APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN TECHNICAL SERVICES OF POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN TECHNICAL SERVICES OF POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
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Date
2012-10
Authors
YUSUF, ABUBAKAR ARGUNGU
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Abstract
The objective of the study was to assess the application of ICT in the Technical Services
Sections of Polytechnic Libraries in Nigeria. Thus, the study tried to discover, among others, the
types of ICT facilities available in the Technical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic
Libraries, routine operations in Technical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries,
where ICTs are applied, extent of the relevance of ICT in executing routine tasks in Technical
Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnics Libraries and effects of ICT application in stock
management in the Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries. To achieve the objectives of the study, eight
research questions were formulated. The study adopted survey research method which allowed
the collection of data through questionnaire and use of sample. The data collected were analyzed
using descriptive statistics in form of frequency count and percentages. The data collected were
interpreted and analyzed to arrive at the findings of the study. The study discovered among
others that, the types of ICT facilities available in Technical Services Sections of Nigerian
Polytechnic Libraries included computer, scanner/printer, Internet, website, local area network/
Intranet, CD-ROM player and, telephone. However, from observation, it was found that some of
these ICT devices were not all installed in the Technical Services Sections of Polytechnic
libraries but were available within the polytechnic. The data collected revealed that computers
were adequate as recorded in the responses of 69(56.6%) respondents, while Internet, library
website and local area network, were not adequate from the responses of 66(54.1%),71(58.2%),
and 60(49.2%) respectively. It assessed the routine jobs in Technical Services Sections of
Polytechnic Libraries where ICT were applied. The data on this indicated that the main use of
computer in Technical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries is in cataloguing,
duplicate verification, classification and classification verification. While the least use of ICT as
discovered was in budget allocation to subject or items in the Technical Services Sections of
Nigerian polytechnic libraries as recorded in responses of 3(2.5%), 6(4.9%), 6(4.9%), 0(0.0%),
and 3(2.6%) respondents respectively. It concluded that ICT has revolutionalized library and
information services. ICT has developed to such a stage that it has given access to information at
fingertips. The study recommended that variety of ICT facilities should be made available in
Technical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries to enable them catch up with
advances in technology, which can help to increase the opportunities available for competitions
by improving on information management capacity of the libraries. Internet and other social
networking platforms make it possible for more widespread sharing and collaborative use of
information. Text retrieval systems, document management systems and a host of other ICT
tools used in knowledge management have created opportunities for libraries and users alike
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the Master of Library Science
(MLS) degree of the Department of Library and Information Science, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, Nigeria.
October 2012
Keywords
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ,, TECHNICAL SERVICES,, POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES