University Libraries In Nigeria Research Articles

Open educational resources (OER) management: implications for policymakers on the best practices in an open education university libraries in Nigeria

PurposeThe study aimed to identify the best practices for open educational resources (OER) management in Nigerian open education university libraries and the implications for policymakers.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods approach was used, which included a survey questionnaire administered via Google Forms to academic librarians and other library staff of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). The study’s population was 398 and 273 participants responded to the survey. The study included all academic librarians and other library staff representing the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study’s results were presented using frequency counts, percentages tables and the qualitative data analysis was done thematically.FindingsThe findings of the study are consistent with existing literature on best practices for managing OER, which emphasized the importance of establishing clear policies and strategies for OER management practices, such as guidelines for acquiring, creating, curating and disseminating OER.Originality/valueThe originality of the study concludes by recommending that policymakers should develop policies that support the implementation of best practices in OER management to improve access to educational resources and reduce costs for students.

Assessing the Availability of Information Sources and Services During the COVID 19 Pandemic in University Libraries in Nigeria

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic hampered the availability of information sources and services in most academic institutions around the world. Making information available during major crisis reveals the long-standing position of the library in helping its patrons. This post COVID-19 study that took place between February 2020 and January 2021 investigated the availability of information sources and services during the COVID-19 pandemic in university libraries in Nigeria. Using a descriptive design, the study used 240 students who were purposely selected from 30 universities including federal, state and private universities in South-South geographical zone of Nigeria as sample. The study revealed that information sources such as: e-books, print journals, e-journals and electronic databases and services such as: Circulation, interlibrary loan, remote access, SDI, online reference services among others were available to the patrons in university libraries in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that the inhibiting factors against the availability of information sources and service in university libraries were poor telecommunication network, closure of some library sections, lack of preparation, unavailability of library policy on pandemic/disaster management and poor coordination among others. The study recommended some areas for improvement to ensure the availability of information sources and services to the library patrons during major crisis.

Challenges and Benefits of Institutional Repository Sustainability in Public Libraries in Nigeria

Objective. The study investigated the challenges of Institutional Repository Sustainability in public university libraries in Nigeria. Method. A questionnaire was administered to 230 librarians from public university libraries in Nigeria. The sample of repository institutional was purposive, all registered on Open-DOAR, whether functional or non-functional. Results. The main sustainability challenges with Nigerian institutional repository were: funding, content populating, poor synergy between IT and library staff as well as lack of qualified staff, lack of sustainable Internet connectivity, electricity supply, among others. Most librarians have a doctorate and little experience in Institutional Repository Sustainability. The study also proposed recommendations for IRs. Conclusions. There is a need for a paradigm shift in the process of managing the sustainability of institutional repositories. Libraries cannot be bystanders in the economy and production of knowledge.

Does Librarians’ Psychosocial Work Environment Matter to Research Productivity?

The study examined the influence of psychosocial work environment on the research productivity of librarians in universities in southwestern Nigeria. A descriptive survey research approach was utilised in the study. The population consisted of 363 librarians from all of southwestern Nigeria's university libraries. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that librarians' research productivity was high in of quantity of publication but low in terms of publications in Scopus/WoS. Librarians' psychosocial work environments were discovered to be psychologically and socially fit. The study concluded that librarians' research productivity was significantly positively influenced by their psychosocial work environment, and it therefore recommends that library management adhere to a planned work schedule to reduce librarian strain, and that procedures be put in place to ensure that librarians are not overly exposed to the critical life events of others.

Internet adoption in select Nigeria university libraries

The paper examined the Internet adoption in Nigerian university library with emphasis on the extent to which computer networks aid the use of the internet to obtain academic information within the university library. It also determined the extent at which students use the internet to obtain academic information within the university library and to determine the cost, labour and maintenance of Internet adoption in the university library. A descriptive survey design was employed and the convenience sampling method was employed to select 132 samples for analysis. The analytical tools employed are simple percentages, frequency counts, Pearson Correlation and regression analysis via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that Local Area Network, Wide Area Network, Internet, Campus Area Network, and Networks were the existing computer networks available in selected Nigerian university libraries. The information services provided using internet include; digital library/ repositories, searching library data, searching scholarly content, file storage, building community power and library automation. The paper recommended that university libraries should be proactive. More academic research could only be achieved with effective internet adoption and integration into university libraries.

