Provision and Use of Community-based Library and Information Services: a Case Study of Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

This paper examines the use of community-based library and information services in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data using frequency, tables and percentages. The instruments used in collecting data were a combination of questionnaire, interview and observation. Three hundred (300) copies of questionnaire were administered to randomly selected respondents from ten (10) communities (Afon, Aboto-oja, Ballah, Alapa, Laduba, Ogbondoroko, Olowu oko, Lasoju, Igbo Aran and Elebute) in Asa Local Government and two hundred and sixty-eight (268) copies representing (89.3%) were returned and found useful. The major findings from the study are that: the majority of the community dwellers were farmers (44.8%) and government workers (22.4%) and they needed information on agriculture and personal development respectively. The majority (40.3%)) of the community dwellers obtained their needed information mainly from Radio/Television broadcast

AN ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION NEEDS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF USERS OF OYO STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY, NIGERIA

Information is a resource that is naturally needed in all human endeavors. One can readily infer that information is indispensable in human life, hence a basic human need, which has an over-riding significance to all and sundry. Meanwhile, no country in the world can progress without providing free public library services to the citizens. However, this study is an examination of the information needs and characteristics of users of Oyo State Public Library, Nigeria. It investigates what constitutes the information needs of the library users, what services and resources are available in the library to meet their needs, what are the characteristics of the library users and what challenges do they face in meeting their needs. The population for the study comprises all the registered users of the library. From the total population of 1020 registered users, a sample of 180 (17.6%) was drawn and used for the study. Questionnaire was used in collecting data. Out of 180 copies of the questionnaire administered, 134 (74.4%) were completed and returned. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data using frequency counts, tables and percentages. The findings showed that the majority of library users were students and they needed information that supports their education, which were sought mainly from their personal textbooks. The majority of the users obtained their needed information from library and the internet. The major constraint to accessing needed information was inadequacy of relevant materials. Periodic users’ studies and acquisition of current and relevant materials were suggested as possible solutions

An assessment of the information literacy competence of undergraduate students at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

This paper investigates the IL competence of the final year undergraduate students at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria; identifying their information needs and ability to satisfy such needs, exposure to IL programmes, strategies employed and the challenges faced. The survey research design was adopted. From a study population of 5,867, a sample size of 1,205 (20.58%) was drawn, using purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection which had 6 sections. The study found that majority of the respondents had information needs on their academic engagements like class assignments and project writing. Strategies employed in meeting their information needs revealed their limited IL skills even as they only have little exposure to available IL programmes. Thus, majority expressed dissatisfaction with their present status of information availability, accessibility and usage. Many considered difficulty in identifying their needs, cost of Internet browsing, subscription requirement, as challenges; hence their low level IL competence, constituting hindrance against the full exploration of information resources that may be available for their use. The study recommended that the University authorities should consider the teaching of IL as a course to fresh students with credits attached