=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-1830/Paper47
|storemode=property
|title=Imperatives of Modern Technology on Service Delivery in University Libraries in Nigeria
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1830/Paper47.pdf
|volume=Vol-1830
|authors=Philip U. Akor,Ogunsakin Adesugba Joshua,Essie Wilson Idika-Mba
}}
==Imperatives of Modern Technology on Service Delivery in University Libraries in Nigeria==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1830/Paper47.pdf
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications
(ICTA 2016)
Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
November 28 – 30, 2016
Imperatives of Modern Technology on Service Delivery in University Libraries in
Nigeria
Philip U. Akor1, Ogunsakin Adesugba Joshua2, and Essie Wilson Idika-Mba3
1
Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
2, 3
College Library, Nigerian Law School, Enugu, Nigeria
1
puakor@gmail.com, {2adesugbagunsakin, 3essienanamba}@yahoo.com
Abstract—This paper discussed the roles of modern technology Effective information service delivery service by
on service delivery in Nigerian university libraries. The study university libraries mostly depends upon the computer
discovered the utilization of microforms, computer, online facilities it has, if a university library lacks computer
public access catalogue (OPAC), telecommunication and infrastructure in this technology era then it will fail to meet
internet for delivering services in university libraries such as up with the needs of its users. A lot of information has been
bibliographic, user education, selective dissemination of made available in different formats such as CD-ROM, online
information (SDI), acquisition, circulation duties, user databases and e-journals in view of this it has become
education and current awareness services. The study further important for university libraries to be equipped with
revealed some factors militating against the utilization of
adequate computer facilities to enable them serve their
modern technology in delivering services in university libraries
which include poor information communication technology
clientele more efficiently.
infrastructure, irregular subscription to electronic data bases In related study [5], the mandate of libraries irrespective
and lack of information technology skills among the library of its type to make available information needs of their users
staff. It was recommended that university management should in the area of education, political, social and economic
provide enough money for purchase of ICT infrastructure and endeavor. A study conducted by [6] university libraries
that more library staff should be trained in the area of ICT- perform important function of supporting the universities to
skills. achieve their objective. The ongoing electronic revolution in
all fields of information and knowledge management makes
Keywords-modern technology; ICT; University libraries; it imperative for university libraries to find better ways to
library services; Nigerian introduction support learning and research activities within the academia.
The core services in the library now cover new dimensions
in librarianship which focus more on access to materials in
an online environment. The modern technologies adopted in
I. INTRODUCTION the university libraries such as computers and
telecommunication system performs the duties of
Modern technology is a term that is made up of all
cataloguing, classification, indexing and abstracting services.
technologies that is used for dissemination of information..
The emergency of computers and telecommunication
technology has popularized electronic access to information. II. ICT FACILITIES REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE IN
This is because of the competitive merit of modern UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
technology against the traditional method of rendering For effective utilization of ICT facilities, there is need for
services to users with the coming of electronic publishing adequate and reliable electricity supply, good
many library and information material resources are now in communication system, computers and computer
electronic format. Textbooks, text of monographs, reference environment, literate computer population and technical
books, newsletters, journals, databases, projects, theses and expertise to maintain and repair equipment. To deliver
dissertations are now re-produced and made readily available effective services in University libraries, there is need for the
electronically. In a related study [1] ICT is made up of a following tools:
link for storing information such as tape, flash, desktop
computers, and laptops. A. Internet
In related study [2] stated that information and The internet is made up of millions of computers linked
communication technology is the technology that has highly together around the world in such a way that information can
influenced information in the area of generation, storage, be sent from any computer to any other, 24 hours a day. A
retrieval and transmission. [3] It opined that information and network is a group of two or more computer systems
communication technology is a process that people utilize for connected together. Aina, Mutula, and Tiamiyu [3] opined
information assimilation and dissemination [4]. that internet is a network that all the smaller networks of
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International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
institutions are joined together into one big network known D. Library Network and Resource Sharing
as the s internet. With global resource sharing, the principle of one
In technical terms, the internet is the worldwide, publicly product for one user at a time has been replaced by
acceptable network of interconnected computer networks networked products that support multiple users
that transmit data by packet switching, using the standard simultaneously and allowing multiple access to multiple
internet protocol (IP). The internet provides a variety of resources from any workstation. The traditional ways of
services such as e-mail, discussion groups, remote control sharing information resources through microfilming,
and file transfer. It plays a significant role in education, photocopying and telefacsimile technologies of the 1970s are
health, political processes, economy, businesses and out-of-date.
newsgroups.