Facilitating conditions and institutional repository sustainability by librarians in public university libraries in Nigeria

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the facilitating conditions (FCs) and how these FC affect institutional repository (IR) sustainability practices in public universities in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachA survey research design was adopted in this study. The study population comprised 542 librarians from public universities that have IRs across Nigeria. A sample size of 230 librarians was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents in three stages, which were purposive, stratified and purposive sampling. A structured, validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential (simple and multiple regression) statistics at a 5% level of significance.FindingsThe result revealed that the availability of FCs (ßeta = 0.459, t(211) = 7.719, p = 0.000) has a positive and significant influence on IR sustainability in public university libraries in Nigeria. The F-test (1, 223) value of 59.582 shows that there is sufficient evidence to substantiate the model’s usefulness in explaining IR sustainability. The R2 (0.211) indicates that 21.1% of the variation in IR sustainability is explained by the availability of FCs in public university libraries in Nigeria. The finding suggests that the availability of FCs is a vital predictor of IR sustainability in public university libraries in Nigeria. The result also depicts that out of the eight parameters that measure the availability of FCs, it was current awareness of IR that had a positive and significant influence on IR sustainability.Originality/valueThis study concluded that ICT skills and FCs are contributory factors to IR sustainability practices by librarians in public university libraries in Nigeria. It was recommended that university administrators formulate policies that promote the sustainability of IR and provide adequate funds to support IR sustainability. Furthermore, the library management in public university libraries in Nigeria should drive content recruitment and create awareness of the IRs among students and faculty to ensure continued use.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AMONG ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES LIBRARIES IN NORTH – CENTRAL NIGERIA

The study investigated collaborative research among academic librarians in public university libraries in Nigeria. The descriptive survey method was employed for this study. The purposive sampling method was used to select 6 public universities in North central Nigeria. The random sampling method was employed to choose five (5) academic librarians from each of two universities in six states, making a total of sixty (60) librarians. A questionnaire was used to gather data from respondents. Sixty (60) copies of the questionnaire were administered, and 50 were retrieved, giving a response rate of 91.7%. The data were analyzed using simple frequency counts and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the academic librarians engage in research collaboration with colleagues within and outside the university and have collaborated with their colleagues in the last two years. The study revealed Google+ and Whatsapp as the major tools for collaborative research. The study also revealed that collaborative research has helped to increase the number of publications, and increase the rate of research, problem of access to internet connectivity and lack of collaborative research funding were the significant challenges facing academic librarians in collaborative research. The study recommended that academic librarians should double their efforts and engage in collaborative research both within and outside the country; reliable internet facilities with fast bandwidth should be provided for collaboration.

Capacity-building practices for librarians' effective service delivery in federal university libraries in Nigeria

PurposeThe study examined capacity-building practices for librarians' effective library service delivery in Federal University Libraries in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe design for this paper was a descriptive survey research design. Data was collected using a questionnaire from a total number of 178 respondents. Collected data were analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation.FindingsThe findings reveal that learning capacity-building practices such as rotating members of staff for wider experience exist in these libraries. Learning capacity-building practices contributes to effective service delivery by enhancing various library services. Results also show that there are challenges confronting learning capacity-building practices which include inadequate funding. For these libraries to perform to their highest potentials, their learning capacity needs to be built and developed.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of this study is the tendency of the respondents to fake their responses which may arise from their personal biases.Practical implicationsTherefore, university library management and university administrators should as a matter of urgency develop policies that will ensure that capacities are built for better service delivery or risk users losing interest in the library.Originality/valueThe study examined a vital dimension of capacity build, which is learning capacity building. The findings will help university administrators and library management to know the different learning capacity-building practices that exist in the various libraries and the extent to which these practices are important and relevant for effective service delivery. This will assist them in adopting relevant and adequate learning capacity-building strategies and guiding them in formulating effective capacity-building policies.

