This study investigated the information seeking behavior of medical doctors in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna. The descriptive survey method was adopted, with the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. Of the 212 medical doctors in the hospital, 164 of them where available for the distribution of the questionnaire, and a total of 121 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved. Responses collected were analyzed using cross tabulation. The research revealed that medical doctors seek information in order to treat their patients, for self-development, and for recreation. The major information channels or access tools they use are their colleagues, universal search engines and their personal collections. They rarely use the library or scholarly oriented search engines. Medical doctors use all the sources of information, namely; primary sources, secondary sources, tertiary sources and automated sources. But they prefer to use the Internet, research works and reference materials. The search strategies they use include the Internet access, discussing with colleagues and consultation of manual library catalogues. However, they prefer to use online search strategy (Internet access). The research also revealed that the medical doctors scarcely use the Boolean operators because most of them do not know how to use the Boolean operators. The research recommended that medical doctors should be taught how to use the OPAC terminal and the Boolean operators for information retrieval. And that the special libraries attached to hospitals should be well equipped.
The study was designed to investigate the availability and use of reference information sources by undergraduate students. Also, attempt was made to ascertain the extent of use and benefit of reference information source to the students. Data was collected through the use of questionnaire administered on 102 samples randomly drawn from the Ambrose Alli University and University of Benin. The data were analysed using simple percentage. Findings revealed that prominent reference information sources like encyclopaedia, abstracts, dictionaries, bibliographies, index and almanac are more in these institutions’ libraries. Result showed that a relationship exist between the users of reference information and reference librarians in the library. It was found that the extent of use of reference materials is still relatively low especially among student users. Materials such as government documents, year book, abstract, atlas, maps, and almanac are rarely utilised. Meanwhile, the reference information sources available in the institutions served useful purpose. The respondents highly acknowledge their benefits especially reference materials like bibliographies, index, encyclopaedia, dictionaries, yearbooks and handbooks. Lastly, result showed that there are many problems associated with the use of reference information sources by undergraduate students amongst which are: ignorance or lack of knowledge about library reference service, ill attitude of reference librarians, lack of indigenous materials, lack of funds, and poor power supply. In the light of the above, conclusion was drawn and it was recommended that efforts should be made to acquire specific information sources that the users need but not available in the library.
The use of ICTs in the management and safe keeping of students records should become the order of the day as it has many benefits in the academic and university cycle, as it is providing timely access and easy retriever of student information. This study investigated the use of ICTs for students records management in Kaduna State University. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and questionnaire was used for data collection. The sample of the study was drawn from the population through multi-stage sampling whereby five (5) faculties were randomly selected and thereafter a total sample size of 120 questionnaire were retrieved and analyzed using tables, percentages, mean, standard deviation and frequency counts. Findings show that ICTs are available and accessible to records managers as they use it to store students records such as the students results (Summary sheets) 100% and student transcripts (100%). Finally, it was revealed that epileptic power supply (100%) and poor maintenance culture (98%) are the major challenges hindering the use of these ICTs by records managers in the university. It was recommended that the university and governing bodies should provide constant electricity to enable records managers use the available ICTs, it was also recommended that the value of proper maintenance culture be taught in the university.
This study surveyed use of ICTs in Technical Services Division of selected university libraries in Edo State. The population of the study was all the 108 professional and para-professional librarians of John Harris Library, University of Benin, Benin City and Ambrose Alli University Library, Ekpoma. The research adopted the descriptive survey design and questionnaire was used for data collection. Total enumeration sampling techniques was adopted due to the manageable size of the population. Out of the 108 copies of the questionnaire administered, 106 were retrieved and analysed using simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents indicated computers, scanners, networking equipment, printers, internet facilities, photocopiers, multi-media equipment and barcode reader are the available ICTs for carrying out routines in technical services division in university libraries. Findings also showed that the ICTs used to a high extent are computers, scanners, internet facilities, photocopier and barcode reader. It was discovered that the factors behind the use of ICTs include ease and increased accessibility to library materials, reduction of duplication of effort, accuracy and the promotion of high quality service delivery. Also, the present study found that the effects of using ICTs include speedy processing of library materials and ease in sorting and determining already processed library materials. Finally, findings showed that the challenges and constraints facing the use of ICTs in technical services division of university libraries include lack of technical know-how and incessant electric power outage. Recommendations based on the findings include that the parent institutions of university libraries should provide supporting infrastructure for the use of ICT such as stand-by power generators and power inverters to check incessant power outages and that librarians should be given proper training in the use of ICT in carrying out library routines.
