THE ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN INFORMATION PROVISION IN THREE AGRICULTURE LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE MAKURDI AND FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA (MOUA, FUAM, FUNAB)

The study examines information resources in Agriculture University Libraries in Nigeria; the respondents are University Librarians in Federal University Agriculture Makurdi, Michael Okpara University Agriculture Abia, and Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, sampled by the researcher. The main objective of the study is to identify the information resources, in Agriculture University Libraries in Nigeria with view to examine the types of information resources available, in Agriculture University Libraries under study. Questionnaires were administered to University Librarians. The researcher has been taken the entire population of University Librarians that is three (3) of them. The questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed from the different Agriculture University Libraries sampled representing (100%), Major findings testify that the current agricultural information resources available are insufficient in agriculture University libraries in Nigeria, current information resources particularly e-journals, e-books, information resources related to agricultural information such as databases, e-journals, e-books were the information needs identified are not much available. The study recommended, the improvement of the existing information resources, for the user’s information needs, subscriptions of offline databases such as, AGORA, HINARI, AJOL, JSTORE and E-Granary to access agricultural information offline with millions of information resources on text books journals available and continue to be added in each seconds. These findings suggest the need to formalize and strengthen linkages between users and library staff, to improve access to agricultural information, and to formulate policy and regulatory frameworks that are gender responsive. There is a need for policies that facilitate inter- library loan between agriculture University libraries and research institute libraries, collaboration and information sharin

Information Seeking Patterns of Small Scale Farmers for Farming Activities in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract This study identified Small Scale Farmers (SSF) information seeking patterns used and types of crops produced for effective farming activities. Three research questions and one hypothesis were developed to guide the study. Cross sectional survey design was adopted in which a total of seven hundred (700) registered small scale farmers’ cooperative associations from three agricultural zones of Katsina state formed the population. A total number of two hundred and eighty (280) respondents were randomly sampled using cluster sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in which the null hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC). The findings of the study revealed that the information seeking patterns used by SSF is through asking questions, verbal conversations and collaborations then followed by chatting and referral. The findings revealed that more than seventy percent (70%) of the farmers engaged in different types of farming activities that includes rain-fed farming, livestock farming, and irrigation farming activities. The findings revealed the highest crops produced by the small holder farmers are; beans, millet, maize and sorghum.. The study recommends that government and farmers’ cooperative associations should create discussion forums at local government and ward levels to attend to small holder farmers when seeking information for successful farming activities

AWARENESS AND USE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES, SERVICES AND FACILITIES BY STUDENTS IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

Abstract The present study provides an overview about the user’s awareness in Federal University Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria.. The study was conducted to ascertain the level of awareness of information resources, services and facilities by students of FUAA. Three research objectives guided the study. 306 copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents in the university and 217 received and analyzed. Simple random and stratified sampling techniques were employed for the study due to the largeness of the population. In the data analysis, frequency counts, simple percentages, and charts was used for the statistical analysis. The study Highlight the levels of awareness of different types of information resources, services and facilities provided by the university library and revealed that the students are fully aware and seems to use them regularly. Other findings from the study showed that students utilized the information resources such as text books, journals, E-theses and dissertations E-journals, and E-books for learning and research. The study recommended that the university library should make more efforts to improve the relevant information resources to encourage students to patronize the librar

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION RESOURCES BY STUDENTS OF FUAA

Abstracts The study was conducted to analyze Issues and Challenges in Accessing and Utilization of Information Resources by students of Federal University Agriculture Abeokuta. Four research objectives guided the study. 306 copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents in the university and in response only 217 were received from the student’s community. Simply a stratified random sampling technique was employed for the study due to the largeness of the population. In the data analysis, frequency counts, simple percentages, and charts were used for the statistical analysis. The findings revealed that the availability of information resources such as newspapers, journals, text and reference books, theses and dissertations, E-journals, E-News papers, E-Books and CD-ROMs; It also indicated that the level of usage of information resources for research among students is relatively fair and textbook, journals, E-Newspapers and E-theses/dissertations are the most used information resource by the students. The findings show that many other primary and secondary information resources and as for as digital sources and the internet facilities concerned, connection speed is challenging reflects in the use of electronic information resources in the library. The non-availability and accessibility of digital and some printed information resources affects the student’s creativity, own assignments and projects and further leads to copying and plagiarism. The research findings draw the attention of the Federal University of Agriculture Library (FUAA) Ogun State in collection developments in terms of both the print and digital information resources and also recommends to increase the speed of internet and free downloading and printing the digital contents. The study also advocates the library staff members to provide information guidance and training services to the students in utilizing the open databases such as AGORA, AGRIS AGRICOLA, PubMed, Biomed Central BEAST CD, VET CD, TEEAL, AGRICOLA

