Tag: AVAILABILITY

Sep 15

AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FACILITIES IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION LIBRARIES IN KANO STATE NIGERIA

AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FACILITIES IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION LIBRARIES IN KANO STATE NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The task of providing information to the academic community in tertiary institutions like that of Colleges of Education has been the mandate the library has had to perform over the years. Colleges of Education libraries were purposely attached to the colleges in order to meet the objectives of the institutions by providing them with the relevant information resources that can support the teaching, learning and research process. For libraries to perform these roles smoothly, effectively, efficiently and in accordance with users needs within and outside the buildings, they have to make Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS) readily available and properly utilized. In light of the above, the need for colleges of education libraries to provide and use ICTs for information service delivery to their users is fundamental. It is fundamental because the libraries are regarded as the heart of their parent institutions, and they are also recognized as the medium through which colleges of education can achieve their set objectives.
The prime function of any academic library is to provide the most needed and up to date information materials that will support teaching, learning and research .Today libraries especially colleges of education libraries are confronted with intricate and constantly developing net work of knowledge. And they are existing in world where the use of ICTs has became essential to progress towards more efficient information service delivery. According to Adewale and Adesanya( 2003) the manual method of acquisition, organization , maintenance ,documentation circulation of other library materials and other services involves a lot of paper work and skilled man power of labour which is tedious, time consuming and prune to error. It is usually leads to unnecessary delays in fulfilling its services to library units.
As the library records became larger and keep on increasing by day, the task of controlling the records will be mere difficult and complex to handle manually. The situation therefore shows the extant need to apply ICTS to solve the problems created by manual method in this era of information explosion in the acquisition, processing and management of library resources as well as the satisfaction of users need.
There are three (3) Colleges of Education in Kano State; Federal College of Education Kano, Federal College of Education (Technical) Bichi and Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education. The two Federal Colleges of Education in Kano State were established by the Decree No. 4 of 21st March, 1986 which established Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria by Military Government. In the same direction a body known as National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) was also established by Decree No. 3 of April 1989. The commission’s responsibilities among others includes controlling, co-ordinating and supervising NCE programmes run by both Federal and State Colleges of Education. By the promulgation of the Decree No. 4 of 1986, Federal College of Education (Technical) Bichi started in November 1987. While Federal College of Education Kano which replaced Advanced Teachers College Kano, under Ahmadu Bello University Abu Zaira then began in 1990. The Kano State College of Education known as Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education was established earlier in 1981 by the Kano State Ministry of Education.
The primary objective of establishing colleges of education was to train and produce professional teachers who will teach in primary schools with a minimum qualification of National Certificate of Education (NCE). However, these noble objectives of the colleges that involve research, teaching and learning activities could only be achieved, if their libraries are well equipped with ICT facilities for effective information service delivery which in turn will simplify research, teaching and learning processes.
Therefore, it becomes necessary for academic libraries such as colleges of education libraries to provide enough ICT facilities that could be properly utilized for information service delivery. By so doing academic libraries could maintain their credibility in the provision of library services for research, teaching and learning process. Several attempts have been made by different authors to define information and communication technology (ICT). Aina (2004) defined ICT as the technology used in handling acquiring, processing, storing and disseminating information. He further stated that ICT consist of computers, online searching, CD-ROMs, internet etc. In 1983, the American Library Association (as cited in Jane, 2000) stated that ICT is the application of computers and other technologies to the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval and dissemination, of information.
According to Fagbanmi and Ogunjobi (2009), ICT is an umbrella term that includes all technologies encompassing medium for recording information such as Magnetic disk, tape, optical disks (CD/DVD) flash and paper record, technology for the broadcasting, information, radio, television and technology for communicating through voice and sound or image microphone camera, loudspeaker, telephone to cellular phones. It also includes a wide variety of computing hardware, desktop computers, laptops, storage devices etc. Omekwu (2007) see Information Technology (IT) as the computer hardware, software that facilitates the, storage, organizing processing and the retrieval of information. Omekwu further defined communication technology (CT) as all other technologies that enable humans to communicate and transmit information, such as radio, television and telephone. This implies that IT and CT were integrated which developed to ICT, that encompasses all technologies that enables man to record, organize retrieve compute, communicate and transmit information.
From the foregoing definitions given above one can define ICTs as electronic devices that encompass CD-ROM, computer hardware and software, CD, Internet, radio, television, disk, tape etc. that libraries and information centers manipulate to facilitate recording, organizing, storage, retrieval, transmission and dissemination of information within and outside their buildings.
The introduction of ICTs in libraries dates as far back as 1950’s and 60’s in America and Europe (Adeyomoye, 2008). It started in form of automation projects where libraries tried to involve machines to help perform some tasks that are hitherto handled by humans alone. It however made its entry into Nigeria in the 1970’s in form of automated projects. According to Nok cited in Adeyomoye (2008) though information and communication technologies have been in the pipeline since 1970 in Nigeria, concerted efforts towards its application began in the late 1990’s mostly in academic libraries where it made its first debut. Libraries were sensitized through lectures of the need to computerize their operations. The new developments in the field of librarianship became so popular among academic libraries to this moment. This is because of its countless benefits to the libraries in every academic community.
The value of ICT is endless (Gama, 2008). ICTs not only give the opportunity to have easy access to information from various sources, but also facilitate resource sharing between and among various organizations apart from improving the status of the Library and Information Science profession. Gama further stated that, the significance of ICTs in Nigerian libraries cannot be over-emphasized. However, the application of the ICTs can be said to be low when compared with what is happening in developed countries of the world. The importance of ICTs in various aspects of library activities and service can be understood from the above. But conscious efforts need to be done by the institutions to provide the right ICTs in order to harness these benefits. Scholars recorded a lot of benefits that library users can drive from the ICT facilities in the library. Henderson (1992) identified some of these benefits or advantages as; provision of speedy and easy access to information, provision of remote access to users, provision of round-the-clock access to users, access to unlimited information from different sources and providing more current information. Colleges of Education libraries should do everything possible to provide ICTS facilities for the benefits of their users.
There is need therefore to investigate the level of availability of these facilities and how the available ones are utilized, the departments/sections of their utilization, staff perception on the use of the facilities problems associated with their utilization and strategies that will enhance their utilization in order to serve the users academic community of the colleges of education in and around Kano State.
Statement of the problem
There is no doubt that ICT facilities have become a major channel for seeking and sourcing information by library users, most especially in higher institutions of learning such as colleges of education libraries. This is because ICT facilities provide users easy access to information needed, which enhances research, teaching, learning and research. Okore (2005) asserted that “ICTs has changed the scope, space, range as well as the procedure of information service delivery, storage and retrieval. It enables information to be stored, retrieved, communicated and broadcast electronically in enormous quantities and at phenomenal speed. It also allows information to be arranged, selected, marshaled and transferred”.
Without the provision and utilization of ICTs facilities, the colleges of education libraries may not be able to deliver effective and efficient information services that will enhance teaching, learning and research processes that colleges of education are purposely established for. Where ICT are inadequate or under utilized, the speed on information service delivery and volume of available current information resources are likely to be critically jeopardized. Previous studies by other scholars covered areas such as availability and utilization of ICT facilities in university libraries. There seem to be a research gap on the availability and utilization of ICTs in Colleges of Education in Nigeria. It is the recognition of this problems motivated the researcher to embark on this study with particular reference to ICT availability and utilization in Colleges of Education Libraries in Kano State. Filling that knowledge gap seems to be vital in establishing the status of ICT facilities in these College of Education Libraries and delineating utilization levels which are vital in informations resources and services improvements in them.
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to determine the ICT facilities available and their utilization in colleges of education libraries in Kano state. The specific objectives of the study are to:
1 Identify the types of ICT facilities available in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state;
2 To examine the areas of ICT facilities utilization in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state;

