Search

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]

Many people were aware of the covid-19 pandemic, primarily via social media or other sources of information. The news is widely available on the radio, in the newspaper, on television, and on social media. The information spreads panic, anxiety, and misinformation about the pandemic during and after the pandemic. Consequently, after the stop of the extent of Covid-19 virus, many researchers has been trying to stop the fears associated with the pandemic to enable people live together and continue their post covid-19 business. Librarians are already recognizing the possibilities of social media in offering up-to-date information to their voluminous user base in their responsibility of ensuring that patrons are properly informed on post Covid 19 integration. The study concluded that Librarians are tasked with reaching user populations in post Covid-19 and improving their access to current, pertinent information regarding the social integration is very useful. Librarians are required to gather, store, organize, and sort out the accurate information for their clients in this age of information explosion when thousands of bits of information are chunked out every day to prevent misinformation on post Covid-19. It was recommended in the study that the traditional means of library should be sustained, alongside the usage of social media platforms by the library and librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource sharing and networking are among the noticeable phenomenon which have not been given necessary attention it deserves as a result of which most libraries are not meeting the information needs and services of their users as at when due. This paper highlights evolving networking and resource sharing among academic libraries in Nigeria. It was discovered that most of the library in developing countries are faced with the precarious issue of non-availability of qualitative services to their numerous library users due to inadequate budget allocation for library, uncooperative or inept attitude of most libraries professionals. Hence, in an effort to curb this perennial crisis, resource sharing and networking between the different libraries came into limelight. The relevance of resource sharing and networking were discussed vis a vis different types of resources that can be shared. The impact of ICT on resource sharing and networking was also stressed and myriads of challenges encountered during the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the perception and contribution of Librarians to Open Access Resources in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted the expo-facto descriptive design. The sampled for the study comprised 100 Librarians who were randomly selected through simple random sampling. The Role of Librarians to Open Access Resources (RLOARs), Benefits Derived from Open Access Resources (BOARs) and Challenges encountered when promoting Open Access Resources (COARs) were the three instruments used to collect relevant data for the study. The research questions raised were answered using mean and standard deviation. Means scores cut off point of 2.50 and above would be accepted. The findings from the study indicated that librarians play significant roles in open access resources in order for researchers, universities, publishers and library users to accomplish their aims, goals and objectives with(weighted average = 3.53). Finding also revealed that many benefits were derived from using open access resources, that is, open access resources increase exposure to research work; enable researcher to publish without costs; provide free articles for teaching and learning with (weighted average = 3.16) and lastly from the finding that slow internet connectivity and lack of awareness of Open Access Resources are the major challenges encountered when promoting open access resourceswith (weighted average = 2.53). Based on the above finding, the following recommendations were made:Librarian should play an effective role to make open access resources accessible and available for the users such as researchers, students, staff, authors, publishers, societies and nations. Librarians should liaise with the universities administrators to endure users get what they want in terms of exposure to research work and publish without costs. The challenges of open access resources such as slow internet connectivity can be solve by upgrading the router which will make internet available and accessible to the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study scrutinised the correlation between interpersonal skills and job satisfaction among librarians in university libraries in Bayelsa and Delta State. Descriptive survey research design was espoused for the study, using a self-constructed questionnaire as the implement of data collection. The questionnaire was constructed after extensive consultation of related literature, to ensure that pertinent items were included. The population of the study encompassed all librarians in the university libraries in Bayelsa and Delta State, Nigeria; however, the study embraced a purposive sampling technique to handpick respondents for the study. The population of the study encompassed all librarians 78 from university libraries in Delta and Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This was as a result of the manageable size of the population. The study has revealed that a majority of the respondents maintain eye contact with patrons, colleagues, and superiors on the job; they do not get frightened or stressed on the job; they take their work seriously; they do not have difficulty following a task through from the beginning to the end; they always complete their tasks when due; they do not get angry; they do not lose their temper when things do not go the way they want it; they always have good posture and body language at work; they never curse or use offensive language at the work place; people who know them would describe them as cheerful and friendly; they respect the opinions and rights of others at the work place; they are clean, well-schooled, and well groomed in their profession; they handle conflicts among library users and colleagues in a fair and unbiased manner; they try to remain cool and maintain their temper, even in conflicting situations; they interact with library users and colleagues at the same level, irrespective of cultural diversities; and they disagree that they give an excuse to avoid queries when they cannot accomplish their task. The outcomes of the study recommended that managers/heads of libraries should endeavour to encourage librarians to attend courses on interpersonal skills in Nigeria and abroad, by sponsoring librarians through the Tertiary Education Fund. In-house training on interpersonal skills for librarians should be organised quarterly to facilitate effective service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unwillingness and negative attitude of librarians was observed as a factor that hinders users from accessing information resources in most developing country libraries. This negative attitude could be associated with the demographic factors of the librarians hence this study investigated demographic factors as predictors of career commitment of librarians in South-South universities, Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study and three hypotheses were formulated at 0.05 level of significance using simple regression analysis. The research questions and hypotheses were analysed using inferential statistics such as simple regression analysis. The population comprised 197 librarians in universities of South-South, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used as instrument in addition to reliability using Cronbach Alpha to determine the internal consistency. The findings reveal that age, educational qualification and work experience contributed positively to career commitment and significantly predict career commitment of librarians. It was recommended that University management/librarianship should encourage young librarians while considering staff developmental training. In addition, experienced librarians are cautioned not to trivialize commitment. The study concludes that demographic factors significantly predicted career commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing recognition of the potentials of web 2.0 tools, a lot of academic libraries are adopting the technologies and investing heavily in training programs for their staff in order to improve their operations. This study investigated the use of web 2.0 tools and services by the library professionals in Lagos State tertiary institution libraries. Review of the literature was carried out on the availability of use, purpose of use, extent of use, and competency level required for the use of web 2.0 tools in tertiary institution libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria. Challenges and solutions were also proffered. The findings revealed that web 2.0 tools have great potentials for library service provision although they are a relatively new concept. The uses of web 2.0 tools were mostly for communication, research, collaboration, and leisure purposes; however, the extent of the use for service delivery was about average. This indicated that web tools were not sufficiently and efficiently used. Findings also revealed that the respondent librarian in the study area possessed a moderate level required skill needed in web-based technology environment. However, there is need to address certain limiting factors, such as technical hitches like unstable internet access, erratic power supply, and restrictive institutional policies, in order to take full advantage of web 2.0 tools for providing innovative library services and drawing patrons to the library. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that library managers in the study area should be provided with uninterrupted electricity power supply to overcome the erratic power situation experienced now, periodic training and re-training programs should be provided to librarians, this in effect will equip librarians with the necessary skill, and policies should be formulated that will guide the conduct and usage of web 2.0 tools for implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the abuse of information materials in academic libraries by students of tertiary institutions in Ekiti-State, Nigeria. The study is descriptive design and the population of the study is 140. Quota sampling technique was employed and 100 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the respondents, while 80 copies were returned giving 80% return rate. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results show that the mostly abuse information materials are textbooks (92%), projects/theses/dissertations (60%), and newspapers (58.75%). Some students abuse information materials because they are too lazy, selfish and that high demand of a particular book by the students sometime influence them in abusing library materials. The most common ways of abusing library materials by student is by tearing of pages (92.10%), folding of pages (86.66%), and writing on pages of information materials (82.50%). It was suggested that abuser should be subjected to heavy and well defined penalties, while closed circuit television should be installed in libraries to minimize these occurrences, as well as providing effective photocopying facilities which can be easily used when needed by library users. In addition to suggestions made, it was recommended that multiple copies of books should be placed in circulation so as to meet the high demands of library user, while in-service training should be organized once in a while to non-professionals librarians, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on librarians promoting the use of the library through other means such as marketing of library services to the users. Topics include visiting private information providers, cybercafé, and no longer solely relying on the library; and library services such as decline in library budget, change in user's mode of satisfaction, rising cost of books, and serials and electronic resources.