AN APPRAISAL ON THE TYPES OF SICKNESS TREATED BY TRADITIONAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND KNOWLEDGE DOCUMENTATION PRACTICES A CASE STUDY OF MATAZU LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF KATSINA, NIGERIA

The study sought to explore documentation of traditional medical information in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. The study used a purposive sampling technique, specifically convenience sampling to select participants and unstructured interview was used to collect data from the participants. The findings from the study indicated that: (1) traditional medical practitioners in Matazu Local Government Area addressed the issues of common diseases and psychological diseases; they use Biological- herbs, and Special Quranic prayers to cure diseases. The study showed that there is no formal documented information on traditional medical practices in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. In conclusion, documenting traditional medical knowledge was considered the most important factor that would encourage and patronizes to use the medicine and the ascendants’ of the traditional medical practitioners to continue with the practice. It was therefore recommended that in order to improve the use of traditional medicine and its heritage there is the need for proper documentation

ACCESS AND USE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES, SERVICES AND FACILITIES BY FACULTY MEMBERS OF FUTMINNA (FUTM) NIGERIA

Abstract: This study access and use of information resources, services and facilities by faculty members of FUTMinna (FUTM) Nigeria. The study also investigated the usage of these resources, and services. The main objective of the study was to determine the level access and use of information resources, services by faculty members in the library. Major findings testify that, the agricultural information available, accessible and utilized is not much available. Current information resources particularly e-journals, e-books, databases, text books were the information needs by the users in the library. The study therefore, recommended the improvement of the existing information resources, and services for the user’s information needs and where possible. Subscription of offline databases to access agricultural information offline should be improve

Use of Information Resources and Service by Non Academic Staff of Agriculture University Libraries in Eastern Nigeria (UNN, MOUA and FUTO)

The study examines the accessibility, utilization and satisfaction of information resources and services in Nigeria\u27s Agriculture University Libraries. Non-academic staff, from Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia and University of Nigeria Nsukka are the respondents. The main objective of the study is to study the information resources, services, utilization and satisfaction at Agriculture University Libraries in Nigeria in order to analyze the types of available information resources, the level of usage and user satisfaction. Questionnaires were provided to users and the researcher took 1.3 % of the entire respondent population= 5878= 78, so seventy eight (78) copies of the questionnaires were given to the respondents. Fifty nine (59) copies of the various Agriculture University Libraries sampled were retrieved and analyzed, representing 75.64 %. Key findings show that in the Agriculture University Libraries sampled, the existing agricultural information tools available, accessible and used are inadequate current information resources, particularly e-journals e-books and loan times, agricultural information related information resources, such as databases, e-journals e-books, as there was not much available for the established information needs. There was no access to adequate information resources for users because of the insufficient number of library employees. The study recommended the enhancement of existing information tools, services and user information needs facilities, offline database subscriptions such as AGORA, HINARI, AJOL, JSTORE and E-Granary to access agricultural information offline, with millions of textbook and journal information resources accessible and added every second