3 Determine the extent of ICT facilitates utilization in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state;
4 Determine the staff perception with the ICT facilities in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state;
5 Identify the problems associated with the provision of ICT facilities in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state;
6 Identify strategies that could be taken to address the problems of ICT facilities provision in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state.
Research Questions
In line with the set objectives of the study the following questions are formulated to guide the research.
1. What types of ICT facilities are available in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state?
2. What areas ICT facilities are utilized in College of Education libraries in Kano state?
3. To what extent ICT facilities are utilized in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano states?
4. To what extent do library staff perceived services delivered with ICT facilities in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state?
5. What are the problems associated with the ICT facilities provision in Colleges of Education libraries of Kano state?
6. What are the strategies that could be taken to address the problems of ICT facilities in Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state?
Significance of the study
The findings of the study will be of significance to the authorities of libraries and the institutions whose libraries are studied, the government and non governmental organizations, donor agencies. Students and staff who are library patron (users) and other researchers will also benefit from the study.
The study will identify the ICT facilities that are available in the institutions libraries. The institutions through this will be challenged to increase the number and also improve the state of the ones in bad condition. Thus the academic libraries studied, their management and the management of the institutions generally will stand to benefit. This is because, the provision of the facilities and their deployment to library duties will increase efficiency in information services delivery which will in turn make for the achievement of the institution’s objectives. Having identified the extent to which ICT facilities are lacking, the authorities may decide to make provision for them in their budget. This will help the students and staff who are beneficiaries of the libraries to have better information service from the staff and the resources.
The findings on the services provided with the ICT facilities will challenge the library authorities and encourage them to put the facilities to proper use which is information processing if at all they are not put to such use. This will ease the job of the staff- the job of information processing, storage and retrieval. The identification of the problems facing availability and use of the facilities will be exposed making the institutions and library management to look into the problems better with a view to solving them. The study will therefore be of great significance to the management in this area. To intending researchers who may want to do a study on a similar area, the study will serve as a guide.
Scope of the Study
The study was done in Kano state. It was limited to libraries in colleges of education in Kano state. They include Federal College of Education, Kano; Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi- Kano and Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kano. The study covered all the types of ICT facilities available and their utilization in the Colleges of Education libraries in Kano state

