1,646 research outputs found

    Usage of Web 2.0 Tools by Academic Librarians: A case study of University Libraries in South-South Nigeria

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    The purpose of this study is to investigate awareness and use of Web 2.0 tools by librarians in university libraries in South- South Nigeria. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Purposive sampling technique was used based on the researcher’s discretion, there are 21 university libraries in South-south, Nigeria but the researchers used 16 universities out of the total numbers because of the large scope and financial implication to cover the total population. A total population of 194 librarians was used for this study. Questionnaire was the primary instrument for data collection. The study showed that respondents are aware of Facebooks, Whatsapp, Blogs, Wikis, YouTube, while they are unaware of RSS Feeds, Bookmarking, and Podcast. Respondents indicated that they use web 2.0 tools on a daily basis. The study also revealed that academic librarians in the South- south region of Nigeria use web 2.0 tools mainly for reference services online, marketing of library services, collaborating with colleagues/ friends and current awareness services. However, their knowledge of social tagging and book marking is limited. More so, majority of the librarians from South- south Nigeria are absolutely satisfied with the use of Web 2.0 tools in boosting their services. The study also revealed that the major challenges facing librarians in South-south Region of Nigeria in the use of Web 2.0 tools are poor internet connectivity and unreliable power supply. The researchers therefore recommended that Librarians should make stringent efforts to explore the potentials in bookmarking, podcast and RSS feed in the enhancement of their services. Alternative power supply should be made available in academic libraries to enable librarians charge their phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets which they use to access web 2.0 tools. Training should be conducted regularly t

    The effectiveness of web 2.0 in marketing academic library services in Nigerian universities: a case study of selected universities in South-South Nigeria.

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    Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2017.The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of using Web 2.0 to market academic libraries services in three purposively selected universities in South-South Nigeria. The following research questions were addressed: 1) What are the Web 2.0 tools used by academic libraries in South-South Nigeria? 2) To what extent do academic libraries in South-South Nigeria use Web 2.0 tools to market their services? 3) What policies do academic libraries in South-South Nigeria have to guide the implementation of Web 2.0 tools for effective marketing of their services? 4) What are the attitude and perception of librarians in South-South Nigeria towards the use of Web 2.0 tools to market their services? The post-positivism paradigm was used to underpin the study with an exploratory survey research design. The population of the study consisted of librarians and students in the institutions surveyed. Purposive random sampling was used to select the respondents. The validity and reliability of the data collection instruments were achieved through the piloting and triangulation. Survey questionnaires and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to sort, code and analyse quantitative data, while thematic content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The results revealed that librarians and students in the selected universities in South-South Nigeria were active users of Web 2.0 tools. The results further revealed that the most used Web 2.0 tools were Facebook, Twitter, Instant Message, and Internet Forum. Moreover, it was found that Web 2.0 tools were being used to promote library services, reach a new audience of potential users, push library news and press releases to users and provide quick updates about the services to users as well as provide reference services online. The results showed that librarians and students in the institutions surveyed have positive attitude and perception towards the use of Web 2.0 tools, and librarians desire to use Web 2.0 tools. Students were interested in using Web 2.0, as librarians were anxious to learn modern ways of marketing library services. The results revealed a lack of policies to guide the implementation of Web 2.0 tools for the marketing of library services in the institutions surveyed. The results found the need to optimise the use of Web 2.0 tools to market library services through training of librarians, the provision of stable and/or alternative power supply, the provision of adequate funding and facilities for the implementation of Web 2.0 tools. This study has implications for practice, policy, methodology and theory. From the practical perspective, the study creates awareness about using Web 2.0 tools to market academic library services widely to users anytime anywhere. The study also provides baseline information for improving access and use of library services in an environment of rising cost of journals and other information resources. The study also provides information upon which relevant training programmes for librarians and students can be based to enhance provision and use of library services respectively. As far as policy is concerned, the study provides a framework for developing relevant policies and availing necessary resources to leverage opportunities created by new technologies for effective marketing of library services to the users. Theoretically, the study contributes towards validating UTAUT in an academic library environment and from a developing country perspective regarding the constructs of behavioural intention, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions. The study recommends among other things the provision of adequate budget to libraries for information technology infrastructure development, capacity building, creating enabling and conducive institutional environment through relevant policies to optimise the use of Web 2.0 tools. The study also recommends the infusion of Web 2.0 into the General Studies (GS) curriculum, a compulsory course at the entry level into the university that exposes students to liberal education

    Awareness and Use of Social Media Among Librarians in Public Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria.