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.
This study investigated the use of information and communication technology in academic libraries in Nigeria. Auchi Polytechnic library was used as a case study in this research. The importance of library as an institution has been realized. The Objectives of this study were (a) ascertain the extent of use of ICT in Auchi Polytechnic library (b) to find out the level of utilization of ICT (c) to identify the problems encountered in the use of ICT in Auchi Polytechnic library and (d) to give recommendations for effective use of library. The nature of this study was descriptive. The population of this study consisted of all the registered users of Auchi Polytechnic library. One hundred and twenty students were selected randomly as sample. A self developed questionnaire consisting of 13 items was used as instrument for data collection. It was concluded that in spite of the huge problems bedeviling ICT application in the Nigerian academic library setting, the prospects and possibilities are abundant as academic libraries are experiencing greater improvements in the areas of teaching, learning, research and communities activities. It is also indicated that the internet had greater impact on students’ projects writing as ICT has made it possible for Nigerian academic libraries to use the internet for search engines. The study recommends that individuals should be sensitized on the availability of ICT facilities and be encouraged to use them for their personal and library services. The government must also increase the funding of academic institutions. This is imperative seeing that some of the private institutions owners lukewarm attitude is inspired by similar attitude on the part of government. It is only when the funding of academic institutions is increased that the academic libraries in Nigeria will have the required funds to increase ICT applications and support with local infrastructure such as LAN and local data bases such as electronic cataloguing systems and e-publication.
This study investigated the use of internet by final year university undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and questionnaire was used for data collection. The sample for the study was drawn from the population through multi-stage sampling whereby three (3) faculties were randomly selected and thereafter a total sample size of 250 students was drawn using random sampling techniques. A total of 232 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved and analyzed using tables, percentages and frequency counts. Findings showed that majority of respondents indicated that internet facilities are available (93.5%) and accessible (84.9%) to final year undergraduates. It was also discovered that majority of the respondents access the internet at home (88.8%) for academic and research-related activities such as downloading of educational resources (82.3%) and socializing with friends (89.6%). Finally, it was revealed as indicated by majority of the respondents that inadequate computers/internet facilities in departmental computer laboratories (86.6%), difficulty in locating relevant information resources (78%), poor internet speed (73.7%) are among the challenges facing the use of internet by final year university undergraduates. It was recommended that internet facilities be provided for use in computer laboratories and that educational policy formulators and curriculum developers incorporate the use of internet into the university curriculum. Finally, the need for information literacy skills to be taught as a course and with a focus on information retrieval was advocated.
The study investigates the use of library internet services by undergraduate students for increased academic performance in polytechnics in Edo State. The instrument used for collecting data was the questionnaire. Three polytechnics were selected which are Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Shaka Polytechnic Benin and Kings Polytechnic Ubiaja. The Morgan and Krejcie was used to draw 370 sample population from 11,389 total population from Auchi Polytechnic, also 108 sample population was drawn from 150 total population from Shaka Polytechnic, and 113 sample population was drawn from 164 total population from Kings Polytechnic. A total of 591questionnaires was sent to respondents, while 350 representing 59.2% were retrieved from them. The responses were analyzed using tables and simple percentages. The research revealed that the undergraduate students in polytechnics were aware of the importance of Internet and that some library internet facilities were available in the polytechnics. Similarly, it was revealed that most undergraduate students depended on these internet facilities for their assignments and projects. Finally, it was discovered that the use of library internet facilities increase the academic performance of the users (students). In conclusion, it is important that both students and lecturers should understand and appreciate the usage of library internet facilities in the learning and teaching processes while it is recommended that seminars and workshop should be organized for all students and lecturers to constantly acquaint themselves on the benefits of these services.
