Search

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 dynamic nature of the library users of today and changing research environment require the library to improve its resources and services for its users' community. This study investigated the use of library resources and services by Postgraduate (PG) students in a specialized university - Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a total population of 438 registered PG students of 2020/2022 academic session comprising PGD, Masters and PhD. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The study revealed that majority of PG students visited the library most on monthly and quarterly basis while less percentage visited weekly and daily. The findings also showed that the attraction of the PG students to the library were to: study for examination, consult librarians, follow up lectures, read books, read newspapers/magazine, access offline e-resources and databases among others. The resources used most by the PG students were offline e-journal, e-books, textbooks, reference materials, theses/dissertations and periodicals. Furthermore, there was evidence in the findings that services used most were circulation service, reference service, reprographic service and Internet service among others. Some of the problems hindering their use of the library were: lack of orientation, inadequate awareness, inadequate ICT training, lack of literacy skill and poor internet connectivity. The study concluded that library management in FUPRE and other universities around the world should endeavour to identify all the factors affecting the effective use of the library by the PG students to enable thems have a rewarding research experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into the phenomenon of turnover intentions of employees and its effects on organizational development is crucial; hence this study investigated the effects of library infrastructure on turnover intentions of librarians in university libraries in South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey using total enumeration method with 400 academic librarians from the two zones in participation. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire which was subjected to a reliability test using Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient with a result of 0.72, which means that the instrument was good and reliable since the test result is above the acceptance point of 0.50. All the questionnaires administered on the respondents were retrieved with 334 of the questionnaires found usable for the analysis. Findings revealed that inadequate infrastructure have the tendency of increasing the turnover intentions of librarians in the university libraries in South-South and South East of Nigeria (X = 3.03); while advancement in library infrastructure enhances professional development and increase the chance of retaining librarians in the library (X = 3.05). Evidence from the study indicated that a higher deficiency in library infrastructure will increase the level of turnover intentions of librarians in the university libraries in South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The study recommended that the university librarians and university managements in South-south and South-east of Nigeria should holistically assess their library infrastructure with a view of ascertaining their state and make available budgetary allocation that will take care of dilapidated library infrastructure to mitigate the effects of turnover intentions of librarians in university libraries in South-South and South-East of Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing concern in the minds of people on the relevance of the library in the 21st century. This paper critically addresses some of the key functions of the library in supporting education and improving information literacy of the people for national development in Nigeria. It further reiterates the importance of the library in the Nigerian educational system, and concludes that a nation may not be developed without a sustainable educational system and well stocked libraries to support information literacy, learning, teaching and research activities of the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates organizational culture variables as factors influencing librarians' turnover intentions in university libraries in South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Total enumeration method was used since the population comprising 400 academic librarians in the two geopolitical zones were considered appropriate for the study. A test-retest of the measuring instrument was done using Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient and face validity. The result of the reliability test was 0.85 at 0.05 level of confidence. From the total copies of questionnaire that were administered and retrieved, 334 were found usable given a return rate of 83.5%. Results were analysed using percentage, mean and standard deviation. The result revealed that imbibing positive organizational culture in the university libraries in the areas of training, promotion, payment of salaries and rewarding deserving librarians have the potential of reducing turnover intentions. This study further showed a relationship between organizational culture and turnover intentions of librarians in university libraries in South-South and South-East of Nigeria (R = 0.-344, p < 0.05), which means that the higher the level of organizational culture, the lower the level of turnover intentions of academic librarians in South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The study concludes that turnover intention of librarians is a trend that needs some determining effort and measure to curb it. Since employees' engagement level is likely to be affected by unfavourable organizational culture, their welfare should be paramount. Libraries should formulate policies and culture that are inclusive of training, promotion, payment of salaries and rewarding of librarians to reduce turnover intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated library instruction methods, effect and the challenges in academic libraries using the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) students as the target population. Library instruction is a core activity of the academic libraries that entails educating, enlightening, guiding and helping the library users to identify, understand and utilize library information resources effectively. