UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) RESOURCES AND SERVICES AMONG POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN NASARAWA STATE

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UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) RESOURCES AND SERVICES AMONG POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN NASARAWA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

A library is an organized collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. A library’s collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blue-ray Discs, c-books, audio, books, databases, and other formats, Libraries range in size from a few shelves of books to several million items. In Latin and Greek, the idea of bookcase is represented by Bibliotheca and Bibliothëkë (Greek:) derivatives of these mean library in many modern languages, e.g. French bibliothèque.

A library is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, a corporation, or a private individual. Public and institutional collections and services may be intended for use by people who choose not to or cannot afford to purchase an extensive collection themselves, who need material no individual can reasonably be expected to have, or who require professional assistance with their research. In addition to providing materials, libraries also provide the services of librarians who are experts at finding and organizing information and at interpreting information needs. Libraries often provide quiet areas for studying, and they also often offer common areas to facilitate group study and collaboration (Chisenga, 2017).

Academic library is any library to a post-secondary or tertiary institution can be described as an academic library. Thus, academic libraries are as varied and distinctive as the academic institutions they serve.

In Nigerian context, all libraries attached to universities, polytechnics, colleges of Agriculture; colleges of Education, Military institutions like the Nigerian Defence Academy, War College, Nigerian Institute for strategic studies and to any other post-secondary institutions are academic libraries. Broadly speaking however, academic libraries can be grouped into two: university libraries and college libraries.

Any library attached to a university is called a university library. Any library attached to other tertiary institution is called a college library.

The University Library

The main purpose of the university library is to support the objectives of the university which is to promote teaching, learning and research. Thus the university library is meant to serve the undergraduates, postgraduates, lecturers and other members of the university community. A university community library is regarded in the university as the heart of the intellectual life of the university. The quality of a university is measured largely by the quality of its library because of its unique role in the university system.

College Library

College library refer to libraries of polytechnics, college of education, agriculture, school of nursing and other tertiary institutions. The objectives of the college library are somewhat similar to those of university libraries. However services they provide are usually of a smaller scale. College libraries are expected to support the major objectives of the college, polytechnic etc. which is to provide highly skilled middle-level manpower.

Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes or applications, whether in industry or in our everyday lives. So, basically, whenever we use our scientific knowledge to achieve some specific purpose, we’re using technology. Well, there is slightly more to it than that. Technology usually involves a specific piece of equipment, but that equipment can be incredibly simple or dazzlingly complex. It can be anything from the discovery of the wheel, all the way up to computers and MP3 players (Franklin, 2017).

Aguolu and Haruna, (2018) Technology has helped solved the problems patrons face in accessing a few copies of textbooks that are available in the library Oyegbami, (2018) observes that ICT is an instrument of social economic renaissance and if properly used it could excellently stem national and international calamity and assist growth and development of libraries in our higher institutions in Africa.

Libraries are much more than a place to read books and journals. Libraries also houses advanced electronic resources, including the Internet, digital library collections, remote access to a wide range of technology and instruction.

With the invention of Information and Communication Technology, libraries now use various types of technologies to aid the services they render. Everyday new technological advances affect the way information is handled in libraries and information centers. The impacts of new technologies are felt by libraries in every aspect. Computing technology, communication technology and mass storage technology are some of the areas of continuous development that reshape the way that libraries access, retrieve, store, manipulate and disseminate information to users. The polytechnic library has been from its inception an integral part of institutions of higher learning, rather than an appendix or adjunct.

The relevance of information and communication technologies in libraries, particularly in polytechnic libraries, is in activities concerned with information storage and retrieval. These activities are concerned with in-house keeping routine such as acquisition, cataloguing, serials control, circulation, of library material and the collection for management statistics. In libraries, information network has the potential for relieving human kind of many of its burdens. Networking refers to a broad system of computers terminates, video display units, telephone etc. which are used for data communication services. Therefore, to network in the polytechnic libraries parlance, involves the interconnection of computer terminals etc. the heart of information networking or connectivity is the issue of telecommunication, linking together libraries, librarian users in Local Areas Network (LAN) or Wide Areas Network (WAN) They endeavor to eliminate many of the repetitive and boring task related to the processing and communication of information.

Ayodele (2017) defined ICT as electronic based technology generally used to retrieve store, process and package information as well as provide access to knowledge. Aluko (2018) also described ICT as enabling technologies (both hardware and software) necessary for delivery of voice/audio, data (high-speed and low speed) video, faxes and internet services from point A to point Busing wired and wireless media protocol (IP) and non IP networks. Nwachukwu, (2018) information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the application of computers and other technologies to the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information.

