APPLICATIONS AND PERCEIVED IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

This paper expounds the application and perceived impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries in Nigeria. Libraries especially in developing countries may become moribund in the 21 century unless they begin to harness new, smart and intelligent technologies for improved operations and service delivery. This research adopted a literature-based approach to x-ray the applications and perceived impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries in Nigeria. Through a systematic analysis and review of literature, the study brought to limelight the current state of AI integration in academic libraries in Nigeria and its possible impact on library services, collections, users, professionals and general library operations and services. The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic libraries has the potential to revolutionize library operations and services. Some of the identifies AI tools include: Natural Language Recognition, Robotics, Big Data, Data Mining, Chatbot, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition and Expert system. Findings from the study revealed that the application of AI in academic libraries have the potentials to increases productivity, improved customer satisfaction through personalization, easy availability and accessibility of information, easy collaboration and knowledge sharing, virtual assistance and chatbots, and ultimately increase overall operational effectiveness. This paper also explored some of the challenges associated with the application of AI technologies in academic libraries in Nigeria such as poor ICT skills and technical expertise, high initial costs of implementation, phobia for job displacement, epileptic power supply, poor maintenance culture, resistance to change, poor network connectivity, privacy and ethical implications, etc. To maximize the potential benefits of AI applications in academic libraries in Nigeria, it is crucial for these libraries to implement appropriate planning, guidelines and regulations on AI use as well as training and retraining of academic librarians to acquire the required ICT skills, knowledge and competence in order to adapt in the present digital and changing library environment

Use of Open Access Journals for Improved Research Output by Academic Librarians in Universities in North Central Nigeria

The use of the journals especially open access journals is important in every academic environment for research as it affect publication output of academics including librarians. This paper examined the use of open access journals for improved research output by academic librarians in universities in North-Central Nigeria. The paper adopted ex-post facto research design and a self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect data. Population of the study was made up of 209 academic librarians in 13 (7 Federal and 6 State owned) universities in North-Central Nigeria. The data was analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions while Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that, the number of open access journals that were in high use by the librarians were slightly lower than those in low use. It was also discovered that, academic librarians derived a lot of benefits from the use of open access journals and that, research output of the academic librarians was higher in conference papers (2.22) followed by chapters in books and coauthored textbooks (2.20 each), textbooks (2.18) and lastly articles in learned journals (2.00). It was recommended among other things that, University libraries in North Central Nigeria should make a substantial subscription to relevant full text databases and release their content to public domain for use by colleagues so as to increase their use of the journals

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE TO RURAL FARMERS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION.

Information provision and adult literacy on Agricultural insurance is very vital in facilitating rural farmer’s change of behavior and adjustment to climate change adaptation. Majority of rural farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria is mostly illiterate, found in rural communities and are mainly dependent on rain-fed agriculture and with low level of educational development and thus require agricultural information and adult literacy on Agricultural insurance to be able to adapt to the never-ending climate change. However, there are problems facing Information provision and adult literacy on Agricultural insurance to rural farmers for climate change adaptation. This study therefore identified some of the constraints to information agents and rural farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting five hundred and ten respondents for the study. Data collected with questionnaire and focus group discussion were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data gathered from the focus group discussion were also analyzed qualitatively using summaries and consensus of respondents’ views. Findings from the study show that the problems include lack of rural infrastructure, illiteracy, lack of rural information centers, lack of trained extension agents etc. The study recommended that weather forecast information should be published and made available to the farmers through agricultural extension agents. Rural farmers should be educated on different insurance plans to enable them adapt easily to climate change etc

Use of Open Access Journals for Improved Research Output by Academic Librarians in Universities in North Central Nigeria

The use of the journals especially open access journals is important in every academic environment for research as it affect publication output of academics including librarians. This paper examined the use of open access journals for improved research output by academic librarians in universities in North-Central Nigeria. The paper adopted ex-post facto research design and a self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect data. Population of the study was made up of 209 academic librarians in 13 (7 Federal and 6 State owned) universities in North-Central Nigeria. The data was analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions while Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that, the number of open access journals that were in high use by the librarians were slightly lower than those in low use. It was also discovered that, academic librarians derived a lot of benefits from the use of open access journals and that, research output of the academic librarians was higher in conference papers (2.22) followed by chapters in books and coauthored textbooks (2.20 each), textbooks (2.18) and lastly articles in learned journals (2.00). It was recommended among other things that, University libraries in North Central Nigeria should make a substantial subscription to relevant full text databases and release their content to public domain for use by colleagues so as to increase their use of the journals

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE INFORMATION RESOURCES: A COMPARISON OF LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

This study examines the fundamentals of effective management of cultural heritage information resources. Three research questions were developed to guide the study and a descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of all the staff of public libraries and museums in South-East, Nigeria. A total sample size of 379 respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique. The researchers developed a questionnaire entitled “Effective Management of Cultural Heritage Information Resources Questionnaire (EMCHIRQ) for data collection. The instrument for data collection was trial-tested for reliability. A total 379 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents, out of which 361 were returned and found usable by the researchers. This gave a response rate of 95%. The data collected were analyzed using mean (X) and standard deviations to answer the research questions. Also T-test was used to test the hypotheses. Three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and were tested at 0.5 level of significance. Based on the data collected and analysed, the major finding of the study revealed that there is need for the proper management of cultural heritage information resources using basic management principles to achieve these goals. These principles of management are narrowed down to the basic functions of organizing, staffing and controlling as discussed in this study

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE INFORMATION RESOURCES: A COMPARISON OF LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

This study examines the fundamentals of effective management of cultural heritage information resources. Three research questions were developed to guide the study and a descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of all the staff of public libraries and museums in South-East, Nigeria. A total sample size of 379 respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique. The researchers developed a questionnaire entitled “Effective Management of Cultural Heritage Information Resources Questionnaire (EMCHIRQ) for data collection. The instrument for data collection was trial-tested for reliability. A total 379 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents, out of which 361 were returned and found usable by the researchers. This gave a response rate of 95%. The data collected were analyzed using mean (X) and standard deviations to answer the research questions. Also T-test was used to test the hypotheses. Three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and were tested at 0.5 level of significance. Based on the data collected and analysed, the major finding of the study revealed that there is need for the proper management of cultural heritage information resources using basic management principles to achieve these goals. These principles of management are narrowed down to the basic functions of organizing, staffing and controlling as discussed in this study