Information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills among librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State

Abstract

This study explored information and communication technology (ICT) Literacy Skills among Librarians in Tertiary Institutions in Imo State, Nigeria. The study was guided by three objectives and three research questions. The study adopted survey research design. The population and sample of the study were eighty-one (81) librarians in the six tertiary institutions studied, in Imo State. The instrument that was used for data collection was a four-point rating scale based on the research questions. The rating scale is entitled “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy Skills Rating Scale (ILSRS)”. The instrument was given to three specialists in order to establish its face and content validity. The reliability (internal consistency) coefficient of the instrument was computed cluster by cluster using Cronbach alpha. Cluster A of ILSRS yielded reliability coefficient of 0.688, cluster B yielded 0.808 while cluster C yielded reliability coefficients of 0.719. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation. The major findings of the study include: many of the core ICT literacy skills were not possessed by the librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State. The extent to which ICT skills are possessed by librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State is not significant; the extent to which ICT literacy skills are of benefit to the librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State is significantly beyond expectation; and the extent of application of ICT literacy skills acquired by the librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State to library services is significant. The researcher recommends that: the institutions‟ authorities in conjunction with the library management should encourage the librarians who make personal efforts to acquire ICT skills on their own with little financial, as well as moral back up; The benefits of ICT literacy skills should be fully explored by librarians, and efforts should be made by librarians to integrate ICT literacy skills in all areas of service delivery in the library.