Modern information and communication technology (ICT) has created a global village because of information revolution and the consequent computer based messaging system, and electronic networks for access to information and library services. ICT is a growing phenomenon in the society. The trend now is information and communication technology, library and information have undergone various stages on transformation, storage and retrieval of information application in delivering library services. Rana (2019) opines that ICT holds the key to the success of modernizing information services. Applications of ICT are numerous but mainly it is used in converting the existing paper-print records in the entire process of storage, retrieval and dissemination. With the invention of Information and Communication Technology, libraries now use various types of technologies to aid the services they render. Everyday new technological advances affect the way information is handled in libraries and information centers. ICT has brought unprecedented changes and transformation to polytechnic library and information services, such as OPAC, users services, reference services, bibliographic services, current awareness services, Document delivery, interlibrary loan, audio visual services and customer relations can be provided more efficiently and effectively using ICT, as they offer convenient time, place, cost effectiveness, faster and most-up-to-date dissemination and end users involvement in the library and information services process.

The Role of ICT is characterized on information services by changes in format, contents and method of production. Library automation is yet to take off in majority of the polytechnic libraries, while justifying need for library automation more than cost effectiveness the benefit derived by the library users become the major consideration. Since library does not happen to be an economic entity such benefits, need to be looked at in different perspective. 

Objectives of ICT  is to improve the level of services and quality of output and to fulfill the need that cannot be achieved by manual system for example sharing of resources and be able to use information that only appear in electronic format for example CD – ROM, internet resources and databases. Other services offered by polytechnic library include printing, photocopying, bindery and bibliographic services.

The roles of new technologies are felt by libraries in every aspect of their service delivery. Computing technology, communication technology and mass storage technology are some of the areas of continuous development that reshape the way that libraries access, retrieve, store, manipulate and disseminate information to users. The essence of reference work is personal service. The primary function of the reference department as observed by Nwalo (2019) among other things is answering reference questions and user education. Katz (2020) also highlighted the following as some of the duties of a reference librarian: To promote an end product: the information sought by the user, teaching people how to find information. Such instructions can range from the individual explanation of information sources or creation of guides and appropriate media to formal assistance. One of the major ways through which these duties or functions can be performed effectively is through interpersonal communication between the reference librarian and the library user.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

In this ICT driven age, different people and organizations depend on the use of technologies to enable them meet their organizational and personal needs. The availability and use of ICT facilities in the developed countries have increasingly improved library users and staff information seeking behaviours but it is not so in the developing countries. This is because one notable feature of library services in developing countries is the inadequate provision of IT facilities and its ineffective usage Chisenga, (2019), some library management and staff in developing countries like Nigeria are not totally aware of the benefits and opportunities ICT brings to the library. Considering the enormous benefits that are experienced in the use of ICT in Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries, the Nigerian academic library still experience some obstacles or hindrances in the effective and efficient use of the ICT in accessing resources and services in the library. Today ICT acquisition and implementation is facing a lot of problems e.g. Nasarawa States revealed that there is very little provision made for ICT in libraries. Library management in some of the institutions is just starting to accept the use of these resources so they are having few numbers of computers, internet connectivity, CD-ROMs, Poor power supply is a major problem in many of the libraries.

This research was undergone to proffer possible solution to the problems facing the utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources and services among polytechnic libraries.

1.3       Research Questions

The study will sought answers to the following questions.

1. What are the ICT resources available in Federal Polytechnic Libraries in North Central Nigeria?
2. Does the student of federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria have the required skills in using ICT resources?
3. What is the usefulness of information and communication technologies in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria?
4. What are the problems of utilizing ICT resources in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria?
5. What are the solutions to the problems of utilizing ICT resources in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria?

1.4       Research Objectives

1. To examine the ICT resources available in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria.
2. To determine how skillful and knowledgeable the students are in the use of ICT resources in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria.
3. To determine the usefulness of ICT resources in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria.
4. To identify the problems hindering theutilizing ICT resources in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria.
5. To recommend possible ways out of utilizing ICT resources in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria.

1.5       Significance of the Study

The significance of a study depends largely on the outcome of the study. It is hoped that the outcome of the study would: Provide a basis for comprehensive information on information and communication technology procurement and application in federal polytechnic libraries in North Central Nigeria. Established the existing gaps in the adoption of information and communication technology operations of academic libraries in achieving their statutory functions.

This research work will be of benefit to library users, government parastatals and agencies in the utilization of ICT resources.

It will also be of significance to researchers and students who will carry out research on utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in accessing resources and services among federal polytechnic libraries or related topic.

1.6       Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of the study will focus on the utilization of ICT resources and services. The research will be limited to Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State.

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms

Information: Information is knowledge communicated or received concerning a particular fact or circumstances; news or knowledge gained through study.

Communication: Communication is the imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium.

Technology: Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. It is the skills, methods and processes used to achieve goals.

Utilization: The proportion of the available time (expressed usually as a percentage) that a piece of equipment or a system is operating.

ICT: Information and Communication Technology is the full range of computer software and hardware facilities effective in the process of gathering, storing, analyzing, processing, retrieving and transferring of information.

Library: Library is a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution.

Resources: A stock or supply of money, materials, staff and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively.

Library resources: Are basically sources of information. Traditionally, these resources were mostly books, journals, newspapers and other editorials, and encyclopedias.

Polytechnic Library: Is an academic library which supports learning, teaching, and research in the polytechnic. It is the nerve centre of academic work.

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