ABSTRACT
This research work investigated the librarian’s use of
internet in information service rendering and increase in users’ patronage of
libraries. A study of selected polytechnic libraries in Edo State. The specific
objectives included to determine if internet is available in polytechnic
libraries in Edo state, if library services internet is used for the libraries
and to determine the problems that affects internet usage in information
service rendering in polytechnic libraries in Edo State. Survey research design
was adopted for the study, and the population of the study comprise of all
librarians (persons with a minimum of BSC in LIS in all polytechnic library in
Edo state. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the fifteen
respondents for the sample. The data collection instrument adopted was the
questionnaires and data collected was analyzed using percentage and descriptive
statistics, frequencies. The study revealed that after data analysis and
interpretation, there are internet services in all Polytechnic libraries. The
study further revealed that problems like inadequate power supply, poor network/internet
connectivity were common in these polytechnics, inadequate power supply was
ranked first in order of importance, and poor network/internet connectivity was
ranked second. Based on the findings, it was recommend that the polytechnic
librarian should ensure that they have internet services with a fast
performance speed to reduce the time spent in the process of service rendering,
polytechnic management should be able to provide adequate power supply and
better network/internet connectivity.
CHAPTER
ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background to the study.
The
pursuit for excellence in all aspects of a tertiary educational system made it
imperative for institutions around the world to rise up to their
responsibilities. The literature on library and information science/services
indicates that Libraries started off as store houses, where books were more
preserved than utilized and librarians acted like some form of custodians and
their interaction with users were minimal, for example only in locating books
and serving users, then there was a shift as a result of information
communication technology. If a librarian
is to deliver prompt and adequate services to the clients, he/she must adapt to
the changing environment and the use of current innovations such as
technologies to manage library routine activities. Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) brought a lot of challenging issues to all facets of tertiary system
and the library is not an exemption. The library as an institution is
constantly evolving as a subsystem of the bigger institution it serves.
Interestingly,
it is evident that development in the academic environment must be constantly
monitored by library managers who in turn should realign their styles to meet
new developments and challenges (Akintunde, 2004). But libraries and their educational
environment must relate to the immediate transactional environment. The
transactional environment is the one with which libraries must do business.
They include the book trade, the educational system, research and development
institutions, the scientists and scientific organizations, and cultural
agencies. A third critical framework of relationship operates in the contextual
environment. The contextual environment is defined to include the broader
society of the library and the global environment.
Traditionally,
according to Case (2000) a librarian is known as a person located in the
library building carrying out the tasks like acquiring, organizing, preserving
the printed documents besides helping the readers in locating the information
needed by them. In the last decades of the twentieth century this picture has
rapidly changed under the influence of advances in computer and communication
fields. The paper collections have given place to networked, computer resident,
user searchable collections like bibliographic databases, Online Public Access
Catalogues (OPAC) obliterating the need for the user to visit the library
building.
As
Ali (2003) opined, with the digitization of ever increasing number of
collections and advances made in computer/communication hardware and software
seamless access to digitized information located in geographically diverse
locations has become a reality. The walls of library are thus pulled down and a
"Virtual Library" in Cyber Space came into being. The Virtual Library
brought in its wake new flavors in the form of digitizing not only printed
material but also pictures, maps, scenarios, paintings and sounds and
presenting them all in a lively show in a theatre like environment. Where do
librarians stand in this scenario and where their profession is headed is the
nagging question faced by one and all in the profession.
Furthermore,
Nwalo (2002) stated that librarians have been information providers for
centuries. They now have the opportunity to use modern technology to provide faster,
more complete, and more sophisticated service to the users. Databases and
reference sources can be queried via the Internet and World Wide Web; remote
library catalogs are available on desktops; newsgroups and mailing lists
provide a wonderful opportunity to discuss mutual concerns quickly and
electronic mail allows librarians to find out and contact those who might be
able to help in solving the problems. Perhaps no innovation has impacted the
library profession to such a great extent as the Internet, World Wide Web and
networked resources. The interconnection of world through the use of Internet
and Web has changed the fundamental roles, paradigms and culture of libraries, librarians
and users once for all (Odusanya & Amusa, 2003).
Interestingly,
recorded information is growing at an accelerating rate in increasing variety
of formats such as texts, numeric, graphic, video, audio, images, etc. In
addition, increasing arrays of computing and telecommunication technologies are
emerging to create new options and opportunities for the development of
information capture, storage, retrieval and delivery. The seamless access of
information available anywhere on the globe has brought people so close that
the phrase "Global Village" is coined to describe the scenario.
