THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

ICT and Libraries
Libraries which were considered only as the storehouses of knowledge, have got a new outlook in the modern Information Communication Technology era. The activities which were carried out manually in libraries with so much of pain and strain are being carried out smoothly with the help of ICT with greater effectiveness. Library organization, administration and other technical processing have become easier and more quantum of work can be done in relaxed mood. ICT, which is the basis for the MBO, generates more results at a given time.


University Libraries in the ICT Era
University libraries are not the exemption from the impact of ICT. Such libraries are very much interest in incorporating the latest ICT in their administrative functions, technical works and user services. University Grants Commission liberally contributes the grants to the university and other affiliated colleges to install the ICT facilities and generate a digital environment. INFLIBNET is actively involved in the automation and digitization of university libraries. Really the encouragement and cooperation given by the INFLIBNET by its various activities like funding, training, orientation, workshops and publication made the university libraries equipped with all ICT tools for providing better services to the students researchers and teachers.

Meaning of Digital Library
A digital library is a library consisting of digital materials and services. Digital materials are items are stored, processed and transferred via digital (binary) devices and networks. Digital services are services (such as reference assistance) that are delivered digitally over computer networks. It maintains all, or a substantial part, of its collection in computer-accessible form as alternative, supplement, or complement to the conventional printed and microform materials that currently dominate library collections.
The terms such as ‘electronic library’, digital library’, ‘virtual library’, ‘web-library’, or ‘on-line library’ have been used synonymously to represent the same concept. Though the terms used synonymously to represent the same concept, the terms are used differently by different authors in the literature, the central theme of the terminology remains focused on digital content of the documents (2).

 Purpose
The purpose of digital library is to facilitate access to electronic information, print material, and library services to ensure that the information needs of user community are met, regardless of their location. It enables libraries to deliver valuable information that already exists within library walls electronically to patrons outside those walls, to create new digital resources locally, and to integrate local digital resources with remote ones.

Paper:
U K. Vinitha & others 4 The number of people accessing digital collections though the WWW also shows explosive rates of growth. Finally, internationalization is making a “global information environment” a reality.
The purpose digital library is to provide:
• Interaction with potential information users;
• Interaction with information resources: and
• Mediation between information resources and users to add value during the information transfer process.

Advantages
• Digital libraries are essential to enable more people to create and use vast amounts of distributed information and to contribute to the quality and quantity available via the web and future access frameworks.
• Digital libraries remain closely linked to advances in high performance computing and networking and both contribute to and validate these technologies.
• Digital libraries are inertly international knowledge is recorded and stored in many forms, often using different languages and symbol systems.

Services
The purpose of digital library services is to enable the user to access the information required for knowledge enhancement. Digital library services include information about all the services, collections, digital resources, library instruction sessions and services. The specific services of digital library include providing remote access library resources-both printed and non-printed, service deliveries and generation information on library. Depending upon the bylaws or regulations of the individual organizations, the access could be limited to members, or limited to certain resources like commercial database, where only members can access them through password (1,2,6).

Statement of the Problem
Considering the enormous benefits that are experienced in the impact of ICT in Nigerian University Libraries, the Nigerian academic libraries still experience some obstacles or hindrances in the effective ad efficient use of the ICT resources in the library. Today, ICT acquisition and implementation is facing a lot of problems. This research work is being conducted to expose some of the inhibiting factors that are hindering the impact of ICT on Nigerian academic Libraries. Among the militating factors hindering the impact of ICT on Nigerian academic Libraries are a lot of capital investment to buy hardwares, softwares and standby generators for the library. Lack of search skills, automation at infancy level, epileptic power supply, and technical know - how are some of the problem encountered by the academic libraries.

Objectives of the Study
1. To ascertain the level of computerization/automation of academic Libraries.
2. To determine the usefulness of ICT resources in academic libraries.
3. To determine the efficiency and effectiveness of ICT in academic library.
4. To determine how skillful and knowledgeable the staff are in the use of ICT resources.
5. To determine the challenges associated with the application of ICT in Nigerian academic libraries.

Research Questions
1. To what extent has information and communication technology been employed in Nigerian university libraries?
2. What is the usefulness of information and communication technology in Nigerian academic libraries?
3. How efficient and effective is the use of ICT resources in Academic Libraries
4. Do the staff of the academic Libraries have the required knowledge and skills in using ICT resources?
5. What are the factors militating against the application of ICT in academic libraries?

Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to ascertain the impact of ICT on Nigerian academic libraries. The research work highlights the advantages or merit associated with ICT on academic libraries in Nigeria.

Scope of the Study
This research work is on the impact of ICT on Nigerian University Libraries using John Harris Library (Benin City) and Benson Idahosa University Library (BIU) as a case study

Significance of the Study
i. This study is expected to provide a basis for comprehensive information on information and communication technology procurement and application in Nigeria University Library.
ii. The study will established the existing gaps in the adoption of information and communication technology in the operations of academic library in achieving their statutory functions.
iii. The output of this study will serve as a blueprint for libraries, information managers/information scientists, researchers, lecturers, students, and teachers to chart the right course of action for the use of information and communication technology in furthering education through policy formulation and implementation.

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