertation to be very low as compared to electronic research papers. In order for the digitization services to pick up, there is need to avail the relevant hardware and software. Also the library staff needs to undergo proper digitization training.
Most of the library services as shown in table 4.3 are computerized e.g. there is the provision of electronic full text journals and e-books, and bar coded circulation services are also available in all the ABU libraries. In order to boost the availability of digitized local content, there is need to offer more training to librarians. Provision of scanning and photographic equipment and services should be availed in all the libraries.
Future Research
It should be noted that the variables in the model explain only 24.5% of the variance of ICT adoption in academic libraries. Another 75.5% of variance remains unexplained suggesting a need for more studies to incorporate additional variables and study samples in the model. The variables for age, education and experience for the attribute of the respondent should be continuous or dummy for better usage in regression model. Further research should be done to see if these variables also have effect on the dependent variable (ICT adoption).
Limitations
This study primarily gathered quantitative data using questionnaire to assess the extent of ICT adoption in academic libraries. Because of the limited time and inadequate funds it was not possible to conduct interviews with the study sample so as to gather detailed qualitative data from the respondents. Thus the gathered data was not exhaustive as it would if the interviews were to be used.
The study focus was the ABU libraries which share a lot of things in common and thus the data gathered from various branch libraries seems to be the same all through. This might not be good when generalizing the study findings with other libraries.
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