Digital Access Tools and Provision of Open Educational Resources by Librarians in Academic Libraries in Rivers State

The purpose of the study was to determine digital access tools and provision of open educational resources by librarians in academic libraries in Rivers State. Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a correlational research survey design. The population of the study was Seventy-Five (75) librarians comprising all the state government owned academic libraries in Rivers State. Census sampling technique was used to select all the respondents. Online questionnaire titled Digital Access Tools and Provision of Open Educational Resources Questionnaire (DATPOERQ) was used for data collection. A total of Sixty-Six (66) responses were recorded and found valid for analysis. The data was analysed using the simple linear regression statistical tool. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between digital access tools (library website, institutional repository and databases) and the provision of open educational resources in academic libraries in Rivers State. The study recommended that academic libraries in Rivers state should link their websites including social media websites to other academic library websites and form a consortium so that users that have access to their libraries and could also harvest the online resources provided by other libraries

Challenges of Marketing Information Resources and Services in University Libraries in Bayelsa State Nigeria

Background: University libraries in Nigeria are confronting the issue of underutilization of their resources and services, which can be ascribed to weak marketing efforts. Purpose: This study aimed at examining the challenges of marketing information resources and services in university libraries in Bayelsa State Nigeria. Method: A descriptive survey design was used for the investigation. The study population included 52 librarians from four university libraries in Bayelsa State. A total enumeration sample strategy was used to collect data via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 52 librarians, and 47 responded, yielding a 90% response rate. The data were analysed using frequency counts and simple percentages. Results: The results of the study show that all university libraries in Bayelsa State use a variety of marketing techniques to advertise their information resources and services, including library orientation, user education, social media platforms, exhibitions, and displays. Effective marketing efforts in these libraries were, however, hampered by issues like insufficient budget, poor Internet connectivity, a lack of marketing policies, and the absence of a specialized marketing staff. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that university libraries should be supported by adequate funding, improve Internet connectivity, establish a dedicated marketing department or team, collaborate with academic departments and faculty, gather user feedback, and invest in professional development opportunities to enhance marketing efforts. Keywords: Challenges of Marketing; Information Resources and Services; University Libraries; Bayelsa State   Abstrak Latar Belakang: Perpustakaan universitas di Nigeria menghadapi masalah kurangnya pemanfaatan sumber daya dan layanan mereka, yang dapat dianggap berasal dari upaya pemasaran yang lemah. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji tantangan sumber daya dan layanan informasi pemasaran di perpustakaan universitas di Bayelsa State Nigeria. Metode: Sebuah desain survei deskriptif digunakan untuk penyelidikan. Populasi penelitian termasuk 52 pustakawan dari empat perpustakaan universitas di Bayelsa State. Strategi sampel pencacahan total digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data melalui kuesioner online. Kuesioner dibagikan kepada 52 pustakawan, dan 47 menjawab, menghasilkan tingkat respon 90%. Data dianalisis dengan menggunakan perhitungan frekuensi dan persentase sederhana. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa semua perpustakaan universitas di Bayelsa State menggunakan berbagai teknik pemasaran untuk mengiklankan sumber informasi dan layanan mereka, termasuk orientasi perpustakaan, pendidikan pengguna, platform media sosial, pameran, dan pajangan. Namun, upaya pemasaran yang efektif di perpustakaan ini terhambat oleh masalah seperti anggaran yang tidak mencukupi, konektivitas Internet yang buruk, kurangnya kebijakan pemasaran, dan tidak adanya staf pemasaran khusus. Kesimpulan: Berdasarkan temuan, para peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa perpustakaan universitas harus didukung oleh pendanaan yang memadai, meningkatkan konektivitas Internet, membentuk departemen atau tim pemasaran khusus, berkolaborasi dengan departemen akademik dan fakultas, mengumpulkan umpan balik pengguna, dan berinvestasi dalam peluang pengembangan profesional untuk meningkatkan upaya pemasaran. Kata kunci: Tantangan Pemasaran; Sumber Daya Informasi dan layanan; Perpustakaan Universitas; Negara Bagian Bayels

Collection Development Policy and User Satisfaction in University Libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria

The main purpose of the study was to examine the influence of Collection Development Policy and User Satisfaction in University Libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria. Three research questions and three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive research design using questionnaire as major instrument for eliciting data. The questionnaire titled (CDPIUSUL) was used for this purpose. A total number of 65 staff constituted the population. The population was purposively adopted because of the smaller size, comprising of 33 for Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and 32 for Rivers State University (RSU) respectively. All copies of questionnaire, distributed were completed and returned. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer research questions while independent t-test was used to test the null hypotheses. The study revealed that there is a significant influence of collection development policies on users’ satisfaction based on knowledge of collection development policy, availability of current resources and evaluation of collection development policy. Based on the findings, it was recommended that librarians should always make use of the CDP to guide in the selection of relevant materials to ensure users’ satisfaction. University authorities should ensure that there is regular evaluation of collections development policies to guide weeding in the libraries and Government should partner with the University management to always donate and acquire current information resources to the libraries in order to enhance users’ satisfaction

Computer Mediated Communication Technologies (CMCT) and Librarian’s Interactions with Users for Effective Service Delivery in Delta State University Library

Abstract The study examined Computer Mediated Communication Technologies (CMCT) and Librarian’s Interaction with Users for Effective Service Delivery in Delta State University Library. The purpose was to identify the relationship between CMCT and librarian’s interaction with users for effective service delivery. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised the total of 56 staff working in the university library (library assistant, library officers and librarians). Census sampling was used to sample the entire population because of its manageable size. Questionnaire served as the primary instrument. Out of 56 copies of questionnaire administered 46 copies valid for analysis. Data collected was analyzed using the descriptive statistics of arithmetic mean (X) and standard deviation (SD). The hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. The study found out that there is a strong significant relationship between computer mediated communication technologies like (email, instant messaging, whatsapp) and librarian’s interaction with users for effective service delivery, only that the use of podcast has not been fully recognized in Delta state university library as it shows a very weak relationship significant at(r=0214; p\u3c.05). Hence, the study recommends adequate recognition and incorporation of CMC technologies like podcast by librarians and they should come up other CMC applications to achieve more effective interactionsand efficient service delivery in the library. Keywords: Computer mediated technologies, Services delivery, University librar

Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour Of Researchers At African Regional Aquaculture Centre (Arac) In Rivers State

This study examined the relationship between information needs and seeking behavior of researchers at the African Regional Aquaculture Centre (ARAC), Rivers State. The population of the study was made up of thirty-four researchers at ARAC, Buguma, Rivers State. The study employed a correlational- Descriptive research design. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire titled ‘Questionnaire on Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of ARAC Researcher (QINSB)’ whose reliability index calculated using Cronbach alpha was 0.922. The collated data from the responses of the respondents was organized using count/frequency, percentages and mean. The data was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlational statistical analysis. The findings indicated that a positive significant relationship exist between information needs for breeding, information needs for fish processing and information seeking behavior of researchers at the African Regional Aquaculture centre. This meant that researcher’s information seeking behavior at the ARAC was greatly influenced by these information needs. Similarly, there exist an insignificant positive relationship between information needs for hatching, information needs for fish feed formulation, information needs for product marketing and information seeking behavior of researchers at the African Regional Aquaculture centre. Similarly, the results showed that information on fish feed formulation and product marketing was not the major concerns of the researchers at the ARAC and thus there information seeking behavior for these needs was not significantly influenced by them. This led to the conclusion that information needs for breeding, hatching, fish feed formulation, fish processing and product marketing stimulate the information seeking behavior of researchers at the African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Rivers State. Thus, the study recommended the ARAC library should equip their information repository with more authentic and up to date information on fish breeding and fish processing so as to support the researchers in their work effectively

Creating Entrepreneurial Possibilities in Library and Information Science: Remedying the Narrative of Unemployment

The paper explores creating entrepreneurial possibilities in Library and Information Science: remedying the unemployment narrative. It portrayed entrepreneurship as the engine house for economic advancement as it plays a vital role in the growth and development of society. It is a treasured instrument for creating wealth, jobs, poverty alleviation, and overall societal progress. There is an outright recognition that information is the chief commodity of the contemporary age and thus saleable. Librarians who market and approach information services with this perspective will unquestionably sell. It captured leadership and information literacy, among others, as skills required of entrepreneurs to function optimally. The entrepreneurial opportunities for remedying the issue of unemployment were excellently highlighted, including information brokerage, database brokerage, information system consultancy, and information organisation service, among others. The paper held that Library and Information Science professionals who venture into entrepreneurship often experience a lack of requisite information literacy skills, a lack of entrepreneurial spirit, an absence of technological literacy, access to market channels, and poor patronage as challenges. Therefore, it was recommended, among others, that library schools deliberately inculcate the culture of entrepreneurship in undergraduates as a remedy to the issue of unemployment among graduates.               &nbsp

