CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTON / BACKGROUND OF STUDYWith 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 academic library has been from its inception an integral part of institutions of higher learning, rather than an appendix or adjunct. Oyedun (2007) defines academic libraries as those libraries that are mainly found in tertiary institutions, they are established to support learning, teaching and research processes. Over the past twenty seven years, academic libraries have been affected by changes in information and communication technology. The rate of changes is still accelerating in this area. The introduction of various information technology (ICT) trends has lead to reorganization, change in work patterns, and demand for new skills, job retraining and reclassification positions. Technological advancement of the past twenty five years, such as the electronic database, online services, CD-ROMs and introduction of internet has radically transformed access to information. Rana (2009) 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. ICT has impacted on every sphere of academic library activity especially in the form of the library collection development strategies, library building and consortia. ICT presents an opportunity to provide value-added information services and access to a wide variety of digital based information resources to their clients. Furthermore, academic libraries are also using modern ICTs to automate their core functions, implement efficient and effective library cooperation and resource sharing networks, implement management information systems, develop institutional repositories of digital local contents, and digital libraries: and initiate ICT based capacity building programmes for library users. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has brought unprecedented changes and transformation to academic library and information services, conventional LIS 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 impact of ICT characterized on information services by changes in format, contents and method of production and contents and method of production and delivery of information products. Emergence of internet as the largest repository of information and knowledge, changed role of library and information science professionals from intermediary to facilitator, new tools for dissemination of information and shift from physical to virtual services environment and extinction of some conventional information services and emergence of new and innovational web based.
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Nigeria, being one of the few countries of the world, which began to adopt information technologies in 1990s, is backward but somewhat fortunate because generally, the world of ICT-based libraries is still in its infancy. A number of problems contribute to this situation. 1. Administration barriers: This problem is much more acute in public university libraries than private university libraries and public academic libraries. Administrators, policy makers, and government executives do not take seriously the importance of ICT. Moreover, library administrators have failed to make its importance clear. Lack of knowledge of technological development has created a significance barrier to the installation or development of ICT facilities in libraries. 2. Lack of shared initiatives: Inadequate shared initiatives have made plans of ICT application in libraries very low. 3. Lack of skilled manpower: Library professionals in Nigeria over the past few years have not had adequate knowledge regarding computer applications and automation. 4. Lack of financial support: Inadequate financial support has made possibility of ICT application in libraries more complex. 5. Lack of infrastructure: Inadequate physical facilities hamper the growth of ICT. Telecommunications infrastructure and an uninterrupted power supply are crucial needs for Nigeria. 6. Lack of ICT resources: ICT means more than the use of computer. Less attention has been paid to other communication and related technologies. Some libraries have no internet connection. Most have a manual circulation operation. They have no barcode readers for use in automated circulation. Most libraries are using microcomputers only with no server in most of the libraries. 7. Absence of local resources: Most of the libraries use the CDS/ISIS in developing other software. 8. Psychological barriers: The reluctance of library personnel to accept new technologies hinders the development of ICT-based libraries. 9. Lack of Networks: There is no network, in the true sense of the term, among the libraries of Nigeria.
1.4 AIMS AND PURPOSE This research work examines the use of ICT by public academic libraries in Nigeria in the dissemination of information in the educational system. Its aims is to reveal both the levels of information and communication technologies and plans for the future. The findings of a structural survival questionnaire are analyzed, providing information in available computer facilitates, library automation, internet connectivity, technical support, expenditure and ICT strategies. This is followed by a devalued case study of library services of the University of uyo library, AkwaIbom state. This paper attempts to assess the contribution of ICT in providing information dissemination to Nigerians through libraries especially those that are specialized in operation and structure in areas such as education and research, trade and commerce, agriculture, health and recreation, etc.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. Does ICT impact positively on educational performance in schools? 2. Does the use of ICT in public academic libraries improve attainment levels of users? 3. In Nigeria, is there a positive association between the length of time of ICT use and student’s performance in educational work? 4. Do schools with higher levels of ICT literary demonstrate scores than those with lower levels of ICT literacy? 5. Do schools with ICT resources achieve better results than those that are poorly equipped with ICT resources?
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION Discussion on this topic will be stricted to public academic libraries. Furthermore, study is generalized on institution such as polytechnic, colleges of education, universities-private, state and federal around the country, with references on how it affects administrators and users, the University of Uyo Library, AkwaIbom state is taken as a case study. In addition, it attempts to asses the contribution of public academic libraries in helping Nigerians access and disseminate information digitally via the internet. Ti also asseseed the major types of information disseminated through public academic libraries.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY The study gives a representative overview of the attainment level of library staff in an important area of professional competence, and shows the importance of addressing the gap between the desired levels of ICT literacy and the actual level as it helps in information dissemination in public academic libraries. This is done with special emphasis on the university of uyo libraryAkwaIbom state, which is a government library with specialized / concentrated interest in the dissemination of the knowledge of mathematics generally in Nigeria.
1.8 METHODOLOGY In carrying out a research work one has to concern himself or herself about the methods of data collection. These include the various ways or means by which the research data are collected. In carrying out research work of this nature, the researcher had to conduct and intensive investigation into definer able problems.\ In the process of my data collection, the following data collection instruments were used: a. Questionnaire b. Observation
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