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The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic hampered the availability of information sources and services in most academic institutions around the world. Making information available during major crisis reveals the long-standing position of the library in helping its patrons. This post COVID-19 study that took place between February 2020 and January 2021 investigated the availability of information sources and services during the COVID-19 pandemic in university libraries in Nigeria. Using a descriptive design, the study used 240 students who were purposely selected from 30 universities including federal, state and private universities in South-South geographical zone of Nigeria as sample. The study revealed that information sources such as: e-books, print journals, e-journals and electronic databases and services such as: Circulation, interlibrary loan, remote access, SDI, online reference services among others were available to the patrons in university libraries in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that the inhibiting factors against the availability of information sources and service in university libraries were poor telecommunication network, closure of some library sections, lack of preparation, unavailability of library policy on pandemic/disaster management and poor coordination among others. The study recommended some areas for improvement to ensure the availability of information sources and services to the library patrons during major crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 21st century is the millennium of information. It is also seen as the era of explosion of information output and information sources. It is known as the beginning of knowledge age. New patterns of work and new business practices have developed as a result; new kinds of work with new and different skills are required. In this century, the meaning of knowledge has changed. Information delivery to meet user needs is the goal of every college library. For effective information delivery, availability of information resources is very fundamental. The study, therefore, investigated the influence of information resources availability on information delivery in college libraries in Lagos and Oyo states, Nigeria in the 21st century. The study adopted the survey research design with the questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 469 registered users out of 4,689 and 73 library staff. The collected data was analysed using frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation for the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings indicated that textbooks, electronic information resources and journals were available in the college libraries. The resources were mostly used on daily basis by students and staff in the college libraries. Study revealed that adequate provision of books, periodic user education and orientation, registration of library users, lending services, reference services, etc. were some of the information service delivery in the college libraries. Results further showed significant influence of information resources availability on information delivery (F (1;470) =40.706, P0.05). The availability of information resources in colleges enabled the college libraries to deliver effective information services to the user community in Emmanuel Alayande College of Education and Yaba College of Technology. It recommends among others that there is need for college libraries to make adequate provisions for recent and up-to-date information resources in both print and non-print formats to meet the needs of their users. Adequate publicity through awareness programmes should be carried out for the resources and services to sensitise the users and promote usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impacts of user education on users' awareness, accessibility and use of information resources and services in Federal Polytechnic Ede Library. The study employed a survey research design. The population of this study consisted of all registered student users of the library totaling 6,000; 10% of the entire population amounting 600 was used for the study. The random sampling technique was adopted. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Out of the 600 copies of questionnaire distributed, 517 (86.2%) were retrieved and found valid for analysis. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study show that, user education programmes of the library do not have any significant impact on the users' awareness, accessibility and utilization of the collections and services in the library due to several challenges among which are; over dependence on one day orientation and lack of examinable library instruction. It was therefore recommended among others, that the Polytechnic Library Management should liaise with the Management of the Institution to ensure immediate commencement of "use of library" as a compulsory, credit-bearing and examinable course for all new students of the institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of user education programme is to assist library users make the most effective use of library with little or no assistance from the library staff. Due to the greater relevance of libraries in information, education and the increasing complexity of libraries as a result of information explosion and a deluge of educational and information resources, it is imperative that libraries engage in user education programmes. In addition, availability of information resources and services to students is crucial but more importantly it is to ensure that students for whom these resources and services are provided utilise them adequately to satisfy their needs. The study therefore examines user education programmes, resources availability and use: the experience of college of education students in Kwara state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted and the study population consisted 443 students in the department of chemistry, school of sciences, college of education, Kwara state, Nigeria. The simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 199. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics for the five research questions. Findings revealed that textbooks 57.5% and Internet resources 52.2% were readily available to the respondents. 39.8% respondents strongly agreed that, user education developed their capabilities as self-sufficient users. Also, 34.4% respondents revealed that their library skills were developed and made them become more independent in locating and retrieving information materials. 81.7% respondents strongly agreed that crowdedness/largeness of the class capacity was a major barrier hindering user education in their libraries, 72.6% also indicated that lack of periodic user education programme was a barrier while 69.8% of respondents revealed that lack of relevant and up-to-date resources were user education challenges which negatively affect the use of library resources by the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined use of Online Information Resources (OIRs) to see how they might help Nigerian university libraries offer top-notch online library services. OIRs are crucial because students require current and complete knowledge resources. OIRs are readily available in digital form at university libraries in Nigeria. Academic e-databases contain these online resources. This study adopted the conceptual research approach; hence, in-depth exploration of literature was carried out to emphasize the issues in using Online Information Resources in libraries. The report outlined the development of OIRs and the additional information resources it offers to university library users. The databases, which include e-books and e-journals, among other things, are useful sources of informational content. The study's findings have been adapted to meet the information needs of users with shifting information needs. In order to encourage the production of new research and enhance efficient and effective delivery of information services, libraries can make use of cutting-edge scientific and technological innovations when users access online information resources. Librarians and other information workers need to be sensitive to, schooled in, and retrained on how researchers in the university community use OIRs to satisfy students' information needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open access (OA) publications on the Internet are increasing and assuming important routes for disseminating scholarly information. Consequently, Open access management has become an inescapable feature of modern library services. The study examined knowledge of open access models, licensing types, resources, and practices in medical libraries in Nigeria. