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University libraries are expected to provide information resources and services to support the teaching and learning process of their institutions. For university libraries to deliver quality services, they are expected to continuously adapt to the changing institutional and global environments and requirements in use of current technologies to manage most or all library activities, particularly use of Integrated Library Systems (ILS). Furthermore, in the university libraries where ILS have been deployed, there is a need to carry out periodic evaluations of the systems. Hence, this study evaluated the adoption and use of integrated library software (ILS) in some selected private university libraries in Osun State, Nigeria. Descriptive and correlational survey research design was adopted. The population comprised undergraduates and library staff of Adeleke University, Fountain University and Redeemers University. Slovin's formula was used to arrive at 384 as the target sample size of the undergraduates, while total enumeration was used for the sample size of the library staff since the population was small. Questionnaires were used for data collection. The data collected from the field were coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The findings revealed that majorities of the surveyed students were satisfied with the services provided through the ILS, except at the Adeleke University. Similarly, most of the students found the ILS easy to use and useful, the students except for the students of Adeleke University who were indifferent about the services, due to the fact that they were not using the services provided by ILS. This finding confirms that when selecting or upgrading software in libraries, the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use should be main considerations. Finally, the study identified erratic power supply, lack of enough user education on the use of ILS services, internet network issues, lack of technical know-how, lack of technical facilities, and lack of training and re-training of staff as the major challenges faced by students and staff when using the ILS. It was recommended that the management of Adeleke university library should improve on creating awareness among the library users for them to understand the importance of using the deployed ILS services. It was recommended that system deployment experts should be always consulted in order to configure deployed ILS modules to be user friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information is very essential in any organization especially in a government based environment where information are needed for policy making. However, some of the instruments used for getting information are not well managed by the civil servants who are the custodian of this research information. This study investigated the attitude of policymakers in terms of the types, availability and accessibility of research information in making policy. Focusing particularly on the types of research information needed by senior civil servants in making policies, frequency of use of research information source, accessibility of information for decision making and the challenges encountered in the course of using them. The descriptive research method was adopted, using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire to gather information from 166 senior civil servants randomly selected from selected ministries in Lagos state, as data collection instrument. Results indicated that information provided by ones ministry, information on project implemented by ones ministry, information on infrastructural development and information on human resources and skills available at ones ministry are the most used information by policymakers in making policy. The study also showed that internal files, colleagues or superior, newspaper, government publication and internet are the most frequently used and accessible information sources for policymaking. Impracticability of research recommendation politically and financially, too much information to absorb and contradictions in information from different researchers are the major constraints to research output. The study recommended among other suggestions that policymakers must consider wider ranges of research information sources for effective policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose-To evaluate the status of automated information services in selected Nigerian universities with a view to identifying progress and prospects of, and constraints to, the technological transformation of Nigerian universities as the basis of strategic recommendations to the different stakeholders in Nigerian university education.Design/methodology/approach-The study assessed the status of automated information systems and services in Nigerian universities in mid-2002 through site visits, and questionnaire and interview surveys of the views of administrators, teaching/non-teaching staff, students and researchers in the universities.Findings-It was found that automated services were far from adequate and that, out of the 29 different automated services that one would expect in a modern university, only about 40 per cent were available and utilized. Federal universities that had enjoyed higher levels of funding for automated systems had higher output of automated services than the non-federal universities. Major obstacles militating against the automated services in the universities include inadequate funds, electricity supply and telecommunications connectivity, as well as inadequate human resources for the automated systems. Respondents were marginally satisfied with the services of the computerized accounting system and the MIS-related databases, but were very dissatisfied with the level of automated library services.Originality/value-Clearly presents the challenges facing the Nigerian university system and individual Nigerian universities in the process of automating their operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]