UTILIZATION OF MEDIA MANAGERIAL TOOLS AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY IN ADULT LITERACY CENTRES AS A STRATEGY FOR CURBING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the utilization of media managerial tools and electronic library in adult literacy centres as a strategy for curbing COVID-19 pandemic in Enugu State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was four hundred and sixty-five (465) adult literacy facilitators in Enugu State while the sample size of 325 facilitators in Enugu State, was adopted as the respondents. The study was guided with three (3) research Questions and (1) hypothesis. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire with 18 items titled “Utilization of media managerial tools and electronic library in adult literacy centres” (UMMTEALC). The instrument was validated by three experts. Two experts from Department of adult education and extra moral studies and one expert from Department of library and information science education, all from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The instrument was trial-tested using five (5) male facilitators and ten (10) female facilitators which is outside the study area. Cronbach Alpha technique was used to establish the reliability coefficient of 0.89. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation (SD). t-test was used in testing the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that inadequate power supply in the literacy centres, poor time management allotted in operating media managerial tools, and poor internet connection in electronic libraries are the major challenges to the proper utilization of media managerial tools and e-library in adult literacy centres in Enugu State. Base on the findings, it was recommended among others that the state government of Enugu State should provide computers, laptops, tablets, internet connection, and alternative power supply such as solar energy system in order to enhance online teaching and learning of adult literacy programmes as this will help in cushioning the effect of the COVID-19 global pandemic. More so, the federal, state and local government authorities should map out a considerable percentage of their budget for adult literacy programme to enable them purchase and maintain multi-media-facilities. Finally, the school administrators should sensitize the learners and facilitators on the use and efficacy of e-library to enable them access current information for effective teaching and learning

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

AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF ICT RESOURCES INMANAGEMENT OF STUDENTS WITH SPEICAL NEEDS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN ENUGU STATE

This study examined the utilization of ICT resources in the management of students with special needs in Enugu State, Nigeria. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Theoretical model of disability was adopted for the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised of 200 students with special needs in selected universities in Enugu State. Simple random sampling technique was adopted in selecting 103 students with special needs in university libraries. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Utilization of ICT Resources in the Management of Students with Special Needs Questionnaire (UICTRMSSNQ). The instrument for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire containing 46 items. The instrument was validated by three experts, two from Department of Library and Information Science and one expert from Department of Measurement and Evaluation, all from Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The reliability coefficient was 0.89 using Cronbach Alpha method. Mean () and standard deviation (SD) were used to answer the research questions, while t-test was adopted in testing the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that utilization of ICT resources among students with special needs would help them get abreast with current information and same time update their pedagogical and academic research studies. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government should provide fund, ICT facilities, internet connectivity and specialized learning resources so as to meet the varied need of the students with special needs and simultaneously organized conferences, seminars and symposia which would serve as knowledge sensitization among ICT facilitators towards the usage of ICT resources among students with special needs in various university libraries in Enugu State