The use of internet by staff for library service delivery at Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the use of Internet by staff for library service delivery at Benue State University, Makurdi. Three specific objectives with corresponding research questions guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study was the entire 153 library staff in Benue State University Library. Since the population was relatively small and manageable by the researcher, no sampling was employed for the study. The instrument for data collection was a structure questionnaire Data was collected and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. Findings of the study revealed that the internet services are utilized in areas such as acquisition services, cataloguing and classification services, awareness services, reference services, selective dissemination of information services, inter-library loan services, documentary services, circulation services, bibliographic services and resource sharing. The findings also revealed that, the internet services were utilized to a high extent for library services delivery. Challenges found to hinder the utilization of the internet services include: lack of maintenance culture, erratic power supply, high cost of connectivity, high cost of maintenance, technology obsolescence, low level of computer literacy required for effective use, poor funding for internet services, low bandwidth, copyright and access restrictions and inadequate hardware support. The study concluded that, Internet services are to a high extent utilized for effective library services delivery in Benue State Library. The following recommendations were made that, library administrators should ensure professional development programmes are provided for library staff that can inculcate computer literacy required for delivery of library services and Government should provide funds to the management of academic libraries to acquire internet services necessary for enhancing the effective delivery of library services.