Physically Challenged Students and Their Information Needs

This study is aimed at exploring the information needs of the physically challenged students in Kwara State Library, Ilorin, Nigeria. A Survey research design was adopted. Three objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. Findings showed that 76% were male while 24% were female. Findings also reveal that the information needs of physically challenges students covered medical (94%), academic (82%), security (78%), news/current awareness, training/conference, seminar respectively (76%), transport/travel (53%), sport (55%), politics (18%), and (4%) among others. The study revealed that (82%) used the library occasionally while (18%) regularly. The study showed that (65%) found the information resources inadequate in meeting their needs. Problems confronting information needs of the physically challenged include, furniture in the library are not good for relaxing (100%), lack of infrastructural facility (82%), lack of information materials (76%), lack of architectural design (73%), staff attitude is discouraging (67%), library environment is not accommodating (61%), and others (41%). The paper concludes that library stakeholders, National Library of Nigeria, Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Library Association, Federal and State government should take into consideration the physically challenged amongst us, thereby ensuring suitable reading environment. Recommendations were put forward to enhance adequate and relevant information by the physically challenged

Women in Prison and Their Information Needs: South – South Prison Libraries Perspective

study aims at identifying the information needs of women in South-South Prison, Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Four objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. Findings showed that Akwa-Ibom Prison topped the highest (21%) of the women in South-South Prison, followed by Cross River Prison (19%), Delta Prison (18%), Edo Prison/Rivers Prison (17%) and Bayelsa Prison (8%). Findings also reveal that the information needs of prisoner’s women covered medical information (98%), education/security information (97%), life after prison/spiritual and moral (86%), financial (84%), family/friends (82%), legal issues (72%) among others. (70%) found the libraries condition in adequate. The study reveal that (73%) counselling topped the highest way of meeting information needs of women in prison. Factors affecting information needs of women in prisoners include, congestion/lack of hygiene / poor funding (96%), lack of medication / health care (91%), lack of security (89%), lack of accommodation after released (78%), lack of time to interact with family/ friends (77%), sexual abuse/excessive prolonged use and pre-trial detention (75%), lack of training/lack of special treatment for women (66%), mental health problem (61%), illegal activities (55%) among others. The paper concludes that Government should ensure that prison policies and programmes are specifically tailored to the needs of women, including those in the areas of resettlement among others. Recommendations were put forward to enhance access to information by the prisoner’s women

Wheelchair Users and Their Information Needs: Library in Rescue

This study is aimed at examining the information needs of the wheelchair users in Oyo State Public Library, Ibadan, Nigeria. A Survey research design was adopted. Four objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. Findings showed that (81%) were male while (19%) were female. Findings also reveal that the information needs of wheelchair users covered education (95%), recreational (86%), social/personal (72%), security/government policies programmes (70%), health (67%), politics (63%) and (21%) others information. The study revealed that Internet (79%) and (72%) library topped the highest ways of meeting the information needs. Also, (63%) wheelchair users visit the library every day while (16%) visit the library once in two days whereas (12%) visit the library about three times in a week and (9%) visit the library occasionally. The study showed that (60%) found the information resources inadequate in meeting their needs. Problems confronting wheelchair user’s information needs include, inadequate entrance (100%) and lack architectural design (95%), (74%) inadequate orientation/lack of chairs with sturdy armrests, (72%) inability to retrieve books/social discrimination, (67%) poor concentration/inadequate facilities, (51%) staff attitude is discouraging, (40%) inadequate relevant materials and (7%) others. The paper concludes that the government of Nigeria need to articulate policies to remove the barriers faced by the less privileged among us. Recommendations were put forward to enhance adequate and relevant information by the wheelchair users in the library

Identifying the Relationship between Students Computer Hardware Skills in the Use of Electronic Information Resources in University Libraries in South-West, Nigeria