Collaboration in Nigerian University Libraries: A Diagnosis

This paper sought to show the potential of collaboration of university libraries in ameliorating the common problems and challenges facing the Nigerian Academic Library System on the basis of the current status of collaboration in Nigerian university libraries. The paper addressed the following questions: what is the status of collaboration of Nigerian University libraries? How can University Libraries achieve meaningful collaboration? And what possible benefits can University libraries in Nigeria attain from effective collaboration? The paper clarified three forms of collaboration within the University Library system to address the indiscriminate use of the term ‘Librarian collaboration’ to pass for library collaboration. Based on literature reviewed, the current level of collaboration in Nigerian University Libraries is below expectation and is to a great extent responsible for poor quality teaching, learning and research bedeviling the Nigerian tertiary education system. University Library leadership and the Committee of University librarian in Nigerian Universities (CULNU) were identified as prime movers whose efforts could improve the level of collaboration in Nigerian University Libraries. The paper revealed that possible areas for collaboration include: resource sharing, inter-library loan, cooperative acquisition, cooperative cataloguing, cooperative referencing, staff development, library exchange and librarian and library user networks. The paper further noted that the key benefits of collaboration are significant reduction in operational costs, increased human cooperation and exposure of Librarians to global library practices. The paper identified factors that pose as either a threat or a challenge to the implementation of effective collaboration in Nigerian university libraries. They include: Inadequate funding, leadership issues, lack of structured library development policies, proliferation of informal collaboration, high competition in library profession and resistance to change. The paper therefore recommended that committee of University Librarian in Nigerian Universities and the Nigerian Library Association should make and implement a policy for all University Library Leadership to develop and implement documented and structured develop plans and policies p to provide strategic direction for University libraries.

The Experience of Using Virtua Integrated Library System in Nigerian University Libraries

The paper explores the experience of using Virtua Integrated Library System by some university libraries in Nigeria for automating their operations throughout a decade. It also accounts for the challenges encountered by the libraries and reveals their switch over to other software. Survey method was used to collect data from systems' staff and librarians of the six universities that adopted Virtua software via self-distributed online questionnaire. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. The findings revealed that majority of the libraries used Virtua for years more than any of their previous software. The initial source of funding the software and staff training was provided by the Carnegie Corporation and MacArthur Foundation. The modules implemented by the libraries include cataloguing, circulation, administration and Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) and serials control and acquisition were partially used. The system was friendly used by the university libraries with few challenges which included increase in subscription fees. At different periods of few years back, the libraries dropped the software and switched over to Koha and locally developed library system respectively. It is recommended that the University Management of the libraries should provide adequate funds to enhance the implementation of library automation software.

Relationship between rewards system and employee intention to leave: Preliminary survey of librarians in federal university libraries in Nigeria

The study investigates the relationship between rewards system and employee intention to leave among librarians in federal university libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The purposive sampling technique was used to select a population of one hundred librarians in federal university libraries in Nigeria from the WhatsApp group platform of the Academic and Research Library Section (ARLs) of the Nigerian Library Association. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire created with Google Forms. Based on the analysis of the data, the survey result reveals a moderate relationship between rewards system and intentions to leave among the respondents. The implication of the findings is that there is a need to improve the rewards system for federal university employees to raise their job satisfaction and decrease their intentions to leave. These findings provide new data and create awareness useful for enhanced management of libraries and librarians in Nigeria.

