INFORMATION NEEDS AND MOST PREFERED SOURCES OF INFORMATION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

This study was carried out to investigate the information needs and most preferred source of information of undergraduate students in a Nigerian university of technology. Students in their second and third years of study in the departments of Estate Management and Architecture both in the school of Environmental Technology in Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) were surveyed. An adopted questionnaire was used to gather data for this study. The questionnaire was randomly distributed to the students in these departments thereby giving equal opportunity of being selected as part of the survey. Two hundred and fifty seven (257) copies of the questionnaire were distributed, two hundred and twenty (220) were returned but two hundred and three (203) representing response rate of 80% were found usable for data analysis. The result of the findings was analysed using simple percentages and is represented in charts. The study found out that the undergraduate students

Open Access to Knowledge and Challenges in Digital Libraries: Nigeria’s Peculiarity

Information access has been a major challenge to researchers, especially in Africa and majorly in Nigeria. The exploitation experienced by researchers who do not have free access to papers but have to pay constitutes a major factor for consideration of Open Access Initiative. An exposition on the oppositions confronted by proponents of open access initiative has been done in this work; the change management process and challenges encountered and how to obliterate the challenges are presented in this chapter. Academics across the globe are coming to terms with open access initiative but the Nigeria environment has not fully integrated into this philosophy. This chapter points out the need to embrace open access initiative. It was concluded that open access signals a new dawn for conducting research by granting free access to the deluge of information available across the globe. The open access initiative challenges publishers who place unnecessary restrictions on access of scholarly publications. This makes research endeavours of scholars around the globe easily accessible, thus enabling researchers to extend the frontiers of existing knowledge

CITATION AND COLLABORATION CHARACTERISTICS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Citation analysis focuses on examining the impact and the presumed quality of a particular author, article, journal, institution or a field of study based on level and frequency of citation, among other metrics. The essence of citation analysis most especially in higher institution of learning cannot be overemphasized. The study adopted Bibliometric method. A citation analysis of research projects submitted by graduates of the Department of Civil Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria. The study covered research projects submitted during 2016 to 2018. All the references of the research projects were examined in print form one after the other and the different types of cited materials were recorded according to the year. It was discovered that journal articles accounted for the highest citations, and this was followed by book and others. It was also discovered that most of the documents cited were between 2013-2016, and the average citation counts was high. The study also found that civil engineering students prefer current literature in carrying out their research work. The result also revealed that the students prefer multiple authorship materials than single author for their research project writing. Based on these findings, the paper concluded and recommended that the current practice of hybrid collection in the university library should be sustained, for serious academic research. Library should continue the annual subscription to books, journals (Prints) and electronic databases as they account for the quality of student’s projects, it was also recommended that supervisors should intensify effort in mentoring the students so as to have continuous improvement in the quality of projects

Automating the University Library using Alexandria Library Management Software: The Landmark University Experience

The paper examined the automation of Landmark University Library using Alexandria Library Management Software. Specific objectives of the study include: to highlight the various features of Alexandria LMS, examine reasons for the successful deployment of the software in Landmark University Library, and to consider the strengths and limitations of the software. Regular power supply, adequate funding, engagement of ICT proficient librarians were identified as some of the reasons for the successful deployment of Alexandria LMS in Landmark University Library. The strengths and limitations of the software were also discussed. The paper concluded by enjoining librarians yet to automate their operations to consider deploying Alexandria Library Management Software

Information Provision by Public Library to Agricultural Extension Agents in a Developing Country

One of the bedrock of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is eradication of poverty and hunger. In an attempt to actualize this goal, the role of public libraries in information provision to agricultural extension agents in Nigeria becomes paramount. This paper discusses provision of information to agricultural extension agents in a developing country. It starts with the concept of extension agents and the essence of information provision to them. It further discusses types, sources and challenges of public libraries in information provision to agricultural extension workers in a developing country. Some of the challenges are as follows: poor funding of public libraries, demotivated staff, and so on. Based on these discussions, the paper recommended adequate training and retraining of staff, adequate funding of public libraries by the federal, state and local government, the revitalization of the abandoned mobile library services among others. The paper therefore concludes that information provision to agricultural extension agents by public library is very crucial for national development. The current state of poverty, hunger and lack in Nigeria and some other African countries could be reduced to a great extent if current, relevant and up-to-date information are provided by libraries to the concerned agencies

ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES A CASE STUDY USING BIBLIO METRIC METHOD:A CASE STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATE PROJECTS

This study investigated the citation pattern of Mechanical engineering students in Landmark University, Nigeria.Biblio metric method was adopted, the study covered research projects submitted from 2015 to 2018. All the references of the research projects were examined one after the other and the different types of cited materials were recorded according to the year. It was discovered that the citations was high and multiple authored projects accounted for the that the citations on the projects increased on yearly basis. It was also revealed that journal articles accounted for the highest number of cited documents, it was also revealed that most of the cited materials ar that the students preferred to cite multiple authored materials, it was also discovered that the degree of collaboration by the students varies. Based on this research, the paper concluded that researchers should research so as to improve the research output of the undergraduate projects

ICT Literacy Skills as Correlate of Information Utilisation Among Undergraduate Students of University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria

of University of Lagos, Nigeria. It was found that the level of ICT literacy skills among the undergraduate students of the University of Lagos was relatively high. Majority of the students in the University of Lagos indicated that they acquired the ICT literacy skills mostly through self-study (users’ guide), formal education, by trial and error method, as well as assistance from their colleagues. There was no significant relationship between ICT literacy skills and information use by the undergraduate students. Likewise, no significant relationship existed between the acquisition of ICT literacy skills and use of information by the undergraduate students. The study recommended among others that the university should periodically organize ICT literacy programmes to improve on students’ ICT literacy skills for effective accessibility of the available ICT facilities like the internet and e-resources for productive information use

Towards Curbing Plagiarism in Higher Institutions of Learning: The Strategic Role of the Library

Lack of academic integrity has frustrated the attainment of educational objectives especially in tertiary institutions in recent times. Perhaps, one of the most prevalent fraudulent practice among students, academics and researchers today is plagiarism. This paper examines the concept, nature and intricacies of plagiarism. It notes the devastating effects of plagiarism on the individual, academic institutions and the society at large. The paper argues that libraries by their assigned and inherent functions have a strategic role to play in curbing plagiarism. The roles include awareness creation, teaching of referencing and citation skills, information literacy programmes among others. The paper concludes with further recommendations for dealing with the menace of plagiarism

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CITATION PATTERNS IN CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH PROJECTS

This study investigated the citation patterns in Civil and Mechanical Engineering research projects in a private university in Nigeria. The study adopted Bibliometric method was used to analyse the research projects submitted by graduates of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria from 2016 to 2018. All the references of the research projects were examined. For each research project retrieved, data were obtained manually on some characteristics of cited materials. The findings revealed that the citation in the projects in the two programmes were high. The average number of citation per project was higher in civil engineering than mechanical engineering. It was also discovered that most of the cited documents were very recent in the two programmes. The findings also shows that the most cited materials in the two programmes was journal articles, followed by books among others. It was also discovered that mechanical engineering students cite more books and internet materials than civil engineering students. Also the result shows that civil engineering students cite more multiple authored materials than mechanical engineering students. Based on the findings, the study concluded and made recommendations

Demographics, Socio-Economic and Cognitive Skills as Barriers to Information Seeking in a Digital Library Environment

The chapter considers the importance of demographic and socio-economic factors as well as cognitive skills to information seeking in a digital library environment. Demographic factors such as age and gender were considered. Younger adults were found to respond positively to the demands of information seeking in the digital environment while their older counterparts are still struggling to come to terms with the changes. In the same vein, studies have revealed that the value placed on technology by men and women varies. While men express high level of confidence in navigating the digital environment, women still suffer low self-confidence in doing same. Identified socio-economic factors that also constitute a barrier to information seeking in a digital environment include income level, level of education, non-availability of ICT infrastructures and epileptic power supply especially in Africa among others. Unwillingness to see one’s needs as information needs, inability to articulate one’s information needs, unawareness of information sources, low self-efficacy, poor search skills among others were identified as cognitive barriers to information seeking in the digital environment. Based on the findings of this chapter, the study recommends that for persons who are adjudged to be the older generation, it is imperative for them to acquire requisite ICT skills that will make it easier for them to navigate the digital environment. There is also a clarion call on African leaders to provide infrastructures that will enable ICT to thrive as the digital environment is fast replacing the hitherto traditional one