Digital Literacy and Job Performance of Librarians in Rivers State University Libraries, Nigeria

The study examined digital literacy skills and job performance of librarians in state-owned Universities in Rivers State. Five research questions and five hypotheses guided this study. A correlational survey design was adopted for the population of the study which comprised 26 librarians from Rivers State University (RSU) and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) and a total enumeration sampling technique was used because the population was manageable. The questionnaire was validated by the two experts and the Cronbach Alpha was used to establish the reliability of the instrument which yielded 0.75 on Digital Literacy Skills and 0.82 on Job Performance 0.77. Pearson\u27s product-moment correlation coefficient was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significant levels. The test of hypotheses established that there is a significant relationship between digital literacy skills and the job performance of librarians in the study. Hence, if acquired by all the librarians it can positively influence their job performance and increase patronage of users in the library. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that librarians should be encouraged with incentives/support to acquire these skills by the management

An Analysis of Preservation Methods in Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the preservation methods in Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Yenagoa. Objectives such as: identifying the types of records kept; preservation methods of records and Challenges encountered in the preservation of records in NTA Yenagoa. The population comprised of 67 records managers in the area of study, a questionnaire was used to collect the data, Descriptive statistics of frequency, and tables were used to analyze the data in line with the research objectives. Findings of the study include: Records created, used, kept, and maintained by NTA as examined were payroll, personnel, security, management meetings, sales, production, and news records; most of which were predominantly in paper-based format; Storing materials at least 15 to 25 centimeter off the floor; Installation of dehumidifiers and air conditioners; Installation of water alarms; Periodic fumigation; and Monitoring of abuse and mishandling were some of the preservation methods deployed by NTA Yenagoa. The study concluded that some preservation efforts are being carried out in NTA Yenagoa, but done inappropriately due to lack of well-written preservation policy and inadequate facilities and funding. The study, therefore, recommended among others that adequate budgetary provisions should be provided for records management programs in NTA Yenagoa. Adequate finance should be provided to procure modern and adequate storage equipment and facilitie

ICT Competence and Use of Digital Library by Post Graduate Students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the relationship between ICT competence and the use of digital library by postgraduate students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study adopted a Correlation design. The population of the study comprised 1800 postgraduates in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 210 Postgraduates. Four specific objectives, four research questions and four null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A structured questionnaire was designed for data collection. Simple Linear Regression was used to answer the research questions and test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result obtained revealed a significant relationship between internet browsing competence and use of digital library, the strength of relationship was (R = .841); Electronic Database competence and use of digital library, the strength of relationship was (R = .713); Social media (LinkedIn & Pinterest) competence and use of digital library, the strength of relationship was (R = .890); and content sharing competence and use of digital library the strength of relationship was (R = .820). From the findings, the study concluded that there is a significant relationship between ICT competence and the use of digital library among postgraduate students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study recommends among others that effective steps should be taken to encourage the postgraduate students to utilize the electronic databases so that the huge sum invested in subscribing for these databases will not be a waste. It was further recommended that library management should organise a training workshop on the importance of electronic databases, its uses and how to filter search by keywords. IAUE Digital library should lecture users on the importance of information sharing, through the use of Pinterest, LinkedIn and content sharing as they are the heavy hitter of information promulgation

Academic Libraries, Science and Technology Development and the Nigerian Smart City Initiative (NSCI): Issues, roles and Challenges

This paper sought to unravel the contributions of academic libraries in Nigeria towards science and technology development for the building of smart Nigerian cities basedon the Nigerian Smart City Initiative (NSCI). The paper proposed a new model that shows the linkage between academic libraries, science and technology development and smart city development. A review of the state of the art of academic libraries in Nigeria indicated their failings in their expected rolesin stimulating science and technology development for the building of smart Nigerian cities. To revitalize Nigerian academic libraries, the paper advocated for developmental efforts by the government, university and research communities to utilize the IPST (infrastructure-People-Systems-Technology) approach. The study concluded that while academic libraries in Nigeria have the potential for providing tremendous support for the transformation of Nigerian cities into smart cities, however, at the moment, if suggestions in this paper are not adopted and/or adapted, the realization of the goals of the Nigerian Smart City Initiative maybe far-fetche