Digital Library Services in University Libraries in Nigeria: A Literature Study

Digitization of information resources for making digital library is the process of converting information into a digital (i.e. computer-readable) format. The result is the representation of an object, image, sound, document, or signal (usually an analog signal) obtained by generating a series of numbers that describe a discrete set of points or samples. The result is called digital representation or, more specifically, a digital image, for the object, and digital form, for the signal. On the one hand it can be argued that dramatic changes have been made at academic libraries in response to the new digital information environment. Most academic libraries, including University Libraries in Nigeria, offers a wide range of digital services and resources. But on the other hand, at a closer examination, one will find that these services and resources are mainly organized according to traditional library principles. In this case a guiding principle for the digital library need to be set up to create systematic and well organized general services and e-resources, for example subject specific gateway services. Thus, the digital part of the library functioned as an extension of the traditional library, an enterprise on the side with relatively high priority in this digital age, especially for of e-journals

Library Services Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Study of Remotely Exploitable Electronic Academic Databases in Selected University Libraries in Nigeria

The study adopted a research design of the qualitative type to investigate library services amid the COVID-19 Pandemic using remotely exploitable electronic academic databases in two Nigerian foremost university libraries, as case studies. An Interview guide was used to elicit data from E-Librarians of the two Federal University libraries randomly selected for the study. The interview guide contains seventeen questions that seek to proffer answers to the main objective of the study. Response retrieved were analyzed using thematic analysis to extract codes, identify patterns, and create themes relevant to the study’s objective. The study revealed that both libraries have a functional E-library and subscribes to key databases. The study also revealed that both libraries’ websites are connected to open source databases remotely accessible to library users. The study reinforces the need to embrace the change in the global architecture of library services in the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic and make their E-resources remotely accessible to users. The study recommended that library managers should adopt best practices in providing users with remote access to their E-resources. Also, the study underscores the need for library managers to reappraise their memorandum of understanding with E-databases aggregator, allowing their E-resources to be remotely accessible to library users’ thereby limiting users contact with their physical library environment amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Computerization of Library Services in University Libraries in Nigeria: A Case Study

The study examined the computerization of library services at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study's execution was directed by three research questions, and a descriptive survey approach was chosen. 56 library employees made up the study's population, but only professionals and paraprofessionals were selected using the judgmental sampling technique, resulting in a sample of 21. The questionnaire was used to collect data. Frequency counts, straightforward percentages, and means were used to examine the data. The results demonstrate that five of the university library's seven units were computerized and that this computerization has a favourable effect on the delivery of library services. Finally, the findings demonstrate that some of the significant obstacles to the effective use of the computerized library system in offering library services include an unstable power supply, a lack of funds, and slow Internet speed. Based on the findings, the researchers suggested that the university library should computerize the other two departments for better services. Additionally, the government ought to increase the nation's electrical supply and provide appropriate funding for education.

Evaluation of Users’ Satisfaction of Information Resources in University Libraries in Nigeria: A Case Study

This study examined postgraduate students’ satisfaction of information resources at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Library, Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Three research questions guided the study. The population of the study comprised 414 registered postgraduate students. A simple random sampling technique was used to determine the sample size, which is 120 students, representing 30% of the total population. The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data were analyzed with frequency counts, simple percentages, and Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 23 was used to generate the mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that the majority of the postgraduate students used the library information resources occasionally and that the students mostly used e-books, theses/dissertations projects, government publications, and print and e-journals. Lastly, the study established that the majority of the postgraduate students are not satisfied with the available library information resources provided by the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that the library management should provide current and relevant information resources in the library to encourage users to effectively use the library resources and services. The library should also implement strategic policies that will enhance effective service delivery.

Promoting the Use of Open Educational Resources by Librarians in University Libraries in Nigeria

The study examined the roles played by librarians in promoting the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) in their institutions in South-South and South-West geo-political zone of Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire and a total enumeration sampling technique was used. Data were analyzed with frequency counts and simple percentages, and Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 23 was used to generate the mean and standard deviation. A total of 200 librarians in university libraries were sent the online questionnaire and 83 librarians responded by filling out the questionnaire giving a total response rate of 42%. The 83 librarians who responded to the online questionnaire was used as the sample of the study. The questionnaire were validated by two experts in research methodology and educational technology. Cronbach Alpha was used to establish the reliability of the instrument, which yielded 0.86. The findings revealed that the librarians have a high level of awareness of the concept of OER and that the majority of librarians were actively involved in promoting the use of OER in their various institutions. Lastly, the study established that inconsistent power supply, lack of library sensitization on the use of OER, poor Internet connectivity, and lack of institutional support for the creation and use of OER were some of the significant challenges to the effective use of OER in universities in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that academic libraries in Nigeria must meet global standards by promoting universal access to education through the use of OER among others.