Sep 15

AVAILABILITY AND USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

AVAILABILITY AND USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This research was on ascertaining the extent of availability and use of electronic information resources (EIR) and service delivery in university libraries. The research was geared towards determining the extent of which EIR is available in university libraries and also the extent at which they are used for service delivery. In conducting this research the survey research method was adopted. Interestingly, out of the two hundred and fifty eight (258) professional librarians in seventeen(17) universities in south-south Nigeria that made up the population for the study, only two hundred and twenty-three (223) professional librarians from eleven (11)university libraries were sampled and used for the research using purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire and the Observation checklist data collection instruments were used to the research. Descriptive statistical method of mean and standard deviation was used to analyze the research questions, while inferential statistical method of z-test was used to analyze the formulated hypothesis. The research instruments were personally administered and retrieved by the researcher. Response rate was high as one hundred and seventy-three (173) data collection tool was returned and found useable. Findings revealed that electronic information resources are available in university libraries. Furthermore, findings showed that these available EIR are not adequately applied to the services being rendered by librarians to their patrons. Similarly, the research findings showed that EIR availability and use in university libraries influence library services. Furthermore, it was revealed that male and female (librarians) could use EIR for service delivery in libraries, this is as hypothesis one (1) was accepted because the calculated z. 0.34 was less than (<) z. critical or significant value of .73.  In addition, hypothesis two (2) was rejected, meaning that the working experience of a librarian is a determining factor in handling the challenges to EIR availability and use in libraries; this is so as the calculated z. 3.12 is greater than (>) z. critical of .002. The research was able to prove that accuracy in information service delivery, independence of library users and speed in service delivery are perceived benefits of EIR availability and use in libraries. However, the research recommended among others that library management should constantly sensitize institutional heads and management, i.e Vice- chancellors, Deans, Provost, Bursars, Registrars etc on the need for the acquisition of EIR, training and re-training of library staff in line with modern day library activities and functions etc

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Page No
Title Page – – – – – – – – – – i
Approval Page – – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification Page – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication Page – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgments Page – – – – – – – – v
Abstract Page – – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – vii
List of Tables – – – – – – – – – x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study – – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the Problem – – – – – – – – 9
Purpose of the study – – – – – – – – 10
Research Questions – – – – – – – – 11
Research Hypotheses – – – – – – – – – 11
Significance of the Study – – – – – – – – – 11
Scope of the study – – – – – – – – – 13
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Conceptual Framework – – – – – – – – 14
– Concept and Development of Electronic Information Resources – – – 15
– Concept of Services Delivery- – – – – – – – 27
– Availability of Electronic Information Resources in Libraries – – – 23
– Use of Electronic Information Resources in Academic Libraries – – – 28
– Impact of Electronic Information Resources on Library Services and Functions- – 34
– Hindrances to Electronic Resource Availability and Use in Libraries – – – 41
– Schematic Diagram showing Relationship between Variables of the study and
Conceptual Framework – – – – – – – – 48
Theoretical Framework of the Study – – – – – – 49
– Ranganathan, R, S Laws of Librarianship – – – – – – 49
– Activity Theory (AT)- – – – – – – – – 52
Review of Related Empirical Literature – – – – – – 54
Summary of Literature Review – – – – – – – – 61

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD – – – – 64
Research Design – – – – – – – – – 64
Area of the Study – – – – – – – – – 65
Population of the study- – – – – – – – – 65
Sample and Sampling Technique – – – – – – – 66
Instruments for Data Collection – – – – – – – 66
Validation of the Instrument – – – – – – – – 68
Reliability of the Instrument – – – – – – – – 68
Method of Data Collection – – – – – – – – 69
Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – – – 69
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA – – 70
Descriptive Analysis of Data – – – – – – – 71
Research Question One – – – – – – – – 71
Research Question Two – – – – – – – – – 74
Research Question Three – – – – – – – – 76
Research Question Four – – – – – – – – 78
Research Question Five – – – – – – – – 80
Research Question Six – – – – – – – – 81
Research Question Seven – – – – – – – – 82
Inferential Analysis of Data – – – – – – – – 83
Hypothesis One – – – – – – – – – 83
Hypothesis Two – – – – – – – – – – 84
Hypothesis Three – – – – – – – – – – 84
Summary of Findings – – – – – – – – 85

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF RESULT, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Discussion of Findings – – – – – – – – 86
Implications of Study – – – – – – – – – 101
Recommendations – – – – – – – – – 102
Limitations – – – – – – – – – – 103
Suggestions for Further Research – – – – – – – 1o4
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – – 104
References – – – – – – – – – – 106
Appendices – – – – – – – – – – 119-37

 

