Influence of Social Networking Sites And Library As A Gateway To Information Access And Knowledge Sharing in Prof. Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library.
ABSTRACT
This study looks at the influence of social networking sites and library 2.0 as a gateway to information access and knowledge sharing in Prof. Festus AghagboNwako Library, NnamdiAzikwe University, Awka.
The study sought to determine the various social networking sites available at PFAN library website, the extent of use of library 2.0 tools in PFAN to provide information access and knowledge sharing and the level of influence of social networking and library 2.0, in accessing library services in PFAN library.
Five questions guided the study and descriptive survey were used as the research design. Also, all the 23 professional librarians in PFAN library were used as sample for the study.
Data from each research question were collected and analyzed for easy interpretation. Statistically, simple mean method was used for data analysis.
The study revealed that the available social networking sites in PFAN library website were Facebook, Instant Messaging, Twitter, Linkedin and blog. Also, the study showed that the extent of use of library 2.0 tools to provide information access in the library were very low.
Findings from the study also revealed, that the level of influence of social networking sites and library 2.0 for accessing library services was very low and that the challenges to use of social networking sites and library 2.0 for information access and knowledge sharing were due to lack of ICT skills by librarians and cost of ICT equipment among others.
Appropriate recommendations such as training of librarians in the use of ICT and social media and seeking of alternative means of funding by the libraries were made.
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
From time immemorial information management, i.e. knowledge collection, selection, preservation and transmission, has being the exclusive responsibility of library as an institution.
One of the key tasks of information and library professionals is to manage and present functional information to users.
With the influx of new technologies – the personal computers, the Internet and World Wide Web (www), knowledge dissemination has drastically changed.
Potential library users nowhave many options beyond the traditional one of walking into a physical building to get useful information.
There are now thousands of commercial search engines that provide information, even more than what any single physical library can give.
The question now is, how can librarianship thrive in the face of these new technologies? How can we reach students and other library users if they don’t come into our physical or cyber space domains?
How can we maintain our traditional role as knowledge custodians? One obvious answer is to go to them.
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