This study examined the Use of library resources by secondary schools in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State. To guide this study, five research questions were raised. The purposive sampling techniques was adopted by the researcher to select 200 respondents for the study. Questionnaire was formulated and equal number was administered to the respondents so as to generate data for the study. The data gathered was analyzed using tables and simple percentage. The findings revealed that Current curriculum text books, dictionaries, fictions, computers devices, journals are available in the school library, teachers in secondary schools often use the available resources so as to meet the curriculum requirement. Library resources are being utilized in order to improve the school curriculum. Lack of fund, lack of proper organization of the school library, constant power outage, poor attitude of the staff, lack of professional trained staff are the problems militating against the availability and use of library resources. It was recommended that teaching staff and library staff should collaborate to ensure that library resources along with electronic resources are appropriately used by the students. The researcher also recommends that adequate resources should be provided information so as to improve the use of library.
USE OF OPAC IN LIBRARY SERVICE DELIVERY BY LIBRARIANS IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
This study examined the use of OPAC in library service delivery by librarians in university libraries in Edo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey design and the population of the study comprised of all the 176 professional and para-professional librarians in university libraries in Edo State. The purposive sampling technique was used to draw a sample size of 127 because it allows a selection of sample based on perceived characteristics/variables relevant to the study and copies of questionnaire was used for data collection. Out of the 127 copies of the questionnaire administered, 100 were retrieved and analyzed using simple percentage, frequency count and tables. Findings from the study revealed that majority 89 (89%) of the respondents indicated that OPAC is available in their university libraries. Findings also revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that OPAC interface can be used to retrieved books through their call numbers 33 (33%), that OPAC saves time 55 (55%), facilitates easy access to library collection 69 (69%) and is faster than the manual catalogue 65 (65%).It was discovered that factors inhibiting the use of OPAC as indicated by majority of the respondents include irregular power supply 86 (86%), network failure 87 (87%) and inadequate computer systems 90 (90%). Recommendations posited by the study include adequate funding, launching library catalogue on the web and putting alternative source of power supply in place.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Research and publication have been and will continue to be a critical factor to reckon with in the career life of librarians especially those in the academic environment. It is, of course, a well-recognized verity that the quality and quantity of an institution’s research is one of the yardsticks of measuring its academic accomplishment and excellence. Hence, research productivity of librarians is worthy of focus as the quality and quantity of their publications are a determining factor in their performance evaluations, promotions, tenure, research grants, and salary increment (Okonedo, Popoola, Emmanuel and Bamigboye, 2015).
According to Ogbomo (2010), research productivity is often used interchangeably with publication output, publication productivity. Research output and sometimes knowledge productivity. Research productivity, therefore, is expressed by the entirety of researches conducted by academic librarians in universities in his or her career over a specified time frame. Research productivity of librarians in Nigeria rest largely on the quality, and often the quantity of research published as textbooks, or chapters in books, journal articles, conference/workshop proceedings, occasional papers, monographs, edited books, bibliographies, abstracts, and indexes published. Librarians carry out research and publish for career related rewards such as status enhancement, promotion, securing tenure or permanent appointment; to gain recognition for creative thinking, visibility and acceptability within and outside the university community; to satisfy intellectual curiosity (Ocholla and Onyancha, 2012).