Sep 15

AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH LITERATURE TO RESEARCHERS IN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to examine availability accessibility and utilization of agricultural research literature to researchers in university of agriculture libraries in Nigerian. The universities were located at Umudike, Abia State, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Makurdi, Benue State. The study was guided by six research questions and six null hypotheses. The researcher employed a survey research design. The population of the study comprised of 1,380 researchers, 98 were on their Doctoral, 270 were on their Masters Degree Programmes and 1032 were academic staffs that are registered users in all the three Universities of Agriculture Libraries. A sample of 301 registered users including academic staffs was used for the study using simple random sampling technique in selecting the respondents. Questionnaire titled “Availability, Accessibility and Utilization of Agricultural research literature Questionnaire (AAUARLQ)” was used as instrument for data collection. Frequency tables, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data collected to answer to research questions, while t-test and Chi-Square statistics were used in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the study showed that, Agriculture Research Reports (ARL) such as journals, theses/dissertations, Food and Agriculture Organization reports, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, were available and accessible to a very large extent while Audio-visuals, seminar papers and workshop reports were available and accessible to researchers to a large extent as subscribed to, in Nigerian Universities of Agriculture Libraries. The research also showed that these ARL were available, accessible and utilized to a large extent. However, after applying observation checklist, there were certain problems faced by researchers in utilization of some agricultural research literature in Universities of Agriculture libraries such as CD-ROMs, A/V materials seminar papers and workshop reports: besides being inadequate in supply, some were outdated, and could not be used. It was recommended that, in order to effectively facilitate researchers’ access and use of these agricultural research literature in Nigerian Universities of Agriculture Libraries, CD-ROMs should be kept at the disposal of researchers and Nigerian Universities of Agriculture Libraries should be diligent in acquiring up-dated issues. Also, government should fund subscription of adequate Agriculture Research Reports for researchers, acquired Agriculture Research Reports should be processed and shelved on time, acquisition policy towards ARL should be of top priority, and again, Nigerian Universities of Agriculture Libraries should open college of agriculture branch libraries that will have adequate security measures for ARL.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Library is a collection of information resources in print or in other forms that is organized and made accessible for reading or study. Today, the definition of the library has expanded to include not only print resources, but access to all kinds of resources in digital formats as well.  A library therefore, is an accumulation of   various intellectual materials many of which are in print format, on-line, database and in digital forms, and readers can gain access to them for reading, study and entertainment. Libraries are now de-emphasizing the principle of ownership in favor of the principle of access but ownership of print materials remains a principal label and a distinguishing mark between a library and an information centre. Agber and Mngutyo (2013), Agber, Ugbagir, Mgutyo and Amaakaven (2014) therefore, asserted that as reservoirs of society’s intellectual history and custodians of people’s knowledge and information, a core purpose of libraries wherever they may be found or are established, is to bring educational development and promote the peoples reading culture that is fast going down by making available information materials for study or reference. Moreover, libraries, irrespective of the type are meant to meet the information needs of their users, which agricultural students, scientists, researchers and practitioners in agriculture and related areas are not left out. It is in view of this that agricultural libraries are established.

Agricultural libraries have a lot of vital roles to play in the transformation of agricultural education to enable sustainable development in Nigeria. One of the roles is the provision of current information and documentation of research results as well as disseminating same to students, researchers and the public in general. Agricultural institutions were established to cater for agricultural education, research and extension of rural agriculture. For this reason, agricultural libraries provide information services to farmers, students, livestock producers, agricultural business organizations, research workers, subject specialist teachers; this is in anticipation to meet the challenge of man, food and hunger and to make for a sustainable development (Adeniyi&Ojo, 2015).

Abioye, Zaid and Egberongbe (2011) noted that developing the agricultural sector remains a critical factor towards the achievement of sustainable food production and, indeed, global food security. While indigenous agricultural knowledge is of immense value in improving food production, its documentation and dissemination remain a big challenge confronting librarians and other information professionals, particularly in Africa where cultural practices are prevalent. Nevertheless, the importance of the development of agricultural sector spurred the establishment of the three universities of agriculture by the federal government of Nigeria. They are: Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM); Universities of Agriculture Abeokuta in Ogun State (UNAAB) and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State

The Federal University of Agriculture in Makurdi (FUAM) is a higher education institution in located in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The university was established in 1988, following the recommendations of a 1987 federal government White Paper on Higher Education Curriculum and Development in Nigeria. The Universities of Agriculture Abeokuta in Ogun State was also established in 1988 and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State was established in 1992 (Commonwealth Secretariat, Nexus Strategic Partnerships, 2007 &Anyanwu, 2011). Essentially, the establishment of these universities of agriculture brought the emergence of agricultural libraries.

Agricultural research libraries as established under the auspices of agricultural research institute are set aside for the use of students, agricultural scientists, researchers and practitioners in agriculture. The emphasis for the agricultural research libraries is the dissemination of specialized information primarily devoted to a special discipline, offering specialized services to specialized clientele. For any effective and successful research and development to take place, it is necessary for the agriculturalist to acquire the knowledge from the library. Importantly, libraries support agricultural research by enhancing access to information through effective management of its resources and provision of wide range of information services to researchers, scientists and policy maker in agriculture sector (Rhoe, Oboh& Shelton, 2010; Uganneya, Ape &Ugbagir, 2012;Daudu, &Shehu, 2014).

The primary objective of university of agriculture libraries is to support teaching learning and research in line with the vision, mission and mandate of these universities. The establishment of universities of agriculture in Nigeria was anchored on the philosophy that national development could be enhanced by properly integrated and coordinated agricultural education. Thus, the agricultural Universities are to strive to contribute to Nigeria’s greatness through self-sufficiency in food and fiber production as disseminated through teaching, research, training and extension. So the universities of agricultures’ common mandate, “To promote human resource development in Agriculture, Science and Engineering (ASET) through teaching, research and extension services” common vision “To become a major Institutional player in the process of national and global human resource capacity building in Agriculture, Science, Engineering and Technology for rapid economic growth” and common mission “To develop the human mind to be creative, innovative, research-oriented, competent in the area of specialization, knowledgeable in entrepreneurship and dedicated to service” (UAM 2015) Therefore, the common objectives of establishing the Universities of Agriculture are:

  1. to encourage the advancement of learning and to uphold all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in Agriculture.
  2. to offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees which emphasize planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance, developmental and adaptive skills in agriculture, agricultural engineering and allied professional disciplines with the aim of producing socially mature persons.
  • to identify the agricultural problems and needs of Nigeria and to find solutions to them within the context of overall national development; to offer academic programmes, organize relevant training in relation to the training of manpower for agriculture in Nigeria.

