Challenges of Social Networking on Students’ Reading Habit in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Many activities of academic life require the ability to read and write. Reading helps to develop the mind and personality of a person; it also enriches ones’ intellectual abilities. But, with the current popularity of social networking, it is slowly and steadily taking over the mind of young people who are expected to cultivate good reading culture. This study therefore, sought to find out the challenges of social networking on Ahmadu Bello University students. Survey method was adopted using questionnaire as instrument for data collection. Copies of questionnaires were administered and retrieved from 200 undergraduate. Findings revealed that 189(94.5%) of the students are involved in social networking to connect with friends and relatives, the study also indicated that 72(36%) respondents stipulated that social networking distract their reading habits. Based on these findings, this paper recommended that students in tertiary institutions be given proper orientation on how to use social media as effective tool for transformation. The authority concerned should also intensify enlightenment campaign on the negative effect of all social networking on students and their academic performances

The Information Needs and Utilization of Information Resources Among Clinical Students of College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University Nigeria

This paper examines the information needs and utilization of information resources among clinical students of College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bingham University. The goal of the study is to help the University library and the authority of the University, to examine how often the students use the library, to determine the purposes for which the students use the library, to find out the types of information resources used most by the students, to identify the problems encountered by the students in using the library, to find out if the students are satisfied with the information resources in the library. Survey research method was adopted for the study and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. A total of hundred (100) questionnaires were administered using random sampling technique to the clinical students. A total of 80 copies of the questionnaire, representing (80%) of the 100 questionnaire were returned and found usable. Frequency count and percentage were used in analyzing the data. The major findings were that the student’s purpose of visiting the library was to consult textbooks and they were also averagely satisfied with the library services. Recommendations were proffered on how to improve the library services. Keywords: Information needs, information utilization, clinical students, Bingham University

Repositioning Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) for Integration and Registration of Paraprofessionals

Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) has greatly increased the impetus of librarianship in Nigeria and among professionals, thereby making it a pride to behold. The profession is a communal one having only one value of trade to help harness, organize, secure, store and retrieve information when the need arises. This paper advocates the integration and registration of paraprofessionals by LRCN because they are major stakeholders in the delivery of library and information services and occupy the base and mid layers of the personnel pyramid of practicing librarians in Nigeria. The paper leveraged on recognised library cadres and educational qualifications to advocate for the inclusion of paraprofessionals by LRCN. Amending the law that established LRCN may resolve the challenge. When implemented it will be a win-win to LRCN and those certificated by its accredited institutions across Nigeria. LRCN will have its mission and vision actualized and members guaranteed benefits such as well-established career paths, recognition by their parent institutions and an arbiter when the need arises

Western Education versus Indigenous Knowledge of the Tarok in Plateau State, Nigeria

This paper advocates the need for the preservation and conservation of Indigenous Knowledge of the Tarok in Plateau State, Nigeria. The paper started by discussing western education and the indigenous knowledge of the Tarok people and the possible threat of indigenous knowledge extinction due to lack of written records and problems associated with preservation and conservation of the knowledge. The paper also looked at the brief history of Tarok People, the philosophical basis of the Tarok indigenous knowledge/education, the differences and similarities between Tarok indigenous knowledge and western education, and the aspect of the Tarok indigenous knowledge. Finally, the paper concluded that the Tarok indigenous knowledge was more practical than the western education and that the indigenous type of education had a bearing to the traditions, norms and culture of the people. The paper also recommended among others, the establishment of Tarok indigenous knowledge resource centres (museum) and written record on Tarok indigenous knowledge to avoid the threat of extinction. Keywords: Western Education, Indigenous Knowledge, Preservation, Taro

Demographic study of librarians in public university libraries in Nigeria

The study examined the influence of demographic study on innovation management, mentoring and reward system on employee commitment in public university libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design. Multistage sampling technique was employed in the study. Simple random sampling was used to select five out of the six geopolitical zones. Simple random sampling was used to select 3 states from each of the zones. Simple random sampling was employed to select 2 university libraries from the selected states, with a total of 552 librarians. Total enumeration was used for all the librarians in the selected university libraries. 400 questionnaires were duly completed and returned, representing 72.5% of respondents. The study revealed that ages 31-35 years has the highest number of staff 135 (38.8%), there are more male staff 252 (63%) while female staff 148 (37%), there are more Lecturer II staff with 136 (34%) the research also revealed that 282 (70.5%) staff had Masters Degree in Library Science (MLS) those that have served for 6-10 years are the most populated 103 (25.75%). It is recommended that gender equality should be taken into consideration during employment because there is a wide gap between the male and the female staff in public university libraries in Nigeria.Keywords: Innovation management, Mentoring, Reward system, Employee commitment, Public university librarie

Repositioning Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) for Integration and Registration of Paraprofessionals

Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) has greatly increased the impetus of librarianship in Nigeria and among professionals, thereby making it a pride to behold. The profession is a communal one having only one value of trade to help harness, organize, secure, store and retrieve information when the need arises. This paper advocates the integration and registration of paraprofessionals by LRCN because they are major stakeholders in the delivery of library and information services and occupy the base and mid layers of the personnel pyramid of practicing librarians in Nigeria. The paper leveraged on recognised library cadres and educational qualifications to advocate for the inclusion of paraprofessionals by LRCN. Amending the law that established LRCN may resolve the challenge. When implemented it will be a win-win to LRCN and those certificated by its accredited institutions across Nigeria. LRCN will have its mission and vision actualized and members guaranteed benefits such as well-established career paths, recognition by their parent institutions and an arbiter when the need arises

Use of university libraries by academic staff of Nigerian universities: a case study

Quality academic research activities can be successfully carried out if one depends on the library resources, therefore, this study examined the usage of libraries by the academics for their academics research work. The study employed descriptive survey research method to sample 318 respondents from a population of 326 academic staff. Questionnaire was used for data collections and descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics 2.0 in computing the statistical table to determine its frequencies and percentages. The findings of this study were; only few academics engage the libraries in their research and publishing activities. It was also discovered that most academics find it difficult to patronize and utilize the resources of these libraries despite its rich information resources. Libraries and its services are given little significance by researchers; unlike before, they no longer use the library for their purpose due to various perceived reasons. These days, internet is gradually taking over the mind of our academics thereby neglecting the library resources. The study finally recommended that; awareness and orientation should be created that will show the academics the importance of engaging the library in their research activities. Library should be made to review its services and functions that will attract the academics to patronize its services.Keywords: academics, library, research, resource

Social Media Use Among Library and Information Science Students: A Case Study

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevailing conditions of social media use among undergraduate students of Library and Information Science in a Nigerian University. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 180 full-time undergraduate students purposely. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data collected through the administration of questionnaire. Research findings showed that a great number of students of Library and Information Science are addicted to social media for wrong academic purposes. The levels of addiction varied according to four Likert scale type. The highly addiction was among student using WhatApp (40.82%) and not addicted among students using BB chat (13.12%). The demographic indicators provided the obvious results of singles (77.78%) possessing prevalence tendency of addiction, and surprisingly those between the ages of 27-30 (40%) were most addicted. The paper recommends awareness programmes that are tailored to reveal the ills of social media addiction and pave ways to balance use of social media platforms that benefit academic activities among students