Extent of Access to Health Information and Sources for Chronic Disease Patients in Tertiary Health Institutions in South East Nigeria: Implications for Libraries Role

Access to relevant health information is essential for helping people to take good decisions to enhance their health and well-being. The research examined the importance, level and sources of access to health information for patients with chronic diseases in two Federal Government Teaching Hospitals in South East Nigeria. The research is a cross-sectional survey that used questionnaire to collect data. Sample was 784 patients in two Federal Government Teaching Hospitals in South East Nigeria. Research questions focused on the importance of health information, extent of patients’ access to disease, coping and treatment information. Findings show that while large majority indicated high access to treatment information, about one third to half indicated little or no access to many aspects of disease – specific and coping information. Major source of health information were health professionals. Internet, books, newspapers, pamphlets were also sources of health information. Health information providers can consider areas of low information access for possible focus when planning health information disseminating activities. For medical and public libraries in the zone, sequel to building good consumer health information collections, they should extend their services by engaging in outreach programmes to their user communities. This will serve the dual purpose of creating awareness of their collections and also improve access to quality health information to patients with chronic diseases

Emotional Intelligence of Library Leaders and Innovative Library Services in South East Nigeria

Innovations are driven by leaders in any organisation. Emotionally intelligent leaders (EI) have the capacity to introduce and sustain innovations because they are adept at perceiving, appreciating, controlling and utilizing negative/positive feelings and using them as indicators to create solutions. This study explored the EI of Library leaders in Anambra and Enugu States and how the array of skills relates to innovative services in libraries. The population of the study was made up of 42 Heads of libraries and different departmental Heads in the two States. The questionnaire was used for data collection. Using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation, it was established that though high levels of some components of EI could be found among the leaders that positively related with innovative services, there was a noticeable lack in the area of interactions with stakeholders outside the library circles. The paper therefore, recommended that library leaders within the States under study should synergize with other stakeholders in the information provision chain to bring about innovations in their libraries. They should be able to lobby within their institutions and government circles to attract funds for creative services, should leverage the use of ICT to enable innovations and finally library leaders need to be more assertive, scale up their social and relationship skills and network within and outside their library workforce to bring about  innovation and creativity in their libraries

Information Literacy Skills and Perceptions of Librarians in Colleges of Education in Nigeria

Information literacy training has become an important role for librarians in the 21st Century. However to function effectively as information literacy instructors, librarians need to have good perceptions towards the service and also possess the requisite skills to pass on. The research assessed the perceptions and information literacy skills of librarians in Colleges of Education in Nigeria. It also sought to determine challenges to effective information literacy skills acquisition and services in these institutions. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Questionnaires were distributed to librarians in 39 Colleges of Education in the six geo-political zones of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A total of 87 useable copies of the questionnaire were returned. Results showed that generally respondent have a positive view of librarians’ roles and capabilities in information literacy services. Respondents scored their skills highest on locating skills in the use of library catalogues, encyclopedias, indexes, and abstracts to find information. However, respondents rated their skills lowest on ability to carry out search using Boolean operators and ability to use appropriate presentation software to present information.  Non provision of facilities needed to apply information literacy skills and regulatory bodies on library and information science do not regulate curriculum on information literacy are some of the major challenge that inhibits Information literacy skills acquisition and programme development in the institutions. The study concludes that there is need for IL standards that will guide information literacy development in Nigerian Colleges of Education. Keywords: Information Literacy, Professional skills, Librarians’ perceptions, Academic Librarians,  College of Educatio

Librarians Conceptions of Information Literacy in Three Federal Universities in South East Nigeria: Implications for Effective Implementations of Information Literacy Programmes

Information literacy education in Nigeria is yet to be fully developed and supported by a national standard. The paper examined librarians conceptions of information literacy in three Federal Universities in South East Nigeria and perceptions of its value for students in institutions of higher learning and draws on the implications for development of optimal formalized information literacy programmes in Nigerian universities. The research is a cross- sectional survey research which used questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire contained both structured and open ended questions. Sample was 63 librarians from three Federal Universities. Eight themes were gleaned from the conceptions of Information literacy supplied by the respondents. The highest number of Fifteen (15) respondents conceptualized information literacy as a Meta competence involving multiple information skills abilities. Analysis of librarians’ perceptions of the value of information literacy for students show that they placed the value in six major areas which include ability to access information, improved academic performance, ability to use library resources and others. On perceptions of their roles in information literacy education, high mean score showed that librarians strongly felt that information literacy is the responsibility of librarians and not added burden. The implication of the result of the research is that giving a measure of support through a national policy guided information literacy standard, librarians in Nigeria will perform their expected role in contributing to students’ information skills development and lifelong learning

Medical libraries and achieving sustainable development goals in Nigeria

Good health is the underlying foundation for all humanity’s developmental planning and actions. United Nations 2015 Sustainable Development Goal 3 is designed to achieve good health and well - being for all. Health information is an essential tool that can support good health and healthy living. Medical libraries as health information disseminating institutions have the potentials to disseminate information needed to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).The paper highlights the potential roles of medical libraries in creating access to health information to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3. It concludes that medical libraries in Nigeria need adequate funding and institutional support to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health and Well-Being in Nigeria.Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, United Nations, Medical libraries, Health information access, Consumer health information service

