ADOPTION OF ICT IN THE PROVISION OF LIBRARY SERVICE (A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LOKOJA)

ADOPTION OF ICT IN THE PROVISION OF LIBRARY SERVICE (A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LOKOJA)

Background of the study

Layman tends to equate the application of ICT in any profession to being online, meaning connected to the internet. Although the internet is an integral part of the ICT, it is not all there is to it. This paper seeks to investigate the many opportunities for the application of ICT in Nigerian academic libraries. It is hoped that the use of ICT in academic libraries will assist both the patrons and the library and information professionals in the libraries.
However, what is the ICT? ICT is an acronym for information and communication technology but beyond this acronym, “there is not a universally accepted definition of ICT why? Because the concepts, methods and applications involved in ICT are constantly evolving on an almost daily basis. It’s difficult to keep up with the changes they happen so fast. A good way to think about ICT is to consider all the uses of digital technology that already exist to help individuals, businesses and organizations use information. ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form. For example personal computer, digital television, email, robots (wwwtutor24.net.2006)
Also ICT is an umbrella that includes any communication device or application encompassing radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them such as video conferencing and distance learning.

From these definitions, some of the application of ICT has become clear such as video conferencing and distance learning, both of which can be facilitated by the academic library. Other applications of the ICT specific to libraries could include access to online resources on the internet such as e-journals, e-books and e-magazines, e-publishing, using CD-ROM for literature searches, access to local or network data bases on LAN (local area network) or WAN (wide area network). The opportunities for the application of the ICT in an academic library especially in a developing nation like Nigeria seem endless.

The application or sue of ICT in Nigeria academic library is justified in that it provides access to learning resources, information and knowledge until now inaccessible by reason of distance technology.

However, since according to the European commission the importance of ICT lies in the technology itself in its ability to create greater access to information and communication.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

There are copious studies and opinion on the use of ICT facilities for library functions in general. In Nigerian university libraries, ICT facilities were primarily used for serials functions and are still in use. The use of ICT in achievement of desired goals in workplace is proportional to the ICT literacy possessed. Therefore, this affects the proficiency of ICT use and efficiency of job performance. Many studies have been carried out on information literacy among librarians. The most outstanding ones are that of Adeyoyin (2005) on ICT literacy among librarians in Nigerian universities and the one in India by Babu, Vinayagamorthy and Gopalakrishnan (2007) on ICT literacy among Engineering faculty. All these tried to find out the level of ICT literacy without determining the effect of ICT facilities availability and ICT literacy acquisition on its application for utilization in their professional day-to-day activities.

However not much has be found in literature as regards the areas of functions they are used and the facilities is use. Hence the survey tends to address this gap by identifying the extent of ICT adoption in the provision of library service in federal university lokoja.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

i) find out the level of existence of ICT in federal university lokoja library service.

ii) To ascertain the extent of adoption of ICT in federal university lokoja library service.

iii) To find out the level of utilization of ICT in federal university lokoja library service.

iv) To show the advantages and benefits of the adoption of ICT in federal university lokoja library service 

v) To identify the problems encountered in the adoption of ICT in federal university lokoja library service.

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following null and alternate hypotheses will be used to guide the study.
H0: there are no ICT facilities available in federal university lokoja library service.

H1: there are ICT facilities available in federal university lokoja library service.
H0: the university staffs does not adopt of ICT facilities in federal university lokoja library service.

H2: the university staffs adopt ICT facilities in federal university lokoja library service.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The result of this survey will help academic libraries which do not apply ICT facilities in their library to know their importance in the adoption of ICT in the provision of library service. And the areas of the library in which ICT can be adopted, and the ICT they can adopt, with that they can strategize on their adoption.

For libraries using ICT facilities for various operations, they will be acquainted with other areas ICT can be employed in the Library operation and the institutions applying such. Donor agencies will also be aware of the state of ICT facilities application in Nigerian university library operation and decide on the areas to assist such institutions.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research topic is wide both in scope and study; therefore it cannot be adequately covered. For this reason the researcher will limit herself to the federal university lokoja library and the librarians, staffs, and students within the institution to gather their views on the adoption of ICT in library services in the University.

The scope of study with advantage and befits on the use of ICT in their academic library. The researcher is also going to find out how staff and students make use of the digital facility as well as the challenges facing the use of ICT in the university library. In the cause of the study, the researcher encounters some limitations which limited the scope of the study;

Staff Reluctance: In most cases the staffs of federal University Lokoja and the librarians, staffs, and students often feels reluctance over providing required information required by the researcher. This result in finding information where the structured questionnaires could not point out.

Researcher’s Commitment: The researcher, being of full time student spent most of her time on other academic activities such as test, class work, assignment, examination etc which takes average focus from this study.

Inadequate Materials: Scarcity of material is also another hindrance. The researcher finds it difficult to long hands in several required material which could contribute immensely to the success of this research work.

1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

INFORMATION: The oxford advance learner’s dictionary 7th edition defines information as facts or details about somebody or something.
COMMUNICATION: The oxford advance learner’s dictionary 7th edition defines communication as the activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information.

TECHOLOGY: oxford advance learner’s dictionary 7th edition defines technology as scientific knowledge used in practical ways in industry for example in designing new machines.

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: Academic libraries are libraries attached to tertiary institutions such as universities, polytechnic institutions, colleges of education, colleges of agricultures, colleges of technology and also research institutes (Apkorhonour, 2005).

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (background of the study), statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope of the study etc. Chapter two being the review of the related literature presents the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and other areas concerning the subject matter. Chapter three is a research methodology covers deals on the research design and methods adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

BUY THIS TOPIC ON WHATSAPP

Related Project Materials

ABSTRACT

Many companies are now accepting and engaging in the leasing business as an alternate source of funds. This res...

ABSTRACT

The main focus of this study is to examine teachers perception of challenges of effect...