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The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of adoption of artificial intelligence(AI) to support library services delivery in university libraries in Africa. Qualitative research method was adopted to collect data. A preliminary survey of 102 university libraries in English speaking countries in Africa was conducted to identify the university libraries that have adopted AI in their libraries. Content analysis was used to analyse the responses. The study found that the only few university libraries in Africa have adopted AI technologies such as Chatbot, ChatGPT, LibKey from ThirdIron, robots, RFID technology and Grammarly. These AI technologies are used to render different library services like answering of directional and ready reference questions posed by library users, serving as a knowledge base for cataloguing information of library materials, self-check-out machine for books, used as a marketing tool for the library, tool for statistics evaluation and recommendations, assisting in the charging and discharging of library materials, etc. Lack of funds to acquire the AI tools, training of librarians, and lack of full knowledge of AI were the most mentioned challenges associated with adoption of AI in the libraries. The study recommended a formulation of policy to guide the adoption of new technologies such as AI, and training and re-training of librarians through workshops equip librarians with skills needed to effectively use the AI technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

his study evaluates user education programmes of two federal university libraries in South East, Nigeria, for enhanced access and use of digital resources. A population of 6,249 undergraduate users was studied using descriptive survey. A sample size of 376 was determined using Taro Yemen's formula. Data was obtained via questionnaire and quantitatively examined using mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study reveal provision of library orientation (=3.65), course-related instruction (=3.06) individualised instruction (=2.87) and library tours (=2.67) to users of the libraries under study; the grand mean of 2.93 (SD=1.00) indicates that the programmes enhance users' access and use of digital resources to a high extent. This notwithstanding, inconsistent power supply and a lack of ICT infrastructure were identified challenges to the success of the programmes in the study area. However, a supportive environment and creative teaching strategies were suggested for the programmes' effectiveness. [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]

An automated library environment is quite different from that of a library whose operations and services are still done manually. The paper shares Bowen University Library, Iwo, Nigeria automation experiences using Open Source Library Management Software, Koha. The paper explains the automation process such as choice of software, installation and configuration, training of staff and users, retrospective conversion, challenges and experience after automation. The paper carries out survey of library user satisfaction with the system. The result shows that users prefer the automated system to manual system. It also explains how automation has enhanced operations and provision of information services. The paper among others encourages libraries to consider the use of an open source software for their automation project, advises that they should be open to changes that ICT introduces to library profession, and settle the issue of regular power supply with management before embarking on automation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the predictive relationships between teaching effectiveness and use of library information resources and services among social scientists in thirteen federal government-funded Nigerian universities. Stratified random sampling with equal allocation method coupled with self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data from 650 academic social scientists from the universities, out of which 570 responded giving a response rate of 87.7 per cent. The study found that the utilisation of library information resources and services correlated significantly with perceived teaching effectiveness of the respondents. It was also found that the utilisation of library information resources and library services contributed 49.8 per cent and 38.5 per cent respectively to the prediction of teaching effectiveness of the respondents. It is recommended that academic social scientists in the Nigerian universities should endeavour to use library resources and services to improve their teaching effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine levels of environmental noise and identify noise sources that inconvenience library users in the University of Calabar Library. Data were collected using a Sound Level Meter to take acoustical measurements at over 100 points in and around the library, whilst a survey questionnaire was used to elicit information from users of the library. The survey sample consisted of 980 library users drawn from all the reading rooms in the university library. The study found that levels of noise in the university library were high [43.5 - 88.5 dB(A)] and exceeded the acceptable level of noise set by World Health Organization (WHO). The major sources of noise in decreasing order were noise from people, automobiles, aircrafts, cellular phones and equipment. The implication of this finding is that noise poses a serious threat and distraction to library users, as they cannot concentrate during reading and study activities in the library. Another implication of the finding is that the management of the university library appears not to be managing the problem of noise effectively. The study proffers several recommendations which, if implemented, would reduce significantly noise levels in the library considerably and make them conform to World Health Organisation [WHO] standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]