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

Innovative Library Services (ILS) in Nigeria: Challenges and Way forward

 Etebu, Abraham Tabor (Ph.D, CLN, MNLA)¹, Zacchaeus, Choice Meniwoze(CLN)^2
1Department of Library and Information Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
²Library Department, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract:- This study looked at innovative library services (ILS) in the Nigerian context through different ways such as online business support service for starts-up; web design services; blogging service; podcasting service; electronic publishing services; online information search service; short message alerts services; online training and workshops; digital references services; database production/distribution services; online entertainment services; mobile application services and digital marketing service. Data analysis was done using frequency count, percentages, Likert Scale presented in tabular format, mean and standard deviation. Using the four-point Likert type scale, a midpoint mean (criterion Mean) of 2.5 was established and accepted as a positive response point. Inadequate funding, inadequate deployment of ICT infrastructure and resistance to change were some of the challenges identified as hindrances to ILS, while risk taking, collaboration, adequate funding, were some of the way forward found out. The study concluded and recommended that government should strive to adequately fund libraries and provide required ICT infrastructures to boost ILS in Nigeria effectively.

Keywords: Innovative Library Services, Libraries, Nigeria, ICT, Funding, Entrepreneurship, Challenges, Way Forward

I. INTRODUCTION

Advances in technology have changed things globally, especially in the area of information management, business and governance, so much that the effective use of information technology makes a difference between success and failure. There exist some levels of uncertainty about the future of libraries, occasioned by the competition poised by Google, Amazon, Wikipedia, Myspace etc., which are veritable sources of information. Understandably, libraries in Nigeria should be worried about their roles in the dynamics landscape of information provision/delivery that is shifting away from the traditional enterprise.
The emergence of Information Communication Technology (ICT) also bring changes to library and information services. As a response to the adoption and application to the new technology, libraries are shifting from the old traditional role as a social agency for information generation, storage, retrieval and dissemination to the modern electronic information systems (Simisaye, Salisu and Awodoyin, 2018). Boss (2001) observed that many libraries have started accessing images of book-form materials in various formats and other materials in digital forms, storing them for retrieval from within and without their materials.