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population consists of seven hundred and seventy-three 100 level students who registered for Use of Library (GSE 112) course in the first semester of 2015/2016 academic session. The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Using a consensus sampling technique, all the 773 students participated in the study during a seminar organized for the 100 level students at the end of the second semester by August 2016. All the questionnaires were retrieved while 643 were found usable representing 83 percent. The finding showed that classroom teaching, library orientation and library guide (X = 3.00, SD = 000) were the methods mostly used while guided library tour (X = 2.53, SD = 667), library and one-on-one mentoring (X = 2.48, SD = 716) were also used to instruct the library users. It also reveal that Ask a librarian, FAQ, library Blog, library Website, Text messaging were not used to instruct the users. The finding also shows that library instruction was effective for identification of books on the shelves (X = 3.78, SD = 416), access and retrieval of information materials in the library (X = 3.67, SD = 471), enable students to cite and reference books with ease (X = 3.11, SD = 874) and turned users into regular library users (X = 3.45, SD = 497). It however, shows that library instruction has no effect on students' academic excellence (X = 3.44, SD = 687). The findings however reveal some of the challenges facing library instruction including non-expository of the program (X = 2.78, SD = 785), inadequate time for library orientation (X = 3.00, SD = 815), non-utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) for library instruction (X = 2.78, SD = 787) and students' lack of interest in library instruction programs (X = 3.56, SD = 684). The study, therefore, concluded that library instruction is an effective means of educating users and creating awareness of available information resources in the library. Librarians should ensure that library instruction impact students' academic excellence while viable methods of engaging and instructing the users in making them effective users and life-long learners be encouraged and explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate students' perception, use and challenges of electronic information resources in Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. A census sampling technique was used and data was gathered from Two hundred and forty-nine students of 500 level in the Departments in College of Technology. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while regression analysis was used to analyze result of the hypothesis. The result revealed that electronic information resources are used at different level by the respondents with e-journal, e-database, web OPAC and repositories recording high usage. It shows that users' perception influences use of electronic information resources in academic libraries with (β =.214, p<.05). From the findings, it is deduced that users' perception influences use of eresources in academic libraries, while lack of awareness, lack of training, unreliable Internet connectivity, insufficient e-resources in various study areas, unavailability of e-resources on 24/7 and difficulty of identifying relevant information to meet users' needs are challenges hindering use of e-resources. The study concludes that librarians should acquire more eresources to cover various study areas, create more awareness of e-resources at the library to change users' perception and introduce a 24/7 internet services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lot of literature exists concerning acceptance and utilisation of 'social networking' (SN) tools in academic libraries from different parts of the world. However, only a handful of work has been done on librarians' use of SN in academic libraries in South-East, Nigeria. Therefore, this study tends to investigate librarians' use of SN in academic libraries in South-East, Nigeria. This study adopted a survey design using 173 librarians from the zone. Finding showed that some librarians used SN in libraries for delivery of library services. It also revealed that SN will be beneficial and cost effective for academic libraries to adopt. Some challenges identified in this study inhibiting use of SN in academic libraries are erratic power supply, inadequate skill to manipulate SN and other ICT tools, technophobia, lack of awareness, insufficient bandwidth, apathy in using modern technologies and lack of internet connection. The study suggested that SN can be adopted in academic libraries for library service delivery. It recommended that academic libraries should prioritise training and retraining of librarians in the use of emerging and current internet resources, provision of power supply, ICT facilities and internet connection to enhance delivery of library services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to review the capability of integrated library system as an option for managing library information resources using Koha ILS used at Babcock University as a case study. The paper is a review of the functions and performance of Koha ILS. It also includes personal experiences of librarians and the technical staff at Babcock University Library. The review exposes the potency of ILS in library management. It portrays Koha as a constant system in managing library operations and services. This was evident as the system has engendered adequate and quality services to library users at Babcock University without hitches. The review only focused on Koha ILS implemented at Babcock University. It revealed the benefits and strengths of ILS to library performance. This review is important hence it will encourage libraries to implement feasible systems to improve their services to the library users. Koha ILS has revolutionalized library operations and services at Babcock University Library for the past three years. The implementation has drawn the attention of libraries in need of implementing ILS at their libraries to understudy the system. It has therefore given those libraries the opportunity to learn and implement same. Koha ILS is appealing to library users of this generation, because it is user friendly with inbuilt social networking features compatible with other electronic information systems. It is expected that the experiences shared in this work will motivate other libraries to implement a viable ILS like Koha for effective service delivery to the library users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses use of journal publications from library collections by undergraduate students for research at the Babcock University in Nigeria. Topics discussed include organized academic libraries, academic journals and research articles. Other topics include use of journal by faculty and information and communication technology (ICT) in libraries.