This study determined relationship between students’ computer hardware skills in the use of electronic information resources in University libraries in South-West, Nigeria. This study adopted correlation research design involving simple and multiple linear methods. The population of this study is 85,526. The sample for the study was 398. Proportionate sampling techniques were used to draw the sample. The findings revealed that there is a moderate positive and significant relationship between the students’ computer hardware skills and their use of EIR in university libraries. Also, there is a moderate positive and significant relationship between the students’ computer software skills and their use of EIR in university libraries in South- West, Nigeria; and there is a high and significant relationship among students’ computer hardware skills, computer software skill and their use of electronic information resources in the university library in South-West, Nigeria. Based on the above findings, the study recommended among others that undergraduate students should enhance their computer hardware skills since it is related with the use of electronic information resources in the universities. Research implications were also offered

Physically Challenged Students and Their Information Needs

This study is aimed at exploring the information needs of the physically challenged students in Kwara State Library, Ilorin, Nigeria. A Survey research design was adopted. Three objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. Findings showed that 76% were male while 24% were female. Findings also reveal that the information needs of physically challenges students covered medical (94%), academic (82%), security (78%), news/current awareness, training/conference, seminar respectively (76%), transport/travel (53%), sport (55%), politics (18%), and (4%) among others. The study revealed that (82%) used the library occasionally while (18%) regularly. The study showed that (65%) found the information resources inadequate in meeting their needs. Problems confronting information needs of the physically challenged include, furniture in the library are not good for relaxing (100%), lack of infrastructural facility (82%), lack of information materials (76%), lack of architectural design (73%), staff attitude is discouraging (67%), library environment is not accommodating (61%), and others (41%). The paper concludes that library stakeholders, National Library of Nigeria, Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Library Association, Federal and State government should take into consideration the physically challenged amongst us, thereby ensuring suitable reading environment. Recommendations were put forward to enhance adequate and relevant information by the physically challenged

Internal Displaced Persons and Their Information Needs

This study aims at establishing the information needs of internal displacement persons (IDPs) amongst us. The quantitative and evaluative research design was adopted for this study. The census sampling technique was used in selecting most affected local governments in Borno camps. Simple random technique was used in selecting most affected five local governments out of 20 local government’s utmost affected by insurgency in Borno State, Nigeria. Four objectives were set for the study and the interview was used for gathering data from respondents. As of the time of collecting data for this study, five local governments that were seriously affected among twenty local governments conquered by insurgency are: Ngala, Dikwa, Bama, Damboa, and Chibok. Finding shown that (64%) were female while (36%) were male. Findings also reveals that the information needs of IDPs include security (100%), health information (98%), foods/family and relationship (95%), new/current happening (93%), finance(91% ), life decision (90%), property (74%), shelter (67%), among others. Use of information to relocate their family (99%) topped the list of the use of information by the IDPs. The majority of the respondents found IDPs camps condition inadequate (85%). Factors affecting information seeking behaviour of the IDPs include, lack of fund (97%), irregular medical care (95%), lack of accommodation (94%), lack of food (92%), poor living condition (87%), exposure to violence/abuse (86%), corruptions (74%), government policies(60%), sexual abuse(50%), among others. The paper concludes that State and Federal Government should take into consideration the IDPs information needs amongst us, thereby provide adequate funding, shelters, foods, proper health care and security. Recommendations were put forward to enhance access to information by the IDPs and ensure their safety wherever they are

Women in Prison and Their Information Needs: South – South Prison Libraries Perspective

study aims at identifying the information needs of women in South-South Prison, Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Four objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. Findings showed that Akwa-Ibom Prison topped the highest (21%) of the women in South-South Prison, followed by Cross River Prison (19%), Delta Prison (18%), Edo Prison/Rivers Prison (17%) and Bayelsa Prison (8%). Findings also reveal that the information needs of prisoner’s women covered medical information (98%), education/security information (97%), life after prison/spiritual and moral (86%), financial (84%), family/friends (82%), legal issues (72%) among others. (70%) found the libraries condition in adequate. The study reveal that (73%) counselling topped the highest way of meeting information needs of women in prison. Factors affecting information needs of women in prisoners include, congestion/lack of hygiene / poor funding (96%), lack of medication / health care (91%), lack of security (89%), lack of accommodation after released (78%), lack of time to interact with family/ friends (77%), sexual abuse/excessive prolonged use and pre-trial detention (75%), lack of training/lack of special treatment for women (66%), mental health problem (61%), illegal activities (55%) among others. The paper concludes that Government should ensure that prison policies and programmes are specifically tailored to the needs of women, including those in the areas of resettlement among others. Recommendations were put forward to enhance access to information by the prisoner’s women