1.2 Statement of problem
In the late 20th and early 21st
centuries, library automation and the internet revolutionized information
access and library operation around the world. The effect on academic
institutions has been profound. It enables users to access library resources
from sites hundreds or thousands of miles away. Library in academic
institutions can now provide information access to off-campus faculty and
students wherever they are located. To meet the ever increasing demands for
information availability, academics libraries must now subscribe to electronic
resources such as e-books, full text journals and on-line bibliographic
database in addition to the print formats. Yet, some users are unable to tap
into this in Nigeria.
Also, a sizeable number of users (almost
60%) are facing numerous problems while using the internet, such as lack of
knowledge about the resources, lack of trained library staff and inadequate
terminals. There are instances where users who have some knowledge about the
use of ICT are faced with the challenges of not having access to internet
service and at times inadequate electricity supply; lack of information
retrieval skills for exploiting electronic resources make the level of usage of
resources by students very low. It is against this background it becomes
necessary to assess the Librarian use of internet information service rendering
in selected polytechnics.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The primary focus of this study is to
look at Librarians’ use of internet in information service rendering in selected Polytechnic libraries in Edo
State. The sub objectives are to:
1.
Find out if internet is available in
Polytechnic libraries in Edo State
2.
Examine if internet is used by librarians for service rendering in Edo
state.
3.
Find out the services internet is used
for in polytechnic libraries in Edo state.
4.
Find out the problems that affects
internet usage in information service rendering in Polytechnic libraries in Edo
State
1.4 Research questions
The
following research questions arising from the objectives of this study shall be
answered. These are:
1.
What is the level of internet service
available in Polytechnic libraries in Edo State
2.
The purpose for which Librarians use the internet.
3.
To determine library services internet
is used for in libraries.
4.
What are the problems that affect
internet usage in information service rendering in Polytechnic libraries in Edo
State
1.5 Scope of the study.
This study will be limited to
investigating Librarian use of internet in information service rendering and
increase in user’s patronage of libraries. All other libraries will be excluded
from the study. Similarly, the study will investigate only librarians and users
in selected polytechnics, all other categories of persons in the polytechnics
will be excluded.
1.6 Significance of the study
This study is coming at a time when
there is an increased consciousness on the part of Librarians and the users. It
is however hoped that, the findings from this study will enable the Librarian
and users to be able to develop ways to improve their knowledge about internet services.
Furthermore, it is hoped that, government and proprietors of libraries would be
able to develop various policies and programmes that will enable both the
librarian and library users to optimize the services provided in the
Polytechnic libraries.
1.7 Limitation of Study
This study should have covered the
entire polytechnics in Nigeria in order to draw a holistic conclusion on the
subject, but it is restricted to few selected polytechnics in Nigeria due to
time and financial constraints.
1.8 Operational definition of terms
Internet: An international computer network
connecting other networks and computer. It is also the large system of connected computers around the
world which allows people to share information and communicate with each other
using email, twitter, www etc.
Internet information
service: This is information that can easily be accessed
through computer aided networks and devices like phones, desktops computers,
laptops etc.
Librarian: For this study, a Librarian is a person
who is in charge or works in a Library and has a minimum of a B.Sc in Library
and Information Science.
Library: A library is a collection of sources of information and similar
resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing.
It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical
building or room, or a virtual space, or both.
Library Services: library services are the varied
activities that is rendered to library users for effective and efficient
patronage and given the required information for research work.
Library Users: These are individuals who make use of
the various services provided in the Library.
Solicited
Library Services: Solicited library services are those
services that are mandatory and compulsory for any library to provide for its
users. Services such as reference services, bibliographic services, current
awareness services, reader services, information services, bindery services,
indexing and abstracting services, document delivery services, inter library
loan services, internet services, lending services, online public access
catalogue (OPAC), photocopying services, research advisory services, referrer
services.etc.
Unsolicited
Library Services: Unsolicited library services are those
services that are not mandatory and compulsory for library to provide for its
user but it add more value to the mandatory library services. These services
are Book talk, Display and Exhibition, TV show and radio services,
Teleconferencing, Extension services such as film show, puppet shows, picture
book time, story-telling etc.
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