The library has always been known as the heart of academic activities in institutions of learning; it is in this regard that Gbadamosi & Omotayo (1995) describe it as an essential tool in learning at any level of our development right from infancy till death. No institution of higher learning can be successful without a library especially as programmes of study offered within the university would not be accredited without a well-equipped library for the provision of adequate information resources in those areas of discipline.
In providing a conducive atmosphere for research and studies, the university library provides well stocked current research materials and trained personnel to organized available information materials and assist faculty and students in the retrieval and use of these resources. Information retrieval itself has become more complex especially in the face of information overload. As a means of meeting up with the challenges of ensuring that information materials are available and accessible, libraries provide catalogues to display what is available in the library through the circulation department and where they can be obtained.
A large number of libraries in Nigeria have automated their operations and services using this technology to fulfill their user’ needs. Public catalogue, which is an important service of the library, is not exceptional to computer technology. Computerized catalogue is termed Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). It acts as an information retrieval system for the user. OPAC has revolutionized access to bibliographic information through search capacities such as keyword searching, Boolean searching, truncation, proximity searching, and item identity number searching. These were not possible in the tradition catalogue.
Today, a number of libraries are providing OPAC service to their users to find out their documents. In such a situation, the libraries should examine periodically how much comfort the users feel with this service so that some initiatives could be taken timely to improve this facility. In the study, therefore, the productivity of academic librarians will be measured in terms of their research output. Research output includes the number of articles in journal publications, conference/workshop publications, chapters in books, number of books written, compilation of bibliographies, book reviews and on-going researches.
In theory there should be a huge demand for the services OPAC offers. When OPACs were first developed in the 1970s, they were welcomed by library users (Dowlin, 1980). More recent advances have broadened the capabilities of OPAC, increasing their potential to benefit the library user, offering an efficient and self-guided service which does not require heavy reliance upon library staff. Although a handful of experimental systems existed as early as the 1960s, the first large-scale online catalogs were developed at Ohio State University in 1975 and the Dallas Public Library in 1978. These and the other early online catalog systems intended to closely reflect the card catalogs that they were intended to replace. Using a dedicated terminal or telnet client, users could search a handful of pre-coordinate indexes and browse the resulting display in much the same way they had previously navigated the card catalog. Therefore this study examine will examine use of OPAC in service delivery by librarians in university libraries in Edo State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Academic libraries are established in tertiary institution in Nigeria to render quality and efficient information and communication services in the academic milieu. The librarians in these libraries are the engines that are saddled with the herculean task of rendering these high quality and efficient information services. They are expected to be highly productive. High productivity on the part of librarians is very essential to ensure a very high degree of library effectiveness. Among the 20th century’s grandest information technology accomplishments was the transformation of the library card catalogue into the Online Public Access Catalogue. OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) is an online bibliography of a library collection that is available to the public. Prior to the emergence of OPAC, for users to find information about any item in a library collection, they must flip through or search a collection of catalogue cards in a filing cabinet in circulation using appropriate access points for known items. Where the item is not known, the subject catalogue is used.
It is Important to reiterate that the aim of cataloguing materials is to create and organize information, so as to promote access and use of information, and catalogues are often based on the physical location of items in the library. The basic purpose of library automation software is to help in creating a database of library holdings, which will, in turn, provide an online catalogue to help the user in identifying and locating their required documents. However, most libraries in develop countries automated their systems way back in the early and mid-1980s, libraries in Nigeria did not join in the automation movement until recently, even at that, only a few is fully automated.
The measure of academic success in academia is research productivity which requires information resources and this can be obtained through OPAC. The universities and other higher institutions set up libraries to make information resources available to assist academic staff members in their research quest. Therefore, this study set out to investigate to what extent has application of OPAC aided librarians research productivity?
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of the study is to examine the effect of OPAC application on research productivity of librarians. The specific objectives are to find out:
The extent of availability of OPAC in Nigeria University Libraries
The extent of use of OPAC by librarians in university libraries.
