The Role of Homepage as the Platform for Delivering Library Collections and Services
Chapter One
Purpose of the study
The study aimed to assess the relevance of the Homepage by library users in Imo state.
Objectives of the study
- Asses the frequency of usage of the Homepage by library users in Imo state.
- Establish the available Information Communication Technology facilities utilized by library users and students in the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo state.
- Establish the competence of information staff in support of Homepage for Delivering Library Collections and Services.
- Identify challenges faced by library users in use of Homepage for Delivering Library Collections and Services Suggest possible solutions to the identified problems.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
The information era with its electronic facilities have imposed many challenges in each and every sphere of developmental activities in. Libraries and Information Centers and the library profession as a whole are no exception to this. Librarianship is a service Profession, which is an ancient and honorable one. It is a blend of core professional expertise in three areas – information, information technology and users. Librarianship addresses all these three areas whereas all other fields including computer science and communications technology address some part of these.
It is because of the effective information retrieval services require the unique professional mix of knowledge such as information, users and information technology. The invention of World Wide Web has drastically changed the information environment in an unpredictable way. As a result, the role of librarian has shifted to that of an information provider or knowledge navigator who uses new techniques to search information in the light of information technology and the requirements of the users.
Roles of library users in the digital era
To provide intellectual access to information in any format
Providing intellectual access to information is a role librarians have filled for a long time. Traditionally librarians have done this via print-based resources. During the second half of the twentieth century the range of available resources expanded to include microform, video and audio formats. The final decades of the twentieth century witnessed a further explosion in formats, and libraries can now offer information in the form of print, audio, video, microforms, numeric, computer programs, or multimedia composites of each. For librarians, the most important issue is to provide the information in whatever form it is packaged.
Within the digital library environment, the choice of format is not the most crucial issue. It is being able to provide information resources to patrons – regardless of format. Librarians and patrons will no longer be restricted to ‘a single entity where everything is stored’, but rather librarians will be able to offer ‘a range of services and collections, linked together or made accessible through electronic networks’.
The development in electronic access to scholarly journals is a key example of the shift from ownership to access. University and research libraries especially, find the option of providing electronic access to journal subscriptions to be a means of dealing with complex multi-campus organizations where the client population comprises an increasing mixture of on- and off-campus students.
Providing electronic access to journal literature was one of the first ways libraries began to use the newly-evolving technologies. The development of electronic reserve (e-reserve) collections, demonstrates another way in which librarians are adapting new technologies to deliver services more effectively. Electronic reserves provide the ability to digitize a printed document, video, audio, or data, so that many students can access it simultaneously without the limits of attending a library building within opening hours.
The technology to provide digital access to library reserve collections has been available for some time. However the wholesale adoption of this mechanism has been impeded by a lack of clear copyright and intellectual property ownership laws for the digital environment.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The research design employed was case study which was appropriate because it allowed the researcher to get information on and describe a population of a particular outcome within FUTO.
They had similar characteristics hence case study was appropriate.
Disproportionate Stratified sampling instrument was used where the researcher categorized samples into strata.
The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches by aiming to gather an in- depth understanding of how library users at FUTO have utilized information communication technology for their studies.
Area of study
The study was carried out at FUTO, in Owerri, Imo state. Imo state is located in the South Eastern region of Nigeria.
Target Population
The population of the study comprised of Library users and students of FUTO, of an approximate total of 250 professionals and students.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION
Usage of information services
The study sought to establish the usage of information services in the university library systems. From the data collected, the details are explained in table 4.2 below, the findings shows that 38% frequently used library services, 47% occasionally while15% never used library services for Delivering Library Collections and Services.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of the findings
Frequency of Homepage usage by library users
The first objective was to assess the frequency of usage of Homepage by library users in Federal University of Technology Owerri. The findings show that Internet facilities were the most used having a response rate of 71% whereas laptops and Ipads facilities were the least used having a response rate of 53%.These findings show that the respondents prefer the internet to all the other ICT facilities due to its efficiency and effectiveness and have also a wider coverage of information resources. However, laptops and Ipads were rarely used due their cost efficiency and technological knowhow by the students in using them for Delivering Library Collections and Services. Eden (2009:235) states that, the internet and WIFI are some of the modern facilities used to process and disseminate information because it is now the fastest medium for transferring and receiving information about ongoing researches, results of research and publications of all kinds.
Conclusion
- Based on the findings of the study, the research has clearly shown that library users use the ICT facilities; internet services being the most used at the library systems to access their information needed therefore a positive benefit to them. As good as these resources are, the problems identified with their utilization is the slow connectivity of the internet, WIFI not being in range and weak network signals should be addressed at the university by improving the available ICT facilities and increasing the speed of the internet.
- New advancement in ICT has brought great opportunities for academic libraries by enabling them fulfill their vision and mission by providing users with relevant, timely and up to date information. Academic libraries should take advantage of these opportunities by ensuring that relevant and up to date information communication facilities are available and are utilized for Delivering Library Collections and Services frequently. The results of the study can help academic libraries understand that library users prefer utilizing internet facilities for Delivering Library Collections and Services due to its efficiency and effectiveness. In addition more resources should be added in the library to ensure that every student can access and utilize ICT facilities.
Recommendations
Implementation of Homepage based technologies
The university management must implement the scarce ICT based technologies for video conferencing technology, E-learning software, smart card technology, more electronic learning resources and also explore cloud computing technology in order to maximize the usage of IC facilities in the library.
Laptops be replaced with tablets
The university library should buy tablets for the library users to utilize them for Delivering Library Collections and Services. The idea of laptops should be replaced by tablets which should be placed conspicuously where everyone can access them for Delivering Library Collections and Services.
Digital divide
The gap between the computer literate and the computer illiterate should be filled by ensuring the computer illiterate people are trained, encouraged to attend ICT seminars, lecturers on the latest information technology. This will shorten the wide gap that is there between computer literate and illiterate.
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