ABSTRACT
This study surveyed use of ICTs in Technical Services
Division of selected university libraries in Edo State. The population of the
study was all the 108 professional and para-professional librarians of John
Harris Library, University of Benin, Benin City and Ambrose Alli University
Library, Ekpoma. The research adopted the descriptive survey design and
questionnaire was used for data collection. Total enumeration sampling
techniques was adopted due to the manageable size of the population. Out of the
108 copies of the questionnaire administered, 106 were retrieved and analysed
using simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed that
majority of the respondents indicated computers, scanners, networking
equipment, printers, internet facilities, photocopiers, multi-media equipment
and barcode reader are the available ICTs for carrying out routines in
technical services division in university libraries. Findings also showed that
the ICTs used to a high extent are computers, scanners, internet facilities,
photocopier and barcode reader. It was discovered that the factors behind the
use of ICTs include ease and increased accessibility to library materials,
reduction of duplication of effort, accuracy and the promotion of high quality
service delivery. Also, the present study found that the effects of using ICTs
include speedy processing of library materials and ease in sorting and determining
already processed library materials. Finally, findings showed that the
challenges and constraints facing the use of ICTs in technical services
division of university libraries include lack of technical know-how and
incessant electric power outage. Recommendations based on the findings include
that the parent institutions of university libraries should provide supporting
infrastructure for the use of ICT such as stand-by power generators and power
inverters to check incessant power outages and that librarians should be given
proper training in the use of ICT in carrying out library routines.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The library is an institution that has
the responsibility to collect information-bearing materials, process and
organize them in such a way as to grant fast and easy access, store the
processed materials for future dissemination and reference purposes. The
library as an institution is the back-bone of any university system in
particular and tertiary institutions in general, as it aids in the core areas
of teaching and research, as well as in curriculum development (Emojorho and
Nwalo, 2009). Among the divisions of an academic library are the collection
development, technical services, readers’ services, research collection and
systems development divisions as well as the electronic library. The fact is,
the routines in technical service affect all other services in the library and
this can be felt especially where the technical services routines are not
executed efficiently leading to a serious problem of not being able to easily
locate and retrieve library materials. The services of the library will be
inefficient to the extent that location and retrieval is difficult due to the
collection in the library not been properly processed.
Technical services in libraries involve
services, operations and techniques for recording, processing and preserving
materials. Technical service is the activities and processes concerned with
organizing and processing library materials for use. Furthermore, Vijayakumar and Vijayan (2011) notes
that reprography, preservation services, technical processing including,
cataloguing, processing of library materials and automation services, such as cataloguing
and classification, online public access catalogue (OPAC), web-based
cataloguing and library web management as being aspects of technical services.
In a nutshell, technical services consist of activities that involve
organizing, housing, maintaining and conserving collection and automating those
activities. In some libraries though, acquisition services are also considered
to be a technical service. Technical services operations revolve around two
basic functions; organizing and maintenance of resources. These routines may have
pervasive and wider implications in library operations, including library
management and organization of library holdings in Nigerian university libraries.
Technical service is an important
function which must be undertaken if the library is to perform its role in
facilitating access to information in the library. The routine in technical
services vary from library to library, usually based on the size and nature of
the library. Generally, routine services like preservation of documents, file
maintenance, cataloguing and classification, acquisition, collection management
are the core processes in libraries which must be performed if the library is
to provide any real services. However, in executing these routine functions
various approaches are used; in the past, traditional methods were relied upon
solely but today, the situation has changed as ICTs are now being adopted in
technical services to enhance processing speed, access to resources of the
library and improve the overall performance of the library.
While the use of traditional methods in
carrying out routines in technical services division involves cataloguing books
and other library materials as well as using the Library of Congress
Classification Scheme and Subject Headings along with schedule to determine
which subject area a book falls into and listing out the bibliographic details
of the materials in catalogue cards, it further entails arranging these cards
in a catalogue cabinet under author, title and subject to aid the library user
to quickly locate and access information-bearing resources in the library’s
collection. Furthermore, processing of library resources include listing the
books that have been processed and keep such list for future references. Also,
weeding which is one of the routines carried out in the Technical Services
Division is done by searching through the shelves to locate books that have
been damaged beyond repair or that are no longer of any relevance to the
library users and listing them out for removal.
The demands of the present society
require using ICTs to process and handle library resources (Emuakpor, 2002).