E. CD-ROM
B. Telecommuniction Compact Disk Read only Memory technology has been
Telecommunications are devices and techniques used for available for the transmission of information via wire optical
profit profile, function, products, facilities and feedback. Due wireless or radio wave. These systems transfer variety of
to easy accessibility by truly global audience, without any information including audio, video and telegraphic data.
language or cultural barriers, websites after business Telecommunications systems facilitate the transmission of a
opportunities and bring about job creation, thereby book that has been typeset through satellite to another
improving the productivity and per capita income of the location for printing. They can also provide aircraft and
nation. According to [7] three phases of telecommunications trains with information about loads and fuel.
development influence transition to library information
system. These include the host centric, the network centric F. Electronic Databases
and the end user centric. In the host centric phase, a single Databases are electronic collection of information in a
processing unit was the basis of all computing, and users structural format (file) created for searching of specific
were connected to this through dumb terminals. Dumb topics. This makes the management of information generated
terminals are keyboards connected to cathode ray displaying by institutions worldwide easy. These electronic data bases
tubes, but without memory or disk storage capacity. hold the key to improved information databases, there are
The network centric phase emphasizes shift to now over 6000 electronic databases available through online
connectivity. The distributing of computing devices about services, CD-ROM, diskettes etc. Each library catalogue is
the network, along with various terminals and other devices convertible to electronic database.
that could be introduced into the network environment
resulted into more open design of architecture and G. Online Searching
computing platforms. This phase witnessed the size of This is an access technology for centrally stored
smaller, cheaper, yet powerful computing devices, known as information. Online operates on pay - by - use bases and it
mini computers. This phase was a key to the hovering of the has additional merits of powerful retrieval capabilities such
cost of computing down to levels that could be afforded by as scanning many files simultaneously and multiple file
smaller library system. searching and short response time.
The end user centric phase was a result the development
of the personal microcomputers in the late 1970s and the H. E-mail
wide spread use of personal computing in the 1980s and
Although this is one of the components of internet
1990s. In this phase, which is the current phase, users are
connectivity which has already been mentioned, nevertheless
distributed across vast geographic distances, connected to
it is so important for information delivery that it deserves to
resources stored on a number of computing devices called
be re-emphasized. It is basically used for instant
servers, e.g. the internet. The globe is now witnessing the
communication. Its special features are internationally
weaving of services with modern library services with the
connectivity, relatively low price, desk facility, high
modern library services- access to licensed databases, digital
sensitivity to customers and speedy delivery of mails.
libraries, e-books, e-journals and web- based library portals.
Additional human intervention characteristic of traditional
In a related study [8] infrastructural and tools for
mail delivery and distortions of message are completely
information delivery include: World Wide Web (WWW),
absent.
library network and resource sharing, CD-ROM, electronic
databases, online searching and e-mail.
III. IMPACT OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY ON SERVICE
C. World Wide Web DELIVERY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
The web refers to a body of information - an abstract Modern technology has multifarious impact on university
space by knowledge available via the internet. According to library services. The coming of modern technology has
[7], it uses the internet to transmit hypermedia document brought many changes in the methods used by library staff in
between computer users globally. People are responsible for performing their duties. Library acquisitions, cataloguing and
the document they author and make available publicly. Many circulation were done manually through paper, pens and card
organizations now own their Websites or homepage. pockets. Spread-sheets, internal databases and other
Currently, CD-ROM Info bank is playing the unique role of productivity software was never used to manage library data.
making information available on CD-ROM-catalogues, Recently, the use of information and communication
references, encyclopedia, indexing and abstracting journals, technology in delivering library services has achieved a
etc. breakthrough in many dimensions.
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International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
A study conducted by [3] stated that major technological A. Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
breakthrough in university libraries are: Catalogue is highly of importance to information seekers.
Through OPAC, library users are assisted in locating a wide
The coming of printing press and adequate range of sources of information that are of interest to them.
production of documents which bring about wide OPAC is a database that describes documents via
spread of information. With the advent of printing bibliographic entries composed from various field of studies.
press libraries are able to store enough material A study related [9] stated that OPAC has replaced the use
resources for the users' utilization. traditional card format for the following reasons:
Microforms aid to conserve less utilized information The user can chose any method to access OPAC
in compressed space for clear delivery of large such as the use of keywords, author or title.
volumes of material resources. Through OPAC one can search for any word.
Instant access to information. Users normally enter An author can start his name with either surname or
the library e-resources unit and obtain their other names and these names can be accessed
information needs within the shortest possible time. through OPAC.
Technological changes brought new dimensions in The discard of paper cards has made it easy for the
the performing of library duties Technology has disable library users to make effective use of the
brought about the use of computer, internet and CD library resources.
Rom in delivering library services.
Modern technology is highly of imperative in readers' IV. FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST USE OF MODERN
service division of the library. Uhegbu and Igwe [2] It TECHNOLOGY IN DELIVERING SERVICES IN UNIVERSITY
opined that there is no human endeavour in the contemporary LIBRARIES
world to which computer cannot be applied. In science and The following factors militate against the use of modern
technology, engineering, arts or in librarianship, computer technology in delivering services in university libraries:
application is relevant. The application of computer into Information and communication technology
library operations such as acquisitions, ordering, receiving, infrastructure and tools are very poor in most of the
claims and reporting, settlement of invoices, resources university libraries in Nigeria.
movement among users, records of inventory and so on has
made library functions a lot easier. Users can access records A. Funding
of library holding with ease using e-library services from
There is need for software upgrades, regular subscription
millions of miles away.
to electronic databases etc. for new and improved services
Publishers, today package their published records in CD -
but unfortunately many university libraries lack money for
Rom or even in diskette and send to libraries to look at and
regular upgrade and constant subscription to databases.
make their selections. Cost of information materials, new
editions, quantity, publishers' addresses, contents of B. Inadequate information technology skills:
documents etc. can be accessed online. Bibliographic details
and the contents of library sources like bibliographies, year Many of the librarians lack information technology skills
books, annuals, guide books, dictionaries, etc. have had their and are unwilling to make some investment in learning to
contents computerized in most automated systems. Even use them effectively.
contents of published journals can be found in the computer.
C. Technical expertise:
All one has to do is to access it online.
Readers' services are benefitting from the immense Inadequate technical expertise is very common in
advantage of computerization. Library catalogues fed into Nigerian university libraries. There are shortages of trained
the computer will be able to understand and use library personnel. Very few librarians with computer qualification
resources prepared and fed into the computer instead of work in university libraries. These shortages of computer
preparing manuscripts that may be affected by weather and experts in the libraries hamper usage of modern technology
climatic change as well as loss either due to human in delivery of services.
carelessness or misplacement. When any strategy such as
user awareness, bibliographic instruction, library D. Power Supply
arrangement, shelf organization etc. are demonstrated, the In many Nigerian universities, there is constant power
reader's services librarian will only have to instruct the outages which constitute a serious bottleneck to efficient use
computer and the whole information required are released of modern technology for delivering services where there is
within seconds. Better impressions are created in the minds generating plants the cost of maintaining them is highly
of the users when issues are demonstrated by the computer exorbitant.
than via documented instructions. In addition, library
materials are now abstracted and arranged according to E. Reference Service
subjects in the library and then fed into the computer, so that Reference service is a personal service offered to library
by mentioning any subject of interest to a user, the librarian users by the reference librarian. A study conducted by [5]
will decode the subject content and then match it according stated that reference work include a direct personal
to the resources. With a computer, specific search questions assistance rendered to a person in need of information for
and research requests can be searched with ease educational, political, social and for economic reasons.
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International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
F. Digital Reference Service service division. The resources i.e. information, human and
Digital reference service is done online through the physical resources in the division are highlighted and
internet. According to [10] defined digital reference service explained. By so doing, information seekers become
as an internet based questions and answered service that conversant with them thus library patronage is encouraged.
connects the users with expert in a variety of subject areas.
K. Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) Services
A study conducted by [7] considered digital reference
service as the provision of personal assistance to users SDI services as a peculiar type of current awareness
through the internet. The virtual reference service can be service, is a sine quo-non especially in this era of
conducted in various forms such as web forms and instant information explosion or influx of information in circulation.
messaging. According to [11] discussed the use of modern It is a mediated information service useful to a wide range of
technology in delivering library services through: library clientele. As the name implies, an information
bibliographic indexing, current awareness, and user seekers' needs are selected from a wide range of up-to-date
education. documents by the librarian. The selected information is
disseminated to him. The librarian can keep the user's profile
G. Bibliographic Services i.e. name and information needs of the user in a computer as
Bibliography is defined as a list of published information a database file. Also is the document profile which is made
resources. The modern the technology can assist library in up of what the selected/required document contains. There is
rendering bibliographic services such as compilation of the need to further match the user and document profile, and
bibliographies and reading list of various types. The service the catching is as done by the computer. Also, the outcome
is better when rendered in a timely way. Hence, when or result of the matching is communicated to the library
bibliographic services are rendered manually, it brings about clientele with outcome or result of the matching is
delays, difficulty, errors as well as library staff and patron's communicated to the library clientele with the aid of ICT. It
dissatisfaction. To avert these setbacks, many have resorted could take the form of sending an email to the user finally;
to the use of ICTs in rendering bibliographic services. the user gives a feedback to the librarian through an e-mail.
The feedback is aimed at knowing if the disseminated
information is useful or not, to the information seeker as well
H. Indexing Services as the reason for the user's decision. It is very obvious from
An index may be defined simply as a pointer to the the foregoing that ICT makes SDI services to be rendered in
content of an original document which may be a book; an easy, timely and reliable way when compared to the
journal, reference material etc. the indexing could be by manual method of information dissemination.
author or subject. With the aid of ICT, database of print and
audio-visual materials can be created for modern library L. Document Delivery Service
users. Hence, the use of ICT has become sine-qua-non. By so Documents contain different kinds of information. If the
doing, libraries can cope with the problems of increasing cost documents needed by information seekers are not seen by
of information materials, space requirements for easy access them, the information in the documents may not be known to
to them. Many of the electronic resources can be accessed by them. The library offer documents dissemination services to
library staff and users. their clientele. The usage of the manual method in document
dissemination has not yielded positive results. As such ICT
I. Current Awareness Services method documents delivery services have become easy,
timely and very reliable. Current collections owned by
Current awareness services (CAS) has to do with keeping automated libraries can be searched on the internet by their
information seekers up-to-date in their various areas of counterparts. The document can be received by the
information needs. The library ensures that the users' needs subscribing library in soft copying or electronic form. It is
are satisfied through enlightenment or awareness obvious from the foregoing discussion the ICTS have
programmes or channels such as routing of periodicals, impacted positively on library services to a wide range of
current contents of information resources, list of on-going information seekers into the society.
and anticipated seminars conferences, and workshops. The
library could also access a wide range of web-based current
V. CONCLUSION
awareness service and download them into database. The
library users could access them for current information; some The paper discussed how information and
examples of Web-based Current Awareness Services are communication has played a great role in service delivery in
Entry Point, My ZD-Net IDEAL Alert, Wiley Book in Nigeria in the areas of cataloguing, acquisition, and
Notification service, Listserv, Wibzines. reference service and circulation duties. Challenges
encountered by librarians regarding the use of modern
technology in delivering reference services were discussed
J. User Education Services
It is one thing for a library to be established, it is another VI. RECOMMENDATIONS
thing for its resources to be put to optimal use by information
seekers, hence, the need for user education service. The need Nigerian universities management should give
for user education to be done through e. mail, and bulletin. automation of university libraries great priority.
The information content of these channels may include use Network and resource sharing should be undertaken
of the different sections, technical service unit and readers' by Nigerian university libraries.
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International Conference on Information and Communication Technology and Its Applications (ICTA 2016)
Nigerian government should ensure that there is [5] J. N. Udensi, and P. U. Akor, Fundamentals of library and
information science, Zaria, Almahdu Bello University press, 2014,
constant power supply. pp. 51-60.
University library staff should be given opportunities [6] S. H. Egberongbe, The impact of Electronic resources at the
for training in information and communication University of Lagos Library Philosophy and Practice (e- journal)
technology. paper 872, 2011. Retrieved from
Nigerian universities management should provide http://digitalcommons.unl.edu./libphilprac/472 on 8th September,
enough funds for regular subscription to electronic 2013.
databases. [7] T. R. Katchtanek, and J.R. Matthews, Library information systems:
from library Automation to Distributed information Access solutions
Westport Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited, 2002, pp. 21-26.
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