Utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTS) by Students in Federal University Libraries in North- Central Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

This research work was intended to investigate the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by students in the five federal university libraries in North- Central Zone of Nigeria.

This is with aims of ascertaining their problems and strategies for improvement. Five research questions were formulated to guide the study.

It sought to find out among other things the ICT facilities available to students in university libraries, ascertain the extent to which students utilize ICT facilities in university libraries,

Determine the level of ICTs skills of students of the various universities under studied, find out problems encountered by students using ICT facilities of these universities and identify the strategies that could solve the problems and enhance the effective utilization of ICTs in these universities.

Descriptive survey design was employed for the study and the entire population of 150 comprising of students, five university librarians and ICT specialist/system analysts was used.

The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. The questionnaire, out of 150 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the respondents 140 copies were filled and returned representing 93.33% of the copies of questionnaire distributed. To analyze the data the following descriptive statistical

measures were employed: frequency table, simple percentage and mean ( X ). The results obtained from the findings revealed that ICT facilities are available to the students but their utilization is at average level

Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

The University libraries are libraries established to cater for the academic and research needs of the university. They serve the reading and research interests of undergraduates, lecturers, researchers, and other users.

University libraries are big repositories of information and knowledge from all fields of learning to the academic community of students and staff that they serve.

University libraries, which are academic libraries, provide support to members of an academic community, including students, researchers and lecturing staff.

Academic libraries are libraries established in Universities, Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Monotechnics. Their collection is tailored towards achievement of the institution goals of teaching, learning and research.

They serve the students, lecturers, administrative members of the academic community as well as others. They are central to learning, research, and have always depended on relevant new technologies, which on the other hand are driven by emerging trends in education and research.

The major function of University libraries is to provide resources to meet the needs of users. Their materials are diversified to support teaching and programmes that take place within them.

Therefore, the University library has to build a strong collection of information resources in physical and digital formats to cater for the knowledge requirements of students, faculty members and research scholars of the institution.

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