Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Application in Polytechnic Libraries in South-South, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to access the information and communication technology application in polytechnic libraries in South-South Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to identify the ICT facilities available; to determine the purpose of ICT application in those libraries; to determine the extent of ICT application in the libraries; to identify the challenges of ICT to library services and to suggest strategies for improving ICT application to library services in those libraries. A descriptive survey design was used for the study with a population of 94 library staff and 711 library users. All the library staff were used while 142 library users were sampled. Questionnaire and observation checklist were used for data collection. Out of 94 copies of questionnaire distributed to library staff, 84 representing 89.4% were correctly filled and returned and used for the study while out of 142 questionnaires distributed to the library users, 121 representing 85% was returned and used for the study. Data generated for the study were analysed using percentages and mean. The results obtained revealed that various ICT facilities such as network facilities, photocopiers, printers, scanners, local area network among others are available in the libraries; that ICT application are used for different purposes in the libraries; that the extent of ICT application to library services in those libraries is extensively low except few services that are of great extent, that there are same challenges associated with ICT application in the libraries such as inadequate funding, incompetent personnel, erratic power supply and management problems and many strategies like increased funding of ICT in libraries, provision of adeqaute technical support and provision of qualitative bandwidth were suggested to enhance maximum application of ICT in the libraries. Based on the findings, it was recommended that more ICT facilities should be made available, power supply should be improved and that adequate fund should be provided by the government to the libraries.