The study was designed to provide an understanding of the knowledge management roles of librarians in the transformations of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Library through the provision of user -centred services. It was based on a descriptive survey approach and questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection supported by interviews. The population of the study consisted of 48 professional librarians currently working at the University Library. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repression analysis. It was found that the KM roles of librarians consisted of the knowledge processes or activities in identifying the needs of users, capturing knowledge resources to meet those needs, organizing knowledge resources available in the library for their academic work or research. It was found that for librarians to play their KM roles successfully, the University Library leadership must provide the support, create atmosphere for top down communication and encourage organizational learning. Based on the findings, some recommendations were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The study aims to investigate the level of awareness and use of Web 2.0 tools by librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was used to collect data from 176 librarians in 49 university libraries in Nigeria. Findings – It emerged that the librarians were more familiar with social networking sites, instant messaging, media sharing sites, blogs and wikis. The popularity of these Web 2.0 tools made them the most frequently used by the librarians. Web 2.0 tools like Flickr, RSS feeds, podcasts, social bookmarking, were among the least used. The study revealed that librarians use Web 2.0 tools mostly for reference services online, library news/events, training resources, and image and video sharing. Lack of facilities such as computers with internet access, lack of skills, and lack of time were indicated as some of the barriers in the use of Web 2.0 tools by librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. Practical implications – These research results can be consulted by interested librarians as they plan to implement Web 2.0 applications in their libraries. Originality/value – This study draws an overall picture of Web 2.0 applications in Nigerian university libraries and attempts to provide helpful information to better understand how librarians elsewhere are utilizing Web 2.0 technologies in rendering library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the ever-increasing demands of library users. In this ever-changing environment, some of the things one can be certain of are the need for more staff, space, and money for libraries. Libraries are ever striving to do more and more while, at best, maintaining current levels of staff and resources. The two most important goals are to increase library funding, or make the use of current resources more efficient. Jerry Nichols' contribution in this issue draws attention to a situation in New York State where revenue, collected to support local libraries for years, was left unrealized. Similarly, Andrew Itedjere's article brings to light what can happen when a Nigerian university doesn't support its library--monetarily or intellectually. While a system has been implemented requiring library users to pay a registration fee, the deemphasized importance of library collections for research has imposed a barrier to the library to realize fully needed funds to support service, collections, and technology. Khalid Mahmood and his colleagues suggest another approach in their article, which is charging library visitors for services rendered.