Accessing special collections during the COVID-19 pandemic in university libraries in Nigeria

The accessibility of special collections during the COVID-19 pandemic was a matter of concern for libraries and their users due to the specific nature of special collections compared to other information sources in libraries. This study therefore investigated the accessibility of special collections in university libraries in the South South zone of Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of the study included 233 librarians in federal, state and private universities in the zone. The study adopted an online questionnaire and there was a total of 197 respondents. The findings show that special collections were accessible to library users through library websites, institutional repositories, CD-ROMs and flash drives during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The study reveals some of the challenges affecting the accessibility of special collections during the COVID-19 pandemic in university libraries in Nigeria and recommends ways of enhancing the accessibility of special collections during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

An investigation into pest management and control in selected university libraries in Nigeria

Findings from this recent study on university libraries in Nigeria revealed that there was a prevalence of pest infestation, including rodents, cockroaches and termites. Prominent among the causes of infestation were food and drink being brought into the libraries, along with the occasional transport of infested materials. Good housekeeping, periodic maintenance of the library environment and fumigation have been adopted as pest treatment and control measures by the libraries, although the absence of dedicated library pest control units means that they depend on any more university-wide pest control programme. This means there are challenges for pest control that include a lack of specialist knowledge compounded by a lack of training for library personnel and inadequate knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), all of which this article advocates to ensure the effective management and control of pests in the university libraries.

An x-ray of the challenges of accessing the resources and facilities for administering university libraries in Nigeria

This study, simply, is an x-ray of the challenges of accessing the resources and facilities for administering university libraries in Nigeria. The total population for the study comprised of fifty (50) university libraries, namely federal, state and private universities, spread across Nigeria. Forty-one (41) responses were received, duly completed and found useable for the study, representing 82%. The entire population of this study was sampled using total enumeration sampling technique. Questionnaire was used to elicit data from the respondents, mainly university librarians, and the deputy university librarians, in some cases. Findings from the study revealed that the major challenges of administering university libraries in Nigeria are staffing, especially, the academic librarians, prompt acquisition of current and relevant books/journals, subscription to relevant databases among others. The study also revealed that some libraries have clearly written acquisition policy, thus, library users: viz, lecturers, students and non-teaching staff, are free to recommend titles for acquisition. The study also revealed that most libraries do not form a consortium with other libraries, for ease of subscription to databases and some libraries depend mainly on trial version of databases in rendering services.

Adoption of information and communication technology on service delivery in federal university libraries in Nigeria

The aim of this study is to investigate effects of the adoption of ICT facilities on service delivery in federal university libraries in Nigeria. With the advent of Information and Communication Technologies, provision of library services to users has considerably changed. As a result of these changes, library users are expected to witness changes in search of their day to day information needs in the library for maximum satisfaction. In order to be enterprising, library professionals have fully incorporated the use of ICT facilities in their operation and services. The study was purposively determined level of adoption of ICT facilities and services were survey research designed was adopted using the population of Two hundred and Seventy three (273) librarians as the sample size for the study. Data collection was carried out using questionnaire as an instrument where data analysis was done using frequency counts for answering research questions while hypothesis was tested using chi-square. The study found adequate level of adopted ICT facilities and library services in first-generation federal university libraries and concluded that since the findings of the study indicates a relationship between the level of facilities and services (including educational services) provided, the need for substantial investment in ICT and continuous upgrading of existing facilities and training become imperative for optimal benefits of modern education. The study finally recommended that; librarians should be given adequate and continuous training to effectively operate the ICT facilities.