Bibliotherapy: An Expanded Role for Libraries And Librarians

A deep research into the concept of bibliotherapy revealed that it has been existence for a long time and rooted in ancient librarianship. However, the concept has moved from libraries to other corporations and organizations. This paper looks at the expanded role for libraries and librarians in bibliotherapy. Firstly, it discusses bibliotherapy or the combination of literature and healing which is designed to bring healings to library users through their interactions between relevant literature and their personalities as well as the etymology of the concept. Secondly, it expedites the types of bibliotherapy; relationship between bibliotherapy and library science; types of bibliotherapy that could be integrated into library services and principles of use that would promote effective use of the library. The result is creating a roadmap for understanding the need for integration of bibliotherapy in library services and providing an extension of the subject in clinics, hospitals, prisons and rehabilitation centres as well as systematic exploration in their own subject domains. This paper recommends that reading and developmental bibliotherapy in libraries is highly essential and should be effectively and efficiently practiced through proper training of staff, orientation and users’ education; libraries should provide consultancy and referral services for users’ who might need them and creating the right ambiance through beautiful designs and welcoming staff attitude

ICT Competence of Polytechnics-Based LIS Students in the use of Online Discussion Forum

Online discussion forum (ODF) as an effective pedagogical tool for learning and knowledge construction, designed to make the learning process robust and all-encompassing. It is also expected to facilitate faster and smooth access to learning aid and for individualisation of learning. In spite of its enormous benefits, previous studies have shown that students do not make use of ODF as expected due to factors largely attributed to low level of awareness and perception without recourse to the role of ICT competence could facilitate sustained usage and promote acceptance among students. This study, therefore, investigated ICT competence on the use of ODF among Library and Information Science (LIS) students in selected Nigeria Polytechnics. Technology Organisation Environment Theory (TOE) (Fleischer, 1990), Media System Dependency (MSD) (Ball-Rokeach and Defleur, 1976) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989) provided the framework, while the descriptive survey design of correlational type was used. The population comprised all ND II LIS students in eight Nigerian polytechnics offering LIS as a course. Six hundred and thirteen (613) students were enumerated in the eight polytechnics in Southwestern, Nigeria. The instrument used were ODF (α = 0.87) and ICT competence (α = 0.84). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression at 0.05 level of significance. Majority of the respondents were males (53.4%) while most of the students were found within the age brackets of 21-25 years (44.6%) with a mean age of 22.8+/-1.05. Google Answers Box ( = 1.86) and Experts-Exchange ( = 1.52) were the mostly used ODF by the students but with low frequency of use ( = 2.48). Further, the level of ICT competence of LIS students was moderately high ( = 2.92) on ODF use. There was a strong, positive and significant influence of ICT competence of LIS students (r = 0.318) on ODF use. Finally, ICT Competence have significant influence on ODF use among LIS students in selected Nigerian Polytechnic (F (3, 563)= 88.581, p \u3c 0.05). Also, the relative contribution of each variable measured in beta weights gives ICT competence (β = 0.206, p \u3c 0.05) . ICT Competence is a vital influencer of online discussion forum use by LIS students in Polytechnics. Government and polytechnic authorities should take cognisance of these factor for optimal and efficient use of ODF