The effect of application OPAC on university library functions and services
To determine the extent the use of OPAC affects research productivity of librarians in Universities
Problems hindering the application and uses of OPAC by Librarians
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
To achieve the stated objectives, the following research questions are formulated:
Is OPAC available in university Library?
Is the OPAC used by librarians?
What is the impact of application OPAC on university library functions and services?
To what extent does OPAC affect research productivity of librarians in university library?
What are the problems hindering the application and use of OPAC by librarians?
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study examines use of OPAC in library service delivery by librarians in university libraries in Edo state. Interestly, only librarians working in universities will be investigated, while other tertiary institutions will be excluded from the study.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is hoped that the findings from the study will contribute to existing literature on use of OPAC in library service delivery by librariansin library of higher institutions and the finding will stimulate the urge in librarians for furthering their knowledge base.
The findings from this study will also enhance librarians to identify problems militating the application of OPAC in university libraries because increase in the research outputs of academic librarians is likely to ease the tension that is usually associated with researches due to dearth of information materials. The application of OPAC will ease such process and make librarians more productive.
It is hoped that efficient library service delivery could be achieved through the use of OPAC by librarians. Furthermore, more respective colleges in the university could earn accreditation regularly from the National University Commission. The study is equally significant as it would help library authorities to see the effectiveness of meeting users need.
1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
The following terms are defined as used in the context of this study for the purpose of clarity and precision.
Library: Library is a place in which literary and artistic materials, such as books, periodicals newspapers, pamphlets, prints, records, and tapes, are kept for reading, reference, or lending.
Academic Libraries: They comprise of school libraries at the primary and secondary levels, college libraries, and University libraries whose prime objective is to meet the academic needs of the particular institution for which it is created to serve. The purpose of a University Library differs, in varying degree, from that of a school or college library in that the former adheres extensive and particular emphasis to research projects apart from the curricular needs of the institution.
Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC): OPAC has revolutionized traditional accessibility to resources of libraries in general and academic libraries in particular. It is an interface of information retrieval system which assist information searchers to access resources of library(ies) using several access points. Traditionally, it is concerned with searching for the retrieving bibliographic records of information items instead of full-text of the content of resources. It has made searching and retrieval of bibliographic records of materials easier and faster.
Environmental Factors: this refers to the physical, social, psychological and technological conditions that are found in the work places which influence directly or indirectly the productivity of librarians. Environment factors include: human beings social interaction, physical and technological infrastructure, electricity, office furniture and equipment, relative humidity, temperature, noise level and atmospheric weather condition.
Productivity: This refers to the research and intellectual output of each librarian. It is the ratio of input to output per librarian. It means doing more with less. Productivity is a standard yardstick for measuring efficiency and effectiveness of the librarians. Productivity in the study refers to the measurable and quantifiable aspect of academic librarian’s job. It refers to the amount of research output in terms of publications that the academic librarians are able to produce.
Staff Development: This refers to all professional development (growth) activities that academic librarians are engaged in with a view to boosting their performance, efficiency, productivity, morale and status.
Library Resources: This refers to valuable information resources that are available at the library; such as books, e-books, CDs DVDs, magazine, games, computers and internet accesses.
Information And Communication Technology (ICT): They are the computing, communicating facilities and features that variously support teaching, learning and range of activates in education in various fields.
Computer: Computer can be referred to as the backbone, nucleus or hub of ICT application. In virtually all ICT applications, the computer is interfaced with another device in order to function effectively.
Internet Facility: Internet is described as a worldwide network of computer and people. Built upon state of the art technology, the internet makes it possible for thousands of dissimilar physical networks that are not connected to one another and that use diverse hardware technologies to connect and operate as a single communication system. There are locations of various types of information on computer system linked to the internet. It is an important tool for global online services.
Networks: This is a system of interconnected computers for sharing information and resources. This may involve two or more computers in a single office or several computers in different units across an organization or across the country. The networks include the local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN). With computer network, libraries can access and share information in different locations and download for users needs.