Relationship between Patients’ Access to Health Information and Coping with Chronic Diseases

The research examined the association between patients’ demographics, access to health information on coping and self-efficacy in managing chronic illness. This is a correlation study. The population for this study is seven hundred and eighty-four patients with chronic diseases in two Federal Government Teaching Hospitals in South-East, Nigeria. A Questionnaire and a Coping with Chronic Diseases Self-Efficacy Scale were instruments for data collection. Correlation analysis shows that access to coping information was positively and significantly correlated with self-efficacy in managing chronic diseases. Multiple Regression suggests that disease type was the only patient characteristics significantly associated with self-efficacy when patients have access to coping information. The study conclude that the significant associations indicate that health information can enable patients develop self-efficacy for coping with chronic diseases. Hospital administrators and all stakeholders involved in health care should create an enabling environment for information sharing and flow to patients with chronic diseases. Librarians should play some roles in creating access to health information for patients with chronic diseases through developing and promoting consumer health information resources.Keywords: Health information, Coping; Self-efficacy, Chronic diseases; Self- management; Consumer health information servic

Computer skills set of librarians in Nigeria: Confronting the stereotype

128-134Despite the importance of information and communication technologies to the present day information delivery, most reports and studies ascribe low computer literacy to librarians in Nigeria. The present research sought to reexamine computer skills of librarians in Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to collect data for this research. One hundred and eighty four librarians participated in the study. Results show an improved computer literacy level for librarians in the study when compared to results obtained in previous studies. On a self-assessment basis, computer literacy for the various facets of computer and software use ranges from 60% to 98% literacy levels. Although the findings of the research show an improvement over previous studies’ levels, there is still need to ensure that every librarian in the country is equipped with all necessary information and communication technology skills to enable the individual function effectively in the present age. </span

Usability Evaluation of University Library Websites in South-South Nigeria

Evaluation of website usability is very essential to ensure good use and access to the content of the website. The study assessed the usability of library websites in Universities in South-South Nigeria. Eleven University library websites were identified and examined for the study. The study used an analytical survey method to collect data. A usability checklist was adopted for the study. The checklist has five usability attributes usefulness, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Learnability, and Accessibility. Result shows that six of the eleven University Library websites examined have a total usability score of 50% and above. One library website obtained the highest usability score at 89.5% and the lowest score was 26.3%. Summary of usability attributes of the University Library Websites shows that only five of the eleven websites scored above 50% in terms of site usefulness. For website efficiency, six out of the eleven websites scored 50% and above. For effectiveness only one library website scored 100%; others scored below 50%. All the library websites scored above 50% for learnability except one which scored 33.3%. All library websites scored 50% and above for accessibility. The study concludes that regular evaluation of a library website is core to maintaining the library‘s ability to fulfill support users in the pursuit of their academic and professional goals and also to compete successfully with other standard academic websites

Usability Evaluation of University Library Websites in South-South Nigeria

Evaluation of website usability is very essential to ensure good use and access to the content of the website. The study assessed the usability of library websites in Universities in South-South Nigeria. Eleven University library websites were identified and examined for the study. The study used an analytical survey method to collect data. A usability checklist was adopted for the study. The checklist has five usability attributes usefulness, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Learnability, and Accessibility. Result shows that six of the eleven University Library websites examined have a total usability score of 50% and above. One library website obtained the highest usability score at 89.5% and the lowest score was 26.3%. Summary of usability attributes of the University Library Websites shows that only five of the eleven websites scored above 50% in terms of site usefulness. For website efficiency, six out of the eleven websites scored 50% and above. For effectiveness only one library website scored 100%; others scored below 50%. All the library websites scored above 50% for learnability except one which scored 33.3%. All library websites scored 50% and above for accessibility. The study concludes that regular evaluation of a library website is core to maintaining the library‘s ability to fulfill support users in the pursuit of their academic and professional goals and also to compete successfully with other standard academic websites

The Use of Open Access by Medical Librarians in Nigeria: A Survey of Knowledge and Practices

Open access (OA) publications on the Internet are increasing and assuming important routes for disseminating scholarly information.&nbsp; Consequently,&nbsp; Open access management has become an inescapable feature of modern library services. The study examined knowledge of open access models, licensing types, resources, and practices in medical libraries in Nigeria. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection.&nbsp; Participants were Fifty–one librarians from thirty-six medical libraries. Result shows high (e”72.5 percentage) awareness of open access green, gold, hybrid models, creative commons and public domain licensing types. However, less than half understand the full meaning and implementations of the models. Understanding was higher for OA licensing types. There was also high awareness of OA databases and resources but low use of the&nbsp; resources for information services. Open access services offered by the respondents are creating links to open access databases on library websites and directing patrons to OA publications. The study concludes that medical librarians need to improve their knowledge and skills of open access management to enable them build diverse collections that are relevant to Medical library patrons in the digital age