Abstract
The catastrophic consequences on the civilization of covid-19 pandemic are obvious on all human endeavours, including information services of academic libraries. Several measures were put in place and funded by the government at all levels to manage the pandemic in Nigeria among which is the closure of all educational institutions in the country. Information professionals in tertiary institutions have become worried about their users' safety and well-being; hence the need to provide awareness and educate them on covid-19 as means to manage the pandemic. The quantitative design using the survey method was employed to determine the perceptions of information professionals, librarians and library officers in academic libraries in Ogun State, South west Nigeria on awareness and education services to manage covid-19. The study revealed that information professionals were reasonably aware of the covid-19 pandemic; had an appreciable level of awareness of signs with system of spreading covid-19 and; they had a good understanding of measures on how to manage covid-19. The Health Belief Theory was used to ascertain that if the respondents are aware of the danger of any disease they will prevent or take precautionary measures. The respondents believed that awareness of and education on covid-19 would educate users and the public on the signs and ways of spreading the virus. Besides, mobile phone services for sending bulk messages were identified as major means of informing and educating users on covid-19. The study concluded that awareness and education services for user-populace of academic libraries can be used for effective information management concerning covid-19 virus in Nigeria.
Highlights
As governmental leaders worldwide continue the battle to curtain or eradicate the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, various professionals have been seeking scientific knowledge on how the consequences of the surge on their professional practices, since early December 2019 when the first case was reported in Wuhan, China
The precise objectives of this research work are to; i. examine level of awareness of Covid-19 among information professionals in Ogun state Nigeria; ii. investigate knowledge of and symptoms of Covid-19 among information professionals in Ogun State; iii. investigate how knowledgeable information professionals in Ogun State are on Covid-19 preventive measures; iv. understand the perceptions of information professionals on awareness and education on Covid-19 pandemic management among their user-populace; v. ascertain the means through which information professionals can create awareness on Covid-19 for their user-populace; vi. understand the challenges the information professionals face in educating their user- populace about Covid-19
This study investigated the perceptions of information professionals in academic libraries in Ogun State on the need for the creation of awareness and education as a means to manage Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. 125 librarians and library officers in government-owned tertiary institutions in Ogun State were used
Summary
As governmental leaders worldwide continue the battle to curtain or eradicate the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, various professionals have been seeking scientific knowledge on how the consequences of the surge on their professional practices, since early December 2019 when the first case was reported in Wuhan, China. The disease has been causing death, and shock around the world. It has rapidly infected millions of people and has disrupted all developments globally, changing manufacturing, trade, touristy, production and the economy, sowing fear on the population worldwide, among other important aspects of the country's growth. The virus has spread rapidly across different regions because of the unconsciousness of the growth and process of contamination creating irresistible rise in number of cases. This investigation examined how library professionals in Southwest Nigeria perceived the pandemic and their capacity to promote hands- on support in fighting the surge
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