Use of electronic resources by postgraduate students in University of Cape Coast

The study investigates the use of electronic resources by postgraduate students in University of Cape Coast (UCC). It specifically targets first year postgraduate students of UCC. Awareness, usage, training, and access were explored. A survey method was employed and a structured questionnaire was utilized to solicit data. The findings revealed that, though students are aware of electronic resources, they do not fully utilize them to support their academic pursuit due to poor level of information literacy skills. However, few students had not participated in all information literacy skills training organized by the library. Results from the study showed that, significant number of postgraduate students do access electronic resources when on campus and mostly use electronic devices such as laptops, ipad, desktop computers, and mobile phones. The findings indicated that students use the electronic resources to complete assignments, write project work, to update lessons note, for research, and update themselves on new information in their fields of study. It was recommended that a structured curriculum should therefore be established as part of postgraduate students’ normal lecture periods where time is allocated on their time table for electronic resource training, and if possible, credited to their academic performance ratings or grading

Causal Relationship between Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction of Library and Information Professionals: A Canonical Correlation Analysis

This study examines the constructs of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In this study, a canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to estimate relationships between identified dimensions of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. This study confirmed previous research showing that job satisfaction and organizational commitment constructs have positive and canonical relationship. The study samples are 405 of Library and Information Professionals selected randomly at the 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Nigeria Library Association held in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was prepared for the purpose of collection of data and the data were collected using Job Satisfaction Survey dimension of job satisfaction are autonomy, remuneration, promotion, supervision, condition of service, job significant, co-workers, skill variety, procedures as it is used by Humborstad and Perry (2011) while Organizational Commitment Scales affective, normative and continuance as it is used by Field (2002). In this study, three canonical correlation coefficients (CCC) were estimated, and the first two of them were significant (0.653 and 0.597, p0.001). Also the squared canonical correlation coefficient indicates the proportion of variance a dependent variable linearly shares with the independent variable generated from the observed variable’s set (i.e., the canonical variates) where job satisfaction accounted for 21.36% of the variance in organizational commitment while organizational commitment explained 17.15% of the variations in job satisfaction

Availability and Use of Digital Reference Service Tools for Effective Service Delivery by Librarians in Private Universities Libraries in South-East Nigeria

This study examined availability and use of digital reference tools in private university libraries in south-east Nigeria. It is designed to ascertain the extent of use of DRS tools by Librarians in effective service delivery to users. Survey design was used for the study and 46 respondents comprising of Librarians and Library Staff who directly provide reference services in the private university libraries participated in the study. An observation checklist and a structured questionnaire were administered to the respondents. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found that email services, text based/instant messaging, online pathfinders and mobile reference service were the most popular digital tools available in the private university libraries. It found that while some tools are being utilized to a very high extent and high extent, other are utilized at a low extent and not used at all. It also found paucity of funds among others as some of the challenges encountered in proving DRS. It shows that provision of funds, regular power supply are some of the strategies that can be adopted at effective provision of DRS. The study concludes by recommending adequate provision of DRS tools in the university libraries for effective service delivery

Archiving in academic institutions: a case study of Catholic University of Ghana

The study looked into issues surrounding the custody of records considered be of timeless value to the University. The population of study were the administrative and library staff of the University. Purposive sampling was used to select the staff who handle the records at the University. Interviews and observation were the data collection instruments. Findings showed existence of multiple archives across the various departments, faculties and secretariat of the Vice-Chancellor and a lack of university-wide finding aids to accessing records among others. A policy on archiving, the establishment of a centralized archival unit, engagement of a professional archivist, adoption of an electronic media for archiving and promotion of archival material for teaching and learning were recommended for the consideration of the University

Utilization of library resources by lecturers in university of cape coast

This research work was designed to examine the utilization of library resources by lecturers in University of Cape Coast. The objective of the study was to find out the level of availability of library materials in the university, and determine the extent of use of the materials by lecturers. It is also to find out factors that impede lecturer’s use of the library and make recommendations for improvement. A descriptive survey was used for the study. In all, 200 lecturers were selected for the study. The lecturers were selected using random sampling. Statistical tools used for the analysis were frequency counts and mean scores. The major finding of the study is that there are many library resources such as textbooks, journals, research monographs, research reports, newspapers, indexes/abstracts, internet services and dictionaries/encyclopedias amongst others, and that lecturers use the library mainly for consultation of reference materials. They also use it for research purposes and borrowing of books. A major finding was also that lecturers utilized books more than any other source of information. A number of recommendations were put forward for improvement of library use but the most prominent suggestion was that more up to date and relevant materials should be acquired by the library, and lecturers should be informed of newly acquired materials

ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH INFORMATION LITERACY OF NIGERIANS ON THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC: A CROSS SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY