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Participants were Fifty-one librarians from thirty-six medical libraries. Result shows high (e"72.5 percentage) awareness of open access green, gold, hybrid models, creative commons and public domain licensing types. However, less than half understand the full meaning and implementations of the models. Understanding was higher for OA licensing types. There was also high awareness of OA databases and resources but low use of the resources for information services. Open access services offered by the respondents are creating links to open access databases on library websites and directing patrons to OA publications. The study concludes that medical librarians need to improve their knowledge and skills of open access management to enable them build diverse collections that are relevant to Medical library patrons in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries are service-oriented organizations established for the provision of relevant information resources and services needed to meet their users' information needs. Libraries are institutions that select, acquire, process, organize and disseminate information materials such as books, magazines, journals, microfilm, maps, government documents and other resources in support of teaching, learning, recreation and research. However, the extents to which university libraries provide these services in Kwara State, Nigeria remain unknown until now. The study employed a survey research design, where undergraduate students' population stood at 68,298. Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select 382 participants. A self-structured questionnaire was used for the collection of data. The instrument was faced and constructed validate by 3 research experts while the test-retest reliability finding of the pilot study yields a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.77. Data were analyzed using a descriptive statistic of frequency counts, percentage, mean score and standard deviation. The report of findings revealed that information services provided almost every time to the user in the library was lending and borrowing (X=4.2), reference services (X=4.2), user's education (X=4.1) and shelf management with a mean score of (X=4.1). The study concluded that undergraduate students in university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria perceived the information services provided to be satisfactory. It was recommended that the current level of service provision should be improved upon to enhance more users' patronage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the provision of reference and information services to the physically challenged persons in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. The article demystifies the conceptual framework of information services and physically challenged persons, the information needs of the physically challenged as a concept was succinctly analyzed and the attention or relegation received by this group of library users discussed. The public library for instance is there to provide its services to all classes of users irrespective of age, sex, colour and disability. This paper is therefore timely as it ascertained how all libraries can help to meet up with the information needs of this set of users, challenges encountered in doing so and what a developing country stands to benefit when information services is adequately being provided for her disabled citizens otherwise known as the physically challenged persons. In the end, conclusion and recommendations were proffered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rural dwellers need timely, accurate, pertinent and reliable information for sustainable rural development. However, in Nigeria it is estimated that over 70% of people are living in rural areas who are mainly non-literate people who cannot read and write in any language. It is against this background that this article sought to investigate the forms of information sources and services utilised among rural dwellers from public libraries in the North-West zone of Nigeria to find out whether they are relevant and appropriate to the nature of this group of people. Objectives: The study aimed at investigating the forms of information sources and services utilised among rural dwellers from public libraries in the North-West zone of Nigeria for sustainable rural development. Method: Wilson's 1981 model suggests that information-seeking behaviour arises as a result of a need perceived by an information user, who, in order to satisfy that need, makes demands upon formal or informal information sources and services. Hence, the model was adopted to underpin the current study. A structured questionnaire was designed and personally administered to the study participants. The quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS software and descriptive statistics. Results: Despite the fact that most of the rural dwellers in the North-West zone of Nigeria are non-literate people, it is evident from the results that there is utilisation of various forms of information sources and services from public libraries. The predominant forms of information sources utilised among rural dwellers from the libraries were printed materials, posters, flyers and audiovisuals. However, the forms of information services provided to rural dwellers by the libraries were traditional library services and awareness campaigns about government policies. Conclusion: The study revealed that utilisation of public libraries' information sources and services among rural dwellers in the area under study revolved around printed materials and traditional library services. It is evident that most of the library users among rural dwellers were those who were literate, as the non-literate people who were the majority did not patronise the libraries. Thus, this study will assist authorities of the public libraries in the area under study to provide relevant and effective information sources and services to rural dwellers for sustainable rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative services and practices are the buzzwords in today's libraries. Changes brought about by the electronic environment has impacted on libraries and caused a transformation in services and practices. Consequently, the library of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has keyed into this paradigm by changing its conventional approach. This article explored various innovative services and practices in FUTO library. It also identified the benefits and extent of innovative services and practices in the library. A descriptive survey was adopted for the study while questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. Findings revealed a remarkable increase in library patronage, library visibility, use of library resources (databases), access to OPAC and supportive staff among others. It was also discovered that the extent of innovative services and practices in the library was high in various areas such as: library visibility (Mean=3.54), library patronage (Mean= 3.45), dependence on the library for research (Mean=3.27), longer hours by patrons (Mean=3.05), more followers on social media (Mean=3.00) etc. The study also identified some challenges hindering effective innovative services and practices. It was discovered that constant electricity coupled with inadequate funds were major roadblocks. Despite these challenges, it was observed that the library is not relenting in efforts to unleash her full potential in providing services that align with the needs of the present environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]