The mandate, visions, mission and objectives of the universities of agriculture are only possible when there is intensive agricultural research.  It is an accepted fact that researchers in agriculture investigate and discover the fundamental laws governing plants’ and animals’ lives and their productivities and the ways in which these laws should be applied to the processes of plant and animal husbandry in order to bring greater productivity and economic efficiency to the agricultural industry. The information obtained from agricultural researches is compiled as agricultural research literature (ARL) which the results/findings are relevant and essential. It is said that research information is at the center of all scientific activities, and needs to be readily accessed if the results of scientific research are to be applied for the development of any sphere in the society. So, behind the mandate, vision and mission of the universities of agricultural education is the university library, which is the academic library serving the university community (Eze and Uzoigwe, 2013).

Academic libraries according to Akpohonor (2005) are libraries attached to tertiary institutions such as universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, colleges of agriculture, colleges of technology and also research institutes. The academic library, as Yusuf and Iwu (2010) put it, is the nerve centre or the hub around which scholarship revolves. An academic library, therefore, is a library designed for and its resources acquired, organized, retrieved or accessed for academic purposes. It is a library whose objectives are in line with the parent institution. It is an indispensable instrument for intellectual development, being a store-house of information to which users (students as well as lecturers) turn to for accessing information. According to Nwezeh and Shabi (2011), librarians have information dissemination as their predominant function. An academic library has a unique position as a potential educational force in the university community of staff and students of different levels especially in this era of information and communication technology which can facilitate the libraries’ capability to reach out to direct users as well as remote access users. Agboola and Bamigboye (2011) maintained that the quality and strength of any educational program depends on the library; not the library as a magnificent building but the use of it.

Ajibero in Eze and Uzoigwe (2013) sees a university library as the heart of the university using the human and material resources at its disposal to support teaching, learning and research objectives of the institution. A university Library is therefore, a building or a collection of information resources in a building in print, non-print, digital, and on-line formats in line with academic curriculum of that university.  Ajibero further reiterated that professional librarians that work in the university libraries especially in this information era have always engaged themselves with the collection, organization and dissemination of information resources to support research and learning. That is why librarians in the university libraries are fully recognized as academic staff.

The university libraries in playing their supportive role to the university education provide necessary resources and services more so in this information era. These enable the libraries to meet up the needs of their teaming patrons. Such resources range from print to non-print and electronic materials. Yusuf and Iwu (2010), Nwezeh and Shabi (2011) asserted that different users of university libraries utilize different materials provided by these libraries; such materials as reference materials, textbooks, journals, newspapers, past projects, electronic journals among others. Moreover, resources like books, journals, newspapers, government publications, indexes and abstracts are common information materials provided and utilized by academic libraries.

Having recognized that researches in agriculture are the most significant tools for sustainability of agricultural productivity and economic development in Nigeria, the policy makers, researchers and stakeholders in agriculture are also of the opinion that information services provision and utilization are key components of research and development efforts in agriculture, thus the need for effective library and information service provision. (Osigwe, in Uganneya, Ape and Ugbagir, 2012). According to Daudu, Chado and Igbashal (2009), the quantum of agricultural technology information available in the Nigerian systems developed by research institutes, and faculties of agriculture in universities is quite enormous.

Modern agricultural research and development efforts made have been partly attributed to the spread of information and the ability of researchers to access and utilize research results. The key tenet of this information service provision viewpoint is that researchers need to access and utilize information in order to optimally enhance their research and productivity outputs in agriculture (Griffith, 2006). Agricultural research findings/results tagged Agricultural research literature (ARL) are the cornerstone sources of information which researchers must lay as foundation for building concrete researches in agriculture. The information they cARLy are current, cogent, and complete. It is believed that books become outdated soon after they are published but research literatures are published at fixed frequencies, thereby, updating the works of other researchers. The ARL provides avenues for publishing newly completed researches which other researchers rely heavily upon in order to ensure that communication channel in the agricultural research world is not broken but kept alive. Academic libraries and especially university libraries are the mainstream of this channel through which all kinds of ARL are collocated and collected together and kept at the disposal of researchers thereby linking them with the research world. Nigeria therefore attaches great importance to high quality research in agriculture; and one type of information resource that is essential, indispensable and necessary to researchers and postgraduate students’ research activities in agriculture is the Agricultural research literature.

It is reported that various economic reform strategies are undertaken by governments over a period of about three decades on the agricultural sector in Nigeria. Such economic reform strategies were the exploitative strategy, agricultural project strategy, direct production strategy and integrated rural development strategy. Overall, these economic reform strategies were geared towards the achievement of self-sufficiency in food and food security, generation of gainful employment, increased production of raw materials for industries, increased production and processing of export crops, rational utilization of agricultural technologies for the improvement of life of its citizens. These strategies notwithstanding, government also pursued other on-going initiatives to step-up agricultural development across the country. Despite all the aforementioned reform policies and programmes, the performance of the sector had not fared better than it was before independence.

