P.A. Essoka, A.E. Ubogu and L. Uzu
This paper seeks to examine the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in oil‐polluted soils of two communities in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to examine the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in oil‐polluted soils of two communities in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
Soil auger samples were collected at a depth of 0‐15 cm from four sites. Two soil samples were collected from two sites observed to have had oil spills and also two samples from two sites without oil spillage. The soil samples were analysed using the UNICAM 969 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer to determine the level of concentration of the heavy metals in these sites. Their levels in the oil‐spilled sites are compared with those of the control sites and also with the European community standards.
Findings
The results obtained from this study reveal that the concentration of the heavy metals considered were higher in the oil‐spilled sites relative to the control sites. Similarly, when compared with the European community standards, the concentration is said to be quite significant.
Practical implications
The results indicate that the operations of the oil industry in the study area have not been sufficiently accompanied by adequate environmental protection. To safeguard agricultural land in the area and hence human health, there is an urgent need for government to address the incidence of oil spills in this area.
Originality/value
This paper provides information on the contribution of the oil industry in heavy metals contamination in the Niger‐Delta area of Nigeria.
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Daniel E. Ufua, Ayodotun S. Ibidunni, Thanos Papadopoulos, Oluwatoyin A. Matthew, Rehmat Khatoon and Mayowa G. Agboola
This research focuses on the implementation of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management, drawing on a case study of a commercial livestock farm located in a swampy area of southern…
Abstract
Purpose
This research focuses on the implementation of Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management, drawing on a case study of a commercial livestock farm located in a swampy area of southern Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts a qualitative approach. Interviews and workshops were used for data collection.
Findings
Findings from the study reveal that the commitment on the internal organisational members and skilful collaboration with supply chain partners are required for effective use of JIT, especially in an odd contextual situation such as the case in this study. This also justifies the embraced of additional cost of securing JIT inventory management practices such as the situation in the case study organisation that could not allow conