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PurposeThe purpose of the study is to ascertain whether or not faculty members would be motivated to use e-Databases for research considering the impact of the Technology Acceptance Model2 (TAM2) cognitive instrumental processes of job relevance, output quality and result demonstrability.Design/methodology/approachThe survey research design was applied. The selection of samples was based on a multistage sampling technique involving; purposive, simple/systematic random and total enumeration procedures. Five colleges and departments each were selected from the three universities that provided the setting for the conduct of this study, out of which a sample of 135 was drawn from the total population of 209. The questionnaire method was used for data gathering. Ninety-five percent return rate of the administered instrument was observed. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were employed for data analyses.FindingsJob relevance, output quality and result demonstrability are motivators of faculty use of e-Databases for research with result demonstrability wielding the strongest influence. Use of e-Databases for research is based on the usefulness level perceived of them. Faculty are highly predisposed to using the technology for research with the chances of getting published in reputable journal outlets ranked highest among other factors that influence faculty use of e-Databases.Originality/valueThe conceptualization of TAM2 cognitive instrumental processes as system characteristics and motivators of e-Databases use among faculty towards research engagement advances the understanding of intention to use e-Databases for research.

Institutional repositories (IRs) are gaining popularity globally. This paper examined the trend in a developing country—Nigeria. It reviewed and outlined the historical development of IRs and noted...

Academic libraries are increasingly becoming affected by intrusive and disruptive technologies, changing user needs, and alternative information providers who offer similar services as the library....

The study examined the role of social influence process of subjective norm, image and voluntariness on perceived usefulness of social media (PUSM) in private university libraries. The quest to ascertain the impact of the social factor in a profit-motivated environment prompted the study. The descriptive research design alongside multistage sampling procedures was applied and the questionnaire method was used for data collection. One hundred and ninety (190) librarians, selected from 13 private university libraries provided the data, out of which 184 copies of the instrument were correctly filled and returned, representing 96.8 per cent return rate. Statistical tools like simple percentage, mean and standard deviation of the Special Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) were employed to analyse the research questions. Results shown that image was the strongest determinant among the proposed social factors of PUSM, followed by subjective norm. While voluntariness was a weak predictor of PUSM, the overall PUSM of librarians in the private university domain in the studied region was very high. This implies that the social factor is significant predictor of technology adoption in the private university library environment. Accordingly, the study concluded that if the performance potentials of social media are consciously communicated and imbibed by librarians through adequate training, whether or not private universities operate in a mandatory environment, PUSM of librarians will remain positively high.

Electronic and print resources usages and preferences among undergraduates of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria has been examined. The study population consist of all undergraduates of the University, from which a sample of 250 that is 10 percent of the population was selected. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. 231 copies of the questionnaire were completed and returned, representing 92.45 per cent response rate. Results from the study revealed that 110 (47.6 %) of the respondents preferred print resources, while interestingly, the same number 110 (47.6 %) preferred electronic resources; 11(4.8 %) of the participants did not provide any response to the question. It therefore implies that both print and electronic resources are complementary in meeting the information needs of undergraduates. However, majority of the respondents indicated that they usually supplement print materials with electronic resources or vice versa. The test of hypotheses revealed that user preferences were influenced by demographic factors such as age, course and level of study. Libraries should maintain hybrid collections, as both resources were found to be relevant sources of information for teaching, learning and research is recommended. Keywords: Electronic resources; Print resources; Academic libraries; Undergraduates; Private universities; Landmark university; Nigeria

This paper examined the state of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North-East Nigeria, the need to provide education and information services to the IDPs, and the role of libraries. It beg...

In recent times, information products are becoming more often packaged and repackaged in electronic formats. Cataloguing these resources is a core responsibility of libraries and librarians. A major emerging standardization tool for cataloguing electronic resources is the “resource description and access” (RDA). This article examined the imperatives of RDA implementation among libraries in a developing country—Nigeria. It reviewed global trends and observed the poor RDA implementation level among libraries in Nigeria. It also identified challenges of RDA implementation peculiar to a developing country like Nigeria. The article further outlined strategies that would help to deal with the identified challenges. It concluded that the implementation of RDA is not optional, but mandatory for Nigerian libraries if they must be and remain relevant in the competitive world of librarianship.

The paper examined the role of academic libraries in the evolving paradigm shift in teaching methodologies in Nigerian universities as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19. It x-rayed the current global trends in online education and significant roles libraries can play. Responsive library website design and adoption, adoption of blended librarianship model and use of social networks among others were identified as best practices to adopt in order to secure a place for libraries in Nigeria in the face of the eminent change in teaching methodologies post Covid-19. Furthermore, the study considered perceived challenges libraries may be confronted with in deploying relevant ICT infrastructures geared towards transitioning from traditional to online provision of services in support of teaching and learning. The paper recommended dynamism in library service delivery, urgency in the acquisition of new skill sets by academic librarians in Nigeria, while also calling on relevant stakeholders to provide adequate funding for libraries in order to be able to deploy relevant ICT infrastructures needed to adequately support teaching and learning in a virtual environment.

This article examines the importance of newspapers to research, education, and economic development for Nigeria and advocates the need to preserve newspapers. The authors discuss critical preservation issues related to newspapers and emphasize the urgent need to address their deteriorating state in Nigerian academic libraries. The article also examines the binding preservation method practiced among academic libraries and observes that the method is not adequate. It recommends that academic libraries in Nigeria should adopt the digitization model for newspaper preservation. The article identifies the digital divide, poor technological infrastructure, inadequate funding, lack of expertise, and copyright prohibitions as challenges of digitization and makes recommendations.

Graduating students of higher institutions in Nigeria usually write and submit theses, as a requirement for the award of diplomas, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. This paper examines the importance of students' theses to research, industrial and economic development of the nation and therefore advocates the need to preserve them. It discusses the intricate dimensions of the preservation of theses in academic libraries and notes the urgent need to address the worsening deteriorating state of students' theses in academic libraries in Nigeria. The paper also discusses the current traditional preservation methods practiced among academic libraries and observed that these methods are not adequate. It recommends that academic libraries in Nigeria should digitize theses and adopt the cloud computing preservation model through the operations of institutional repositories. The paper further identified digital divide and poor technological infrastructure, inadequate funding, data security breaches and issues revolving around copyright as challenges of digitization and cloud computing, and made recommendations.

This study investigated the use of social network sites among library professionals in University Libraries in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. The study population consisted of seventy-eight librarians in four Universities in the state. Questionnaires (which was the instrument for data collection) was administered to the entire population, out of which 55 (representing 70.5% response rate) were filled, returned and analysed for the study. The study revealed that library professionals do make use of social network sites. The most frequently visited social network site was Linkedln (58.2%). The respondents also indicated that they visited social network sites for the purpose of connecting and collaborating with friends and colleagues, carrying out current awareness and reference services to library users etc. Majority of the respondents (94.5%) in the study further revealed that the greatest challenge to the use of social network sites was lack of social media skills. The first hypothesis tested in the study indicated that there was moderate positive significant relationship between device used for internet access and use of social network sites (r=.408**, N= 55, p.05). The study was concluded with recommendations that library professionals should undergo training in social media skills among others.