Although, Uganneya, Ape and Ugbagir (2011) were of the opinion that there has been a steady growth in agricultural information services provision in Nigeria, with government agricultural reforms strategies, Ugwu and Kanu (2012) observed that the persistent puzzle is: why is the growth in agricultural sector not impressive? What has been the research output in these institutions both in terms of quantity and quality of research; and what is the impact of these researches on agriculturists, farmers and the Nigerian economy? It is reasoned that the successes of agricultural research findings/results with the agricultural reform strategies may largely depend on three factors: availability, accessibility and utilization.

According to Reitz (2005) availability refers to the circulation status of a specific item or category of items in a library collection. Availability is again defined by International Telecommunication Union (2010) as the ability of an item to be in a state to perform a required function at a given instant of time or at any instant of time within a given interval, assuming that the external resources, if required, are provided. Generally speaking, availability of library material is the presence or otherwise of an item – such as agriculture research reports – to be in stock, not necessarily seen, used, or obtained by a library patron. Availability therefore, is a situation whereby an item or a book has been acquired, ready for access and use but not yet in hands of the person in need. Consequently, there is every need for an agricultural research literature to be available in the library collection. This is because, without the ARL been available, researchers cannot gain access and utilize them for purpose for which they were being sought. Availability entails an item being made suitable and ready for access and use, and man in society depends on information available for problem solving, planning, decision making and control.

Another thing concerning the situation with university libraries regarding availability of resources including ARL is that users get frustrated when they fail to find information in the library. The ARL are usually made available in limited number of copies by libraries that acquire them in print form. The limited acquisition policy whereby not more than two copies of any research reports can be acquired by a university library due to financial constraints. A large amount of information and data available in the library and information centers require some guidelines, techniques or even search engines to retrieve what is useful, relevant and applicable to the researcher’s needs. Researchers and other readers wish to access relevant information as quickly, easily and timely as they can so that they can cARLy out their assignments with less difficulty. This leads us to the need to ensure that agricultural research literature are accessible.

According to (Reitz, 2005) accessibility is the ease with which a person may, gain access to library materials as well as its online system, and obtain needed information regardless of format. It can also be viewed as the quality of being able to be located… by a person. The relevance of a library lies in the accessibility of its resources. A library with resources that could easily be accessed will obviously be a source of attraction and its resources will be utilized to optimum. Accessibility is therefore, getting in contact with a thing, person or item; handling your needed information or placing your information or item in a position whereby it is ready for use. A reader that has seen a book, research report or literature and is able to handle it has gained access to it.

Access to information is critical for enabling citizens to exercise their voice, the volume of information in the world, especially the volume of electronically-stored information on our computers has increased exponentially since the 1980s (Atinmo, 2012 &Oriogu, 2015). If researchers and other readers wish to access relevant information quickly, easily and promptly so that they can carry out their researches with less difficulty, it therefore, means that there is the need to ensure that agricultural research literature are available and accessible. There are situations whereby a particular ARL may be accessible to only a few researchers because, the demand for accessibility is higher than availability. Accessibility of Agricultural research literature is as important as its availability for available reports may mean nothing to the prospective user if it cannot be accessed.  That means, if the library stocks two copies of an ARL of the same volume same number in a particular year and there are five researchers competing to use them concurrently, three of the researchers will not be able to gain access to any at the same time. Here, a rationing principle is usually devised by the library to regulate their use, a situation whereby a reader gains access to the reading material for a specified period of time say an hour or so after which the material is recovered and the right to gain access to the material is transferred to another reader. This illustration explains clearly the concept of accessibility in the context of this research work. Libraries acquire resources to meet the needs of its users (Ntui&Udah, 2015).

There are situations where Agricultural research literature may be in digital format. In the case of on-line materials there may still be the problem of accessibility due to shortage of workstations at On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), (computers), power outage, shortage of computer operators etc.  The more accessible information sources are, the more likely they are to be used. Researchers tend to use information sources that require the least effort to access. Turner, (1988) postulated some obstacles militating against information accessibility in developing countries such as Nigeria. They include illiteracy and lack of awareness of the need for information; geographical distance between the industrialized countries of the world where facilities and infrastructures abound and about 96% of their population which is about 20% of the world’s population, are literate and educated, and can access information resources systematically, compared to the underdeveloped countries which constitute about 80% of the world’s population, 70% of these people, being illiterates, and unable to gain access to the information they need to improve their lives. Only about 30% of the people in developing countries like Nigeria are capable of accessing or affording information.

These few literate populace, according to, Aguolu and Aguolu (2002), include students and workers such as agricultural postgraduate students and researchers who seek information in prescribed sources such as textbooks, reference books and journals to enable them make remarkable progress in their jobs and educational courses and pass their examinations. The second category are the administrators, company managers, government policy-makers, who need information on various subjects to help make informed decisions and formulate sound policies. The National Assembly in Nigeria and various state assemblies, no doubt, require libraries in these regards. Thirdly, there are the experts-scientists, engineers, lecturers, postgraduates and undergraduates who seek existing information in order to use as a base for research, expansion of knowledge and for creating new knowledge. Inability of the experts to have information on what is already established knowledge in their own specialized areas and related fields may lead to needless duplication of research or in basing enquiries on wrong premises, which leads to wrong conclusions. Availability to accessibility of ARL will promote utilization of the materials.