The study assessed the health information literacy level of Nigerian on the preventive measures and management of COVID 19 pandemic using online cross sectional survey. The research design adopted for the study is descriptive survey research design. Nigerians between the age of 15 and above made up the population of the study. Online survey using Google form was conducted between using social media platforms. To assess the health information literacy level of Nigerians on the preventive measures of COVID-19; a 25 objective questions constructed by the researcher called “COVID-19 Health Related Information Literacy Assessment Scale” was used. Data collected was analyzed using frequency distribution table and percentage. The null hypotheses one was tested using Mann Whitney U, while the hypothesis two was tested using Kruskal Wallis Test at 0.05 significance level. The computation and analysis of the data collected was performed with the aid of SPSS version 23. The study revealed that, the major sources of information for COVID-19 related health information among Nigerians are social media (facebook, twitter, whatsapp etc.), friends and family, radio programmes. the COVID-19 health literacy level of Nigerians is moderate. Though many scored high in the scale used, most of the respondents are incorrect in most of the advance questions such as recommended meter for social distancing, most appropriate way to wear face shield, contracting COVID-19 through books, spoons, plates among others touched by infected person, and even what to do after coughing or sneezing during COVID-19 among other technical and advance questions. Gender was not a significant factor in the COVID-19 Health Information Literacy Level of Nigerians on the preventive measures of COVID 19 pandemic; while there was a significant difference in the health information literacy level of Nigerians on the preventive measures of COVID 19 pandemic according to educational level, as Nigerians with higher level of education had higher COVID-19 Health Information Literacy level than those with lower educational level. The study recommended among other things that, Federal government should adopt more proactive measures of education Nigerians on the advanced ways to prevent and manage COVID-19. Also, in order to reach wider audience with little or no cost the government should mandate churches and mosques to devote few minutes for enlightening and educating their members on the global best practice in the prevention and management of COVID-1

Assessment of Nursing Students’ Level of Satisfaction With Library Services In Selected Universities In Edo State

This study was necessitated by an attempt to find out the nursing students’ level of satisfaction with library services in selected universities in Edo State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised all the 100 to 500 level Nursing undergraduates in selected universities. Accidental sampling techniques was used to draw a sample size of two hundred (200), one hundred and nine three (193) copies were retrieved and analyzed using simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents use library loan services (52.3%), user-education services (56.5%), electronic services (50.3%) and photocopying/reprographic services (50.8%). Furthermore, it was discovered that majority of the respondents were satisfied with user-education (mean score 2.53), photocopying/ reprographic services (mean score 2.60) but expressed dissatisfaction with other library services with the mean score of less than 2.5. Finally, findings revealed that out-dated-library materials, unfriendly attitude of library staff to users, lack of awareness of the range of services libraries offer, library that do not subscribe to recent electronic databases, inadequate seats and reading tables, erratic power supply affecting the use of electronic library resources, books that are not always found in the right shelves according to subject area were challenges respondents’ face in using library services. Recommendation were made for improvement in awareness of the range of services libraries offer so as to enhance full utilization of library services; provision for reliable and stable alternative power supply to enhance students’ use of electronic resources among others

Street Vendors Evictions and Relocations in Dar Es Salaam: Coping Strategies and Resilience Implications

The existing literature on urban governance regards street vendors as passive victims of evictions and re-allocations threats, focusing largely on their inability to cope. Using the case study of the urban street vendors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, this paper suggests that urban street vendors are not just passive victims of evictions and re-allocations but also utilize various capabilities to cope with this threat. The paper examines evictions and re-allocations threat among urban street vendors in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, to determine the vendors’ capability to cope with the threat and recommend factors for supporting the vendors to cope more competently. Based on the multilayered social resilience framework, a qualitative approach was utilized and drew data on a sample of 50 respondents through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), observations, and a review of secondary data. Findings indicated that on the one hand, the vendors managed to develop reactive and less proactive capacities of coping with the evictions and re-allocations threat mainly based on the individual, household, community level, and to a lesser degree, national and international levels. On the other hand, vendors’ coping capacities were impeded by their lack of financial ability, less supportive government structures and politics, lack of union among the vendors, and business skills. These factors should be considered in supporting the vendors to more competently cope with the threat. These findings provide insights on alternative ways of understanding and alleviating the negative consequences of evictions and re-allocations of the urban street vendors in Dar es Salaam and other cities in Tanzania

Social Media Utilisation, Study Habit and Undergraduate Students’ Academic Performance in a University of Education in Nigeria

This paper examined the correlation between social media utilisation, study habit and undergraduate students’ academic performance in Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, Nigeria. The study used descriptive survey design. A sample of 2 departments from each of the 4 colleges existed in the university in 2012/2013 session was drawn using simple random sampling technique, Also, a sample 2905 students out 9692 students in the university during the academic session under study was drawn using purposive sampling technique. This comprised the total number of students in all the Departments sampled. The study developed and used a questionnaire tagged “Social Media Utilisation and Study Habit Questionnaire (SMUSHQ)” with correlation coefficient (r) of 0.79. The final year results of the sampled students were used to assess their academic performance (2015/2016 session). The descriptive statistics of frequency count and simple percentage were used for the research questions generated, while inferential statistic of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation coefficient was employed to analyse the data, and the null hypotheses developed for the study were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that undergraduate students displayed high level of utilisation of social media and there was relatively low study habit pattern of undergraduate students. social media utilisation has significant relationship with study habits of undergraduate students r = .345; (p \u3c 0.01); social media utilisation has significant relationship with undergraduate students’ academic performance r = .547; (p \u3c 0.01) and study habit has significant relationship with undergraduate students’ academic performance. r = .448; (p \u3c 0.01).It is therefore recommended among others that seminars and conferences should be organised by Univeristy management for students on the significance of social media to academic attainment and also reinforce the adverse effects its abuse could have on undergraduate students academic performance. Also, latest electronic books and databases on varying disciplines should be procured by the University while proper orientation on effective utilization of such media should be provided