Availability and Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities by Staff of Tertiary Institutions’ Libraries in Ondo and Ekiti States

Availability and Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities by Staff of Tertiary Institutions’ Libraries in Ondo and Ekiti States

Moruwawon Olabisi Iyabode

Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

 The study investigated the availability and use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities in tertiary institutions’ libraries in Ondo and Ekiti States. ICT is a significant development that brings about efficient and effective library services. Application of ICT in Nigerian tertiary institutions shows that there is an awareness of the significant role that it can play in delivering library services even though ICT is not fully embraced by most of the institutions’ libraries in the country. The study employed descriptive survey design. Six research questions were raised for the study to a total number of eighty-five (85) library staff which is the population. The population was used as the sample because it is not large. A response rate of 70 was obtained out of 85copies of the questionnaire which was administered. Using census sampling, the 70 respondents were used for the study. Frequency counts and simple percentages were used to answer the research questions. Split half technique was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The findings revealed that different ICT facilities like printers, internet connectivity, e-mail facilities, scanners, laptops and others were available for use in the libraries investigated. The most used facilities are e-mail facilities, internet connectivity, printers and laptops. They are used for resource sharing services, e-mail services, research, internet and current awareness services. The levels of ICT skills of the library staff varies because of their different knowledge of ICT. A lot of benefits accrued to staff from the use of ICT facilities among which are quick access to information, effective library services and easy materials search. Poor power supply is one of the factors that is affecting the availability and use of these facilities. From the findings, the researcher made these recommendations: that library management should make more ICT facilities available to the library staff; there should be constant and effective ICT training for the library staff as to develop their skills; poor power supply should be properly addressed by the tertiary institutions’ management by providing generators specifically for the library use.

Keywords: Availability, Use, ICT, Library, Staff