According to WordNetFarlex Clipart Collection (2012) utilization means to find a profitable or practical use for, or the act of bringing something to bear using it for a particular purpose. In library and information science, utilization simply means the act of making use of library print or non- print materials and the information obtained there from, putting them to the use for which they were being sought. More often than not, knowledge and interventions produced through well conducted research remain largely untapped by the researchers and this is one reason why this research work becomes necessary.

It is clear that the agricultural research finding and discoveries even available today is such that the methods of sharing and accessing the information are increasingly proving inadequate for the need. It is also regretted that most of Agricultural Research Institutes and Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria do not even have modern internet and related facilities to meet the information needs of researchers in agriculture. Nigerian libraries in general lack information resources and information technology produced since the early 1980s because of their inability to purchase them. Moreover, much training in information technology and its applications in information handling were not available. All these may be probably the reasons for Nigeria’s inability to meet the expectation of providing adequate food because the findings from researches have left unused by farmers and agricultural personnel in improving and increasing agricultural outputs (Nweke as cited in Omeje, 2004).

In library and information science, utilization simply means the act of making use of library print or non- print materials and the information obtained there from, putting them to the use for which they were being sought. Such materials may include ARL or online materials or some facilities like internet, to obtain information for learning, teaching and research. Utilization of library materials, again, refers to the extent to which users make use of the resources of the information center or a library to extract the required facts, information and figures for consumption, enable writing or to create and extent knowledge. Utilization is the only singular criterion which could be used to determine the reason for purchasing and retaining a document within the collection of a library. The extent of the demand made for ARL is one important determinant of its utility and utilization. The first consideration is the potential need and ultimate utilization of such reports by the library clienteles who are postgraduate students and researchers that form the population that is being sampled in this work. Onifade, Ogbuiyi and Omeluzor (2013) observed that the major aim of any university library such as university of agriculture library is to support teaching, learning and research activities of its parent institution. University libraries must therefore, make sure that their resources are well utilized as this is essential for the educational development of the students.

Significantly, researchers are the major users of agricultural research literature. A researcher is a person who undertakes a careful, systematic investigation of a subject, or inquiry in a field of study, to establish facts, reveal underlying principles, or determine the current state of knowledge (Reitz, 2005). Researchers in agricultural research literature in universities of agriculture in Nigeria include lecturers, post graduate and undergraduate students as well as members of the university community. Others are lecturers and students from other research institutes who come to the university on request to carry out research using the resources and personnel assistance from the universities.

Statement of the Problem

The agriculture which Nigeria was noted for feeding the citizenry aswell as for exporting crops to obtain foreign exchange has been neglected. Literature of economic history provides us with ample evidence that agricultural revolution is a fundamental precondition for economic growth, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria. In the 1960s, agriculture contributed up to 64% to the total GDP but gradually declined in the 1980s to 19%; and continues to decline, which made Nigeria to move from a position of self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs to one of heavy dependence on imports (Ukeji, 2003, Aregheore, 2009 & Oji-Okoro, 2011). Literature indicates that, the Kano groundnut pyramids recorded leadership in production of groundnut while the Eastern region led with palm oil production and the Western region led in production of cocoa (Oji-Okoro, 2011). It is regrettable that the agricultural sector which supplies substantial amount of food by which our livelihood largely depends is relegated to such an abysmal background. This could be associated with the gross neglect of the agricultural sector and over dependence on the oil sector (Ugwu, and Kanu, 2012). It then means that the nation’s aspiration of realizing the self-sufficiency in food production is becoming a tall dream or a mirage (Omeje, 2004).

However, the need and the importance of agriculture for food security and national development cannot be over emphasized. That is why the world Conference, the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development, and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have all been reported to have stressed the importance of research and information in agricultural development (FAO in Omeje, 2004). The importance of agricultural research literature that will help in agriculture research development has spurred the federal government of Nigeria to establish as many as nineteen agricultural research institutes and three Universities of Agriculture which University of Agriculture Makurdi Benue is inclusive.

The importance of availability of agricultural research literature cannot be over emphasized. Researchers depend on utilization of agricultural research literature to buttress their findings. Also, the absence of agricultural research literature will make research efforts useless as it is a major way of disseminating the results of such research for farmers to implement. Moreover, if these agricultural research literatures are not available, they cannot be accessed and utilized. Old ways of farming will continue and results will not be achieved. As such, government efforts to achieve self sufficiency in food production will be eluded. It is thereforenecessary for University of Agriculture Libraries to make available, agricultural research literature for accessibility and utilization of agricultural researchers and post graduate students.

Despite the efforts of researching to discover ways of improving agricultural productions,the situation is still persisting and if the situation is allowed to continue then current situation of food insecurity, rural poverty, and un-competitiveness of Nigeria in the world global food market may become worse than ever. There is therefore, an urgent need to carry out this research to investigate availability, accessibility and utilization of agricultural research literature in libraries of universities of agriculture in Nigeria so that recommendations emerging from this research will fill the gap.