Prisoners and Their Information Needs: Prison Libraries Overview

The study aims at identifying the prisoner’s information needs. The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. The census sampling technique was adopted for this study. Four objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. As of the time of collecting data for this study, there were 936 prisoners in the four selected prisons. Findings showed that 95% were male while 5% were female. Findings also reveal that the information needs of prisoners covered health conditions, financial (99%), spiritual and moral (88%), life after prison/ information on legal issues (86%), family/friends (68%), literacy education (65%), skill acquisition (63%), right in prison (42%), prison rules (34%), and others information needs (26%). The majority of the respondents found libraries condition inadequate (85%). The study revealed that mosque/church were the popular ways of meeting information needs of the prisoners (75%). This is followed by family/friends (65%), physician/Nurses (56%), radio/television broad cast (23%), prison staff (22%), books/newspaper/magazine (20%), others (15%) and libraries (11%). Factors affecting information seeking behaviour of the prisoners include, problem of uncomfortable nature of the prison/ long delay before trial (97%), poor funding of the library and prison as a whole (95%), building used for library is unfavourable (85%), among others. The paper concludes that State and Federal Government should take into consideration the prisoners information needs amongst us, thereby provide adequate funding, current information and conducive reading room. Recommendations were put forward to enhance access to information by the prisoners

The Use of Smart Phones for Information Seeking by Undergraduate Students in Nigerian Specialized University

This study aims at establishing the use of smart phones for information seeking by undergraduate students in a Nigerian Specialized University. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Five objectives and five research questions were formulated to guide the study. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select one thousand four hundred and three (1,403) respondents across the two colleges for the study whereas 84% were retrieved. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentage and means. The outcome of the study revealed that apple iOS topped the highest types of smart phone used for information seeking by undergraduate students follow by Google android, blackberry, open WebOS, MeeGo, window phone, Symbian and others. The result also, discovered that factors affecting the use of smart phones for information seeking by undergraduate students include poor battery, high rate of theft on campus, lack of technical experts on repairs when faulty within campus, high cost of data subscription/ Internet access, phone crashes, fragility, poor usage skills, unstable power supply for regular charging, among others. The paper concluded that undergraduates students at all levels should be encouraged to use smartphones for academic works and regular training should be conducted for undergraduate’s students on how to maximize access to information using their smart phones

Wheelchair Users and Their Information Needs: Library in Rescue

This study is aimed at examining the information needs of the wheelchair users in Oyo State Public Library, Ibadan, Nigeria. A Survey research design was adopted. Four objectives were set for the study and the interview was used to elicit information from respondents. Findings showed that (81%) were male while (19%) were female. Findings also reveal that the information needs of wheelchair users covered education (95%), recreational (86%), social/personal (72%), security/government policies programmes (70%), health (67%), politics (63%) and (21%) others information. The study revealed that Internet (79%) and (72%) library topped the highest ways of meeting the information needs. Also, (63%) wheelchair users visit the library every day while (16%) visit the library once in two days whereas (12%) visit the library about three times in a week and (9%) visit the library occasionally. The study showed that (60%) found the information resources inadequate in meeting their needs. Problems confronting wheelchair user’s information needs include, inadequate entrance (100%) and lack architectural design (95%), (74%) inadequate orientation/lack of chairs with sturdy armrests, (72%) inability to retrieve books/social discrimination, (67%) poor concentration/inadequate facilities, (51%) staff attitude is discouraging, (40%) inadequate relevant materials and (7%) others. The paper concludes that the government of Nigeria need to articulate policies to remove the barriers faced by the less privileged among us. Recommendations were put forward to enhance adequate and relevant information by the wheelchair users in the library