Generally, the use of ICTs by university libraries will definitely improve
services of the library and provide variety of information in all formats and
impart in the students’ lifelong skills in using ICT devices, which can support
Nigerian universities in achieving their goals. Today, the proliferation of
information sources and services is affecting all disciplines and all walks of
life including access to information in university libraries. Hence, there is
the need to adopt ICT in information services in the university libraries. This
is because ICT can enable access to information at the fingertips of students,
with much ease and flexibility. Moreover, for some decades now, developments in
information technology have brought many changes to library services in
educational institutions and it has also improved access to information in the
society. However, the proliferation of technology being witnessed today, and
increase in the number of information resources in formats supported by ICT are
calling for adoption of ICT in order to be able to provide faster access to
such resources.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The overriding motivation for
involvement of Nigerian university libraries in the use of Information and Communication Technology devices (ICT) such as
computers, internet, cameras, scanners,
telephones and networks in technical services is to serve as aids in providing
more efficient services to library users as against the use of traditional
methods and clearly understanding the fact that traditional methods cannot be
done away with completely becomes necessary as they serve as backup support for
the use of ICTs has become very necessary. However, studies have shown that the
phase of adoption of ICT among the Nigerian
university libraries is unsatisfactory and this is due to fact that there
are many areas in technical services that
are still being operated using traditional techniques. Whereas, if ICTs are
adopted in these areas, will change the way in which work is performed, as well
as provide fast and easy means of accessing
information in the university libraries, library users will also be able to
retrieve up to date information with
greater efficiency and the library staff will also be able to execute their
tasks effectively without much
problems. It is also true that ICT application comes with its own constraints
in certain aspects even in the ones which traditional methods are used to
accomplish successfully. In view of the observed benefits and constraints
facing use of ICTs, it has become necessary to carry out a study, to identify
the areas of technical services which
are utilizing ICT. It became equally necessary to determine the types of ICTs being adopted by university libraries
for use in technical services division, with a view of assessing how the ICTs
are applied in various routine jobs previously
done traditionally in the library, a gap in knowledge which was evident in
reviewed literature.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The primary objective of this
research effort is to study the use of ICT in technical services division in
university libraries in Edo State. The specific objectives are to:
i.
find out ICTs available for carrying out
routines in technical services division in university libraries in Edo State.
ii.
find out the extent of use of ICTs in
carrying out routines in technical services division in university libraries in
Edo State.
iii. investigate
the frequency of use of ICTs for carrying out routines in technical services
division in university libraries in Edo State.
iv. determine
the underlying factors behind the use of ICTs for carrying out routines in
technical services division in university libraries in Edo State.
v. identify
the challenges and constraints facing the use of ICTs in technical services
division in university libraries in Edo State.
vi. establish
the effects of using ICTs for carrying out routines in technical services
division in university libraries in Edo State.
1.4
Research
Questions
To accomplish the research objectives of
this study, the following are the research questions to focus on:
i.
What ICTs are available for carrying out
routines in technical services division in university libraries in Edo State?
ii.
What is the extent of use of ICTs in
carrying out routines in technical services division in university libraries in
Edo State?
iii. What
is the frequency of use of ICTs for carrying out routines in technical services
division in university libraries in Edo State?
iv. What
are the underlying factors behind the use of ICTs for carrying out routines in
technical services division in university libraries in Edo State?
v. What
are the challenges and constraints facing the use of ICTs in technical services
division in university libraries in Edo State?
vi. What
are the effects of using ICTs for carrying out routines in technical services
division in university libraries in Edo State?
1.5 Scope of the Study
The present research is aimed at studying
the use of ICTs for carrying out routines in technical services division in
university libraries in Nigeria. Professional and para-professional library
staff of John Harris Library, University of Benin, Benin City, Ambrose Alli
University, Ekpoma, Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa and Benson Idahosa
University, Benin-City, Edo State are the focus of this research.
1.6 Significance of the Study
Against the backdrop of the
limitations facing the use of traditional methods, the application and use of
ICT to carry out routines in technical services division of libraries has
brought about tremendous positive results on library services and satisfaction
of library users’ information needs. The significance of this study is in the
fact that it seeks to highlight, the extent and frequency of use of ICTs,
benefits, challenges and constraints of using ICTs for technical services
routines.
This study will be of immense benefit to
library policy formulators, library management as well as other researchers
carrying out similar or related studies. Policy formulators will find the
recommendations from this study useful and be able to come up with policies
that will favour the use of ICTs in the library. Library management will be
guided as to the benefits of ICT application in the library general and the
routines carried out in the technical services division as well as be able to
take appropriate steps towards maximizing the benefits accruable from the use
of ICT and doing everything possible to tackle the challenges they present. For
researchers, this study will present useful data and figure and serve as a
reference point for similar or related studies.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
In undertaking this research, the
researcher encountered the problem of time constraints as the time used to
undertake the study was limited. As a result of other academic activities,
limited time was made available for the study. One other form of limitation was
in the area of finance as the research required substantial amount of funds to
see it through to the end especially in the aspects of production of
questionnaires to cover a substantial number of prospective respondents and for
mobility during the period and for the purpose of the research.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
Information and
Communications Technology: A combination of communication
device or application, such as radio, television, cellular phones, computer and
network hardware and software, satellite systems, as well as the various
services and applications associated with them in the collection, processing
and dissemination of information.
Library Operations:
Tasks and functions carried out in the library for proper organization and
smooth running which include cataloguing, classification, etc.
Technical Services:
Services rendered by libraries which include book recording, processing and
preservation generally or cataloguing, classification, book finishing, book
listing, binding, weeding, etc specifically.
University library: A building or room containing collections of books,
periodicals, etc., for use or borrowing, established by a university to serve
the information need of its students and faculty.
Use: To
deploy or employ something as a means of accomplishing a purpose or achieving a
result.
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