Purpose of the Study

The general purpose of this study is to investigate the level of availability, accessibility and utilization of Agricultural Research Literature toResearchersUniversity of Agriculture libraries of Nigerian.  The specific objectives of this study are to:

  1. determine the types of agricultural research literature subscribed to by libraries of universities of agriculture in Nigeria for postgraduate students, staff and other agricultural researchers.
  2. examine the extent of availability of agricultural research literature for researchers in university of agriculture libraries in Nigeria.
  3. ascertain the extent of accessibility of agricultural research literature to researchers in university of agriculture libraries in Nigeria.
  4. determine the extent of use of agricultural research literature by researchers in university of agriculture libraries in Nigeria.
  5. determine the problems faced by researchers in accessing and utilizing agricultural research literatures in in university of agriculture libraries in Nigeria.
  6. ascertain the strategies that could be used to facilitate utilization of agriculture research reports by researchers in university of agriculture libraries in Nigeria.

Research Questions

The study sets out to answer the following questions:

  1. What are the types of agricultural research literature subscribed to byuniversity of agriculture libraries in Nigeria for postgraduate students, staff and other agricultural researchers?
  2. To what extent are agricultural research literature subscribedavailable to these researchers in Universities of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria?

What is the extent of accessibility to agricultural research literature by researchers in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria?

  1. To what extent are the agricultural research literature accessed and utilized by researchers in university of agriculture libraries in Nigeria?

What are the problems faced by researchers in utilizing agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria?

What are the strategies that could be used to facilitate utilization of agriculture research reports by researchers in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria?

Null Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses will be tested at 0.05 level of significance.

HO1. There is no significant difference between the mean responses of PG students and academic staff on types of agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria.

HO2. There is no significant difference between the mean responses of PG students and academic staff on availability of agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria.

HO3. There is no significant difference between the mean responses of PG students and academic staff on accessibility of agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria.

HO4. There is no significant difference between the mean responses of PG students and academic staff on the extent of utilization of agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria.

HO5. There is no significant difference between the mean responses of PG students and academic staff on problems faced in using agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria

HO6.   There is no significant difference between strategies to facilitate researchers’ access and use of agricultural research literature in University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria.

Significance of the Study

It is expected that the findings of this study will be significant to the followings: University policy-makers, library administrators and researchers in general.

Firstly, the results in this study are expected to be of benefit to policy – makers of the universities of agriculture in Nigeria such as university senate and university council on the need to understand certain intricacies underlining the running of academic libraries, considering the various policies and practices found in the various University of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria

that negates constant purchasing and updating of agricultural research literature.

Secondly, the result of this study will reveal to the library administrators of the universities of agriculture in Nigeria, the extent of availability of agricultural research literature in their libraries; whether or not the facilities for accessing the reports put in place in their libraries are meeting the goals and objectives of their university. The findings will also be a guide for designing a more realistic policy framework for purchasing and subscribing to agricultural research literature.  The library administrators will see the need to adjust working strategies for achieving more realistic results for accessing and utilizing agricultural research literature in these libraries.

Thirdly, the results from this study is expected to be of benefit to researchers such as postgraduate students, academic staff, research fellows and other researchers needing information on agricultural reports to buttress their studies and publishing them in agricultural research literature subscribed by the libraries.

Theoretically, the findings of the study would lend credence to Constructivism theory, Theory of critical thinking and Diffusion of Innovations. While constructivism theory make certain that, people construct new ideas or concepts based upon existing knowledge, theory of critical thinking is the ability and disposition to improve one’s thinking by systematically subjecting it to intellectual self-assessment. Diffusion of Innovations on the other hand looks at the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the participants in a social system The study will validate the tenets of the theories.

The Scope of the Study

This study covers agricultural research literature in print and electronic form in university libraries. The study covers three Nigerian university libraries, namely: the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) in Benue State; the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,Abia State (MOUAU) and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (UNAAB) in Ogun State.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL PAGE ii
CERTIFICATION PAGE iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
TABLE OF CONTENTS vi
LIST OF TABLES ix
LIST OF FIGURES xi
ABSTRACT xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 14
Purpose of the Study 15
Research Questions 16
Hypotheses 17
Significance of the Study 18
Scope of the Study 19
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 20
Conceptual Framework 21
Concept of University Libraries 21
Concept of Agricultural Researchers 23
Concept of Availability 24
Concept of Accessibility 26
Concept of Utilization 28
The Concept of Agricultural Research Literature 31
The need for Agricultural Research Literature in Universities of Agriculture Libraries 33
Problems of Accessing and Utilizing Agricultural Research Literature 37
Agricultural Research and Scholarship in the Digital Environment 41
Conceptual Schema for ARL in Libraries of Nigerian Universities of Agriculture 47
Theoretical Framework48
The Constructivist Theory by Jerome Bruner (1915) 48
Theory of Critical Thinking by John Dewey (1910)50
Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIO) by Everest Rogers (1962) 52
Review of Empirical Studies 54
Summary of the Literature Review 71
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD 73
Design of the Study 73
Area of the Study 73
Population of the Study 74
Sample and Sampling Technique 74
Instrument for Data Collection 74
Validation of the Instrument 76
Reliability of the Instrument 76
Method for data Collection 76
Method for Data Analysis 77
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 78
Results of Research Questions and Hypotheses 78
Summary of Major Findings 92
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 96
Discussion of the Findings 96
Educational Implications of the Study 99
Recommendations 102
Limitations of the Study 104
Suggestions for Further Studies 104