ABSTRACT
This
project work investigates the availability and use of electronic library
resource by polytechnic students in Edo State (a case study of Auchi
Polytechnic Auchi and Edo state Polytechnic Usen). The study employed a
descriptive research design, and structured questionnaire was used to obtain data
from a sample size of four hundred and seventy (470) respondents. Accidental
sampling technique was used to select a sample size of four hundred and twenty
(420) respondents. It was revealed from the study that electronic library
resources are available in the two Polytechnics in Edo State that were surveyed
and the students’ level of awareness of the availability electronic library
resources in their libraries is high. The study further show that Lack of adequate ICT facilities / resources, Lack of or poor internet
connectivity and Unfriendly staff attitude are
factor that inhibit accessibility. The study recommends that Libraries in Nigerian Higher institutions should
regularly evaluates the quality, adequacy, and use of their electronic library
resources in other to meet up with the quality of library services stipulated
by IFLA, it also recommend that administrators and decision-makers in
Polytechnics in Edo state and Nigeria in general should use the results of the
study to improve the accessibility, use and effectiveness of electronic library
resources in their Polytechnic libraries.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the Study
The
library and information services of the 21st century are fast changing. With
the rapid
development of electronic publishing, libraries are
not only acquiring reading materials such as
printed books and journals but also arranging for and providing access to
various learning
resources in electronic form.
Electronic
Resources are occupying a significant portion of the global literature. They
refer to information sources in electronic form. The different types of
e-resources are, E-books, E-journals, Databases, CDs/DVDs, E-conference
proceedings, E-Reports, E-Maps, E-Pictures/Photographs, E-Manuscripts,
E-Theses, E-Newspaper, Internet/Websites - Listservs, Newsgroups, Subject
Gateways, etc. These may be delivered on CD-ROM / DVD, over the Internet and so
on. Providing access to e-resources is a service to help library users to find
e-Databases, e-Journals, e-Magazines, e- Books, e-Audio/ e-Images, Digital
Library Projects, Electronic Exhibitions, e-Subject Guide, e-newsletters,
E-conferences proceedings and Web search tools on a range of topic. The
electronic books are helpful because of their easy portability and its feature
of incorporating more than one book in a single hand held device. The published
materials are also available on open access platform. This helps the poorer
also to get the information required free and bridge the digital divide. They
need not worry about licensing and usage of the information (Omosekejim,
Eghwero and Ogo ,2015).
On the importance of library, Oni,
Ekuoye and Oshionebo (2016), noted that
Education and library are two inseparable and indivisible concepts, working for
the promotion and evolution of teaching, learning and research in academic
environment. The primary purpose of polytechnic libraries is to support
teaching, learning, and research in ways consistent with, and supportive of,
the institution's mission and goals. As a result, library resources and
services should be sufficient in quality, depth, diversity, and currency to
support the institution's curriculum.
Joseph, Fasa, Samuel
and Samuel (2015) retrospectively observed that the idea of establishing
tertiary institutions in Nigeria besides the university education in 1970s, to
engage in research suitable for the development of resources required in
industrial and economic development came into limelight. This propelled the
Nigerian Government, according to Eziubochi (2011) to enact Decree No. 33 of
1979 as amended by Decree No. 5 of 1993 to established polytechnic education.
Its broad objective was to turnout the middle-level manpower needed for
industrial and technological advancement of the country. To accomplish this
task, in producing sound, discipline and well grounded graduates, polytechnic
libraries become very essential.
Polytechnic
libraries just like university libraries or other academic libraries are
established with the primary goal of providing information resources to
students, members of staff of the polytechnic community and other intending
users (Onuoha and Subair, 2013). Monotechnic, college of education, university, and
polytechnic libraries make up what is collectively called academic library.
Academic library therefore is a library that is attached to an academic
institution above the secondary level, serving the teaching and research needs
of students and staff.
Obinyan,
Obinyan and Aidenojie (2011), noting the significance of libraries submitted
that Libraries are still responsible for acquiring and providing access to
books, periodicals, and other media that meet the educational, recreational and
informational needs of their users. Oni,
Ekuoye and Oshionebo (2006) citing Okorie and Agboola (2012) noted that
the educational society can only exist when information is stored, shared, and
used properly. Therefore, Education depends on information resources and these
resources are the driving forces for making an educated society. Interestingly,
one of the factors of measuring academic success is research productivity which
requires information resources deposited in libraries that assist users in
their research quest (Okiki, 2013). Topping and Bremmer (1998) noted that it
remains a known fact that the academic success of undergraduates is attributable
to several variables, some of which are availability and use of library
resources viz print and electronic resources.
Attama,
R.O. (2005), citing Meadow and Yuan as cited in Popoola (2008) noted that
library resources are the message that changes the recipient’s knowledge base.