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    The advent and application of information technology (ICT) to academic libraries functions and services have brought about a revolution in library patrons’ attitudes and needs, revolutions in library services and changes in librarian job functions. One of the tools of ICT that have influenced academic libraries is social media tools. This study investigated the awareness and use of social media among academic librarians of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). A descriptive survey method was employed for the study. The sample size for this study comprised of 40 academic librarians and questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that most of the social media are commonly used by librarians in promoting library and information resources and services. However, major constraints to social media usage include poor internet access, epileptic power supply and lack of enough bandwidth. Hence, recommendations were made; these include the provision of internet facilities in all offices in the library and an uninterrupted power supply for library staff amongst others

    Global Technological Trend in Academic Libraries

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    The advent of Social Media Technologies (SMTs) has remodelled contemporary academic libraries in unprecedented ways as developed countries are metamorphosing from providing library services from the conventional labour-intensive systems to embrace some easy dynamic technologically SMT driven systems which is the global trend in service delivery. But the reverse is the case in Africa and likewise in Nigeria where there is a dearth of research on SMT culture, cognizance of these technologies, acceptance, and implementation in academic libraries. It is on this premise that this study examined the use of SMTs for a globalised library services in the University of Ibadan and Babcock University in South West Nigeria. The study adopted a post-positivist research paradigm and a mixed-method research approach with a survey research design. The population for the study comprised all academic librarians coupled with 4th-year level Computer Science students in the selected two universities. While a multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of the target samples which involved the selection of the oldest public and private Universities in the region which are the University of Ibadan (UI), a Federal University, and Babcock University (BU) which is a Private University. Findings from the current study show that SNS (70.7%), chatting tools such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, (65.9%), and image and video sharing (26.8%) were the first set of three most SMT used by Academic Librarians within the sampled universities in providing globalised library services to the library clientele. Also, personal knowledge and skills; staff willingness to change, and Management support were the three (3) most important factors ranked by academic librarians as elements influencing the adoption and use of SMTs. Both University libraries are at different stages of coming up with the requisite SMT policies in providing globalised library services in academic librarie

    Awareness and Utilization of Social Media by Tertiary Institutions’ Librarians in Abia and Imo States, Nigeria.

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    Abstract This study investigated awareness and utilization of social media by tertiary institutions’ librarians in Abia and Imo states. The purposes that guided the study are to: establish the extent of awareness of social media for library services by tertiary institutions’ librarians in Abia and Imo states, ascertain the extent to which social media are used by librarians, and factors militating against the utilization of social media for library services. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised all 149 librarians in 12 government-owned tertiary institutions in Abia and Imo States. The instrument used for data collection was the rating scale. To answer the research questions of the study, tables, mean () and standard deviation were used, while ANOVA statistics was used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significane. Findings of the study revealed that; tertiary institutions\u27 librarians in Abia and Imo states are aware of social media to a high extent; social media tools are used to a high extent; unreliable power supply, inadequate internet connectivity are among the factors militating against the use of social media by librarians in the provision of library services. Based on the findings, the following were recommended: awareness of social media should be intensified by librarians of these institutions; librarians and patrons should acquire the necessary technologies that are amenable to social media use and there should be steady and reliable power supply among others

    Influence of Academic Qualification on Librarians\u27 Proficiency of New Media Technologies in Selected University Libraries in North-Eastern Nigeria.

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    The study investigated the influence of academic qualification on librarians\u27 proficiency of new media technologies in selected university libraries in North-Eastern Nigeria. The study was guided by two research questions and a null-hypothesis. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study was 144 librarians from seven selected University libraries in North-Eastern Nigeria. Total enumeration was used in the study. Questionnaire was used as research instrument. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics of Pearson Chi-square (X2) were used in analysing the data. SPSS version 23.0 software was used for the analysis. Findings from the study revealed that librarians were moderately proficient of new media technologies; their academic qualifications had influenced the proficiency of new media technologies; hypothesis tested showed that academic qualification had significant influence on librarians\u27 proficiency of new media technologies. Recommendations were made based on the findings

    Applications of social media and web 2.0 for research support in selected African academic institutions

