Information and Communication Technologies Use in Niger Delta University Libraries: Problems and Prospects

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue IV, April 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Information and Communication Technologies Use in Niger Delta University Libraries: Problems and Prospects

Etebu, Abraham Tabor (Ph.D)¹, DIME, Ishioma Angela^2
1,2Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Education, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract:- This research work focused on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) use in the Niger Delta University libraries, with aims of ascertaining their problems and prospects for improvement. Two research questions guided the study. It sought to as certain the problems of ICT use in NDU libraries and to examine the prospects of ICT use in NDU libraries. Descriptive survey design was employed for the study and the entire population was the university community while the sample size was one hundred and fifty (150) registered library users. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Out of 150 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the respondents 140 copies were properly filled and returned representing 93.33%. To analyse the data the following descriptive statistical measures were employed: frequency table, simple percentage and mean ( ). The findings revealed that there are factors militating against the effective use of ICTs by the library users, ranging from inadequate funds, poor or erratic power supply, inadequate number of effective Internet Service Providers (ISP) to lack of policy framework on ICTs in the country. Also, strategies as prospects include; proper ICT seminars/workshops in the universities, provision of sufficient ICT facilities, government support on provision of stable power supply, reduction of telecommunication/computer importation tariffs, provision of adequate and effective internet services provider (ISP), establishment of National Research Centre for ICT, while others were provision of grants and aids by government and university and staff training and orientation. Based on the findings, it was recommended that efforts should be made to place a high premium/priority on application of ICTs in the services of university libraries.

Keywords: ICT, University library, library users, ICT use problems, ICT use prospects, Niger Delta

I. INTRODUCTION

The importance of Information and Communication Technology to people generally and library users in particular cannot be overlooked in this 21st Century. It has become very essential to implement the use of ICT facilities in any active sector, as these facilities paves easy and speedy way to achieving goals and objectives in library services delivery.

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