Through the utilization of these resources, users acquire new knowledge as well
as expand the existing ones. And this can be effectively achieved with the
provision of electronic resources to complement print based resources in
academic libraries.
Sharma,
(2009) noted that print medium is increasingly giving way to the electronic
form of materials. Ani (2008) quoting Tsakonas and Papatheodorou (2006) states
that “the transition from print to electronic medium apart from resulting in a
growth of electronic information, has provided users with new tools and
applications for information seeking and retrieval. Electronic resources are
invaluable research tools that complement the print-based resources in a
traditional library setting. Commenting on the advantages of electronic
resources, Dadzie (2007) writes that electronic resources are invaluable
research tools that complement the print – based resources in a traditional
library setting. Their advantages, according to her include: access to
information that might be restricted to the user due to geographical location
or finances, access to more current information, provision of extensive links
to additional resources related contents, rapid
publishing, efficient dissemination, and innovative presentation of research
results, public peer review, and low publishing cost.
As part of efforts by polytechnic libraries to
meet to their statutory obligations, there is need for the libraries to embrace
and make electronic information resources available for their users in view of
their numerous advantages over print-base information resources. In view of
this, this research work seeks to find out the availability and use of
electronic information resources in polytechnic libraries in Edo state.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It
is a known fact that the advent of information and communication technology and
its applications in libraries the world over, is moving the library away from
print-based resources to electronic or digital base information resources.
Students and other information users now prefer e-library resources to the
printed information materials because of their ease of use, currency of
information and quick access to the information resources wherever it may be
located. Despite these advantages, it is observed that many of our higher
institutions of learning especially the polytechnics do not have e-library
resources. Available literature show that many libraries in Nigerian
polytechnics still operate on print-based information resource only. This study
therefore, investigates the availability and use of electronic library
resources by students of polytechnics in Nigeria with specific interest in
Auchi Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State and Edo State Polytechnic Usen, Benin City.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The study generally is an
Assessment of the Availability and Use of Electronic Library Resources by
Students of Auchi Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State and Edo State Polytechnic Usen,
Benin City. The study will
1. Investigate
the available e-library resources.
2. Investigate
the extent of students’ awareness of the available electronic library resources
in the Polytechnic libraries in Edo State.
3. Investigate
the level of Polytechnic students’ use of the electronic resources in their
libraries.
- Examined
the problems in the use of electronic library resources by the Polytechnic
students in Edo state.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What
electronic library resources are available at polytechnic libraries in Edo
State?
2. To
what extent are the polytechnic students aware of the available electronic
resources?
3. What
is the level of utilization of the electronic resources in the library by the
polytechnic students in Edo State?
4. What
are the factors inhibiting the availability and use of electronic resources in
the polytechnic libraries in Edo State?
1.5 Scope of the Study
The
study focused on the availability and use of electronic library resources by
students in Auchi Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State and Edo State Polytechnic Usen,
Benin City.
The
study did not cover or take in to account the brands of information and
commutation technology hardwares and gadgets that are used to provide
electronic library resources. Electronic maps, and audio/video electronic
resources were also not considered due to the specialised technologies required
to deliver them. The level of ICTs application in general library processes was
also not considered.
1.6 Significance of the Study
A
study of the availability and use electronic library resources by Polytechnic
students in Edo State will be of significance to the library managements,
academic libraries, Polytechnic managements and researchers both in Edo State
and beyond in view of the enormous impact electronic library resources can make
on the academic pursuit of students in particular and researchers in general.
The study will help to reveal the availability or non availability of
e-resources in the polytechnics in Edo State, if available, the level of
student awareness, the level of utilization of these important library
resources, level of access by students and factors limiting their access and
effective use. All these put together
will help library managements, academic libraries and polytechnic authorities
to strategise and plan for availability and effective use of electronic library
resources.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Lack
of time, distance travelled to get data as well as limited finances were some
of the major limitations to this study.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Electronic
Resources: Any information source that the
library provides access to in an electronic format.
Digital library:
A focused collection of digital objects that can include text, visual material,
audio material, video material, stored as electronic media formats, along with
means for organizing, storing, and retrieving the files and media contained in
the library collection.
Database: It
is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be
accessed, managed and updated.
www: It
is an acronym meaning world wide web, an information system of interlinked
hypertext documents that are accessed via the internet.
CD-ROM:
A compact disc used as a read-only optical memory device for a computer system.
OPAC: An online database of materials held by a
library or group of libraries.
Interment: A
Global computer network providing a variety of information and communication
networks using standardized communication protocols
E-library: An
electronic or online library were one can have access to books, journal,
novels, articles or any other information over the net
E-book: A
book publication made available in digital form consisting of text or image or
both
E-journal:
A periodical publication which is published in electronic format, usually on
the internet.
Network: A
group of two or more computers systems linked together.
Gateway: A
network node that provides access to another network that uses a protocol.
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