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    This study examined the use of Social Media/Web 2.0 for research support and it is guided by three objectives namely: a) to ascertain the uses of social media in academic institutions; b) to identify the challenges associated with social media use for research purposes and c) to provide experiences of social media application in selected African academic institutions. The study makes use of literature analysis in combination with personal and professional work experiences on the use of social media from librarians in four different countries. Institutional experiences of the four librarians showed that it is only Rhodes University Library that uses social media in its library, which is as a result of a formal social media strategy. For the other three universities, University of Education, Winneba Library in Ghana, Makerere University Library in Uganda and the University of Nigeria Library, the use of social media is not encouraging. They use it mostly for communication and interaction with colleagues. It was also discovered that there is no social media strategy available in these university libraries. Based on these findings, the study recommended the implementation of a social media strategy, appointment of social media librarians in these libraries, and continuing professional development of librarians to keep abreast with current trends. Web 2.0/Social Media is a new technology offering new options for African academic librarians in their research support rol

    Social Networking Sites: Changing Roles, Skills and Use by Librarians in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

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    The purpose of the study is to investigate the extent to which librarians use social networking sites (SNSs) and the level of skills possessed by librarians to effectively use these tools. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the skills and use of social networking sites by librarians in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The questionnaire was developed using SurveyMonkey and administered using an online method. The study revealed that Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Twitter, Skype and YouTube are the most popular SNSs used by the Librarians. Other social networking sites such as ‘Nigerian Library Association (NLA) online forum’ and ‘Research gate’ were also mentioned by the librarians. The study also revealed that marketing library services, sharing information about the library resources, and news about the library were indicated as the top reasons for using the SNSs by librarians in Nigeria. Librarians in Nigeria rated their skills such as interacting with friends and relatives, searching and navigating different SNSs, applying information ethically, and ability to evaluate information on SNSs to be higher than others. The librarians mentioned power failure, bad network/low bandwidth, lack of time and lack of interest by some librarians as the major challenges in using SNSs in Nigeria. This study offers insights for academic libraries to make informed decisions in applying social networking tools

    SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND SERVICE DELIVERY BY LIBRARIANS IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA.

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    This study investigated the influence of social media use on library service delivery by librarians in the Federal Universities in South-West, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted for the study. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to cover the librarians from the Universities. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. A response rate of 95.4% was obtained. Frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used for the data analysis. The study revealed that the extent of use of social media tools for library services was generally low. Findings also revealed that the most popular social media tool used was Facebook, followed by WhatsApp, You-tube and Instant Message (IM). Erratic power supply, poor internet access, and inadequate ICT facilities were some of the constraints in the use of social media. The study recommended that awareness in the use of social media should be created for effective library services. Also, the library management in conjunction with the management of these Universities should create an enabling environment for the training of librarians on web technology, provide adequate internet access points and tackle erratic power supply. These could motivate the librarians in using social media tools which, in turn, would lead to the enhancement of library services

    Use of Social Media Platforms for Dissemination of Information and Creating Awareness about Library Resources and Services among Students in Lagos State University, Nigeria

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    Social media platforms are a combination of internet applications that build on the technological foundations of Web 2.0, which allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Social media platforms offer instant messages which are preferred in the contemporary world by students. The purpose of libraries for using social media platforms enhance sharing of news, market their services, provide instructions for information literacy, provide information about library resources and services and for feedback from the users. Hence this study elucidated the use of social media platforms for the dissemination of information and creating awareness about library resources and services among students in Lagos State University, Nigeria. A survey research design was used for the study. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 200 respondents for the study. Data were collected with the use of a structured questionnaire of the respondents. Frequency count, percentage, mean standard deviation, were used to analyse the data. Results review that YouTube = (3.70), WhatsApp = x (3.58), Facebook = (3.15), are the major social media platforms that are available and relevant to academic libraries. Also, shows that Social media provides a platform for lecturers to create chat rooms, forums and groups to expand classroom discussion to post assignments, tests and quizzes = (3.80), social media is useful for getting information = (3.80) and Social media provides Forum for Feedback = (3.74) are the major benefit of social media platform to users. The finding also shows that lack of internet access = (3.57), Network problem = (3.54), Unreliable power supply= (3.50) are the major challenges encountered in the use of social platforms among librarians and library users. In conclusion, social media are communities of people who share interests, activities and provide directions for users to interact. This study recommended that the tertiary institutions should recognise social media platforms that are used among students and librarians for education purposes
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