EMERGING ROLE OF LIBRARIANS ON INFORMATION PROVISIONS, SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

The study examines the information infrastructure, facilities and services in Nigeria\u27s Agriculture University Libraries., Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Federal, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia, and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, are the respondents. The main objective of the study is to assess the information resources, services and facilities at Agriculture University Libraries in Nigeria in order to analyze the types of available information resources, services and facilities, and the constraints associated with on the provision of information resources services and facilities to library users. Although questionnaires were provided to university librarians, the researcher was in charge of monitoring the activities of library users.. The researcher took the entire respondent population of university librarians, in Agriculture University Libraries sampled were retrieved and analyzed, representing 100 %. The process of observation was also used to fill in the holes that the questionnaire did not fill in. Key findings show that in the Agriculture University Libraries in Nigeria, the existing agricultural information tools and facilities available, accessible and used are inadequate. In the Agriculture University Libraries, infrastructural facilities and internet services existed, but were not well established. There was no access to adequate information resources for users because of the insufficient number of library employees. The study recommended the enhancement of existing information tools, services and user information needs facilities, offline database subscriptions such as AGORA, HINARI, AJOL, JSTORE and E-Granary to access agricultural information. To resolve these limitations, library management should look beyond the annual budget and reliance on TETFund, on consultancy services, printing, binding, publishing, donations from philanthropists into the future field of revenue streams and financing the library

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON USER SATISFACTION WITH THE INFORMATION RESOURCES AND LIBRARY FACILITIES BY FACULTY MEMBERS IN THREE AGRICULTURE LIBRARIES: ABU, FUTM, AND FUTO, IN NIGERIA

The comparative study on user satisfaction with information resources, and library facilities by faculty members in Three Agriculture university Libraries: ABU, FUTM, AND FUTO in Nigeria; the respondents are faculty members, in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Federal University Technology Minna and Federal University Technology Owerri sampled by the researcher. The main objective of the study is to compare the information resources, and facilities of Agriculture University Libraries with view to examine the types of information resources, and facilities available and user’s satisfaction by the respondent’s Library. Simple random sampling was used in selecting the Agriculture University Libraries from the six geopolitical zones. therefore seventy eight (78) copies of the questionnaires were administered to the respondents, however, sixty (60) of questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed from the different Agriculture University Libraries sampled representing (76.92%), Major findings testify that the current agricultural information resources and facilities available, accessible and utilized are insufficient in agriculture University libraries sampled in Nigeria. Infrastructural facilities and internet services existed in agriculture University libraries of Nigeria but were not well developed, current information resources particularly e-journals, e-books and information resources related to agricultural information such as databases, e-journals, e-books were the information needs identified are not much available. The study recommended, the improvement of the existing information resources and facilities for the user’s information needs, subscriptions of offline databases such as, AGORA, HINARI, AJOL, JSTORE and E-Granary to access agricultural information offline with millions of information resources on text books journals available and continue to be added in each seconds. There is a need for policies that facilitate inter- library loan between agriculture University libraries and research institute libraries, collaboration and information sharin

AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND SATISFACTION OF USERS OF INFORMATION RESOURCES SIN THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES BY NON-ACADEMIC STAFFS OF OAU AND UI, NIGERIA

The study was conducted to investigate the Availability, Accessibility and Satisfaction of Users of Information Resources in the Faculty of Agriculture University Libraries by Non-Academic Staffs of OAU and UI, Nigeria. Three research objectives guided the study. 380 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the respondents in the faculty of agriculture university libraries and in response only 315 (82.89%) were received from the nonacademic staffs. stratified random sampling technique was employed for the study due to the largeness of the population. In the data analysis, frequency counts, simple percentages, and charts were used for the statistical analysis. The findings revealed that the access to information resources such as newspapers, journals, text and reference books, theses and dissertations, E-journals, E-News papers, E-Books and CD-ROMs; It also indicated that the level of usage of information resources for research among non academic is relatively fair and textbook, journals, E-Newspapers and E-theses/dissertations are the most used information resource by the non academic staff. The findings show that many other primary and secondary information resources and as for as digital sources and the internet facilities concerned, connection speed is challenging reflects in the use of electronic information resources in the library. The non- accessibility of digital and some printed information resources affects the non academic’s creativity. The research findings draw the attention of the Faculty of agriculture University Libraries (OAU and UI) in collection developments in terms of both the print and digital information resources and also recommend increasing the speed of internet and free downloading and printing the digital contents. The study also advocates the library staff members to provide information guidance and training services to the academic staff in utilizing the open databases such as AGORA, 9TAGRIS AGRICOLA, PubMed, Biomed Central9T 9TBEAST CD, VET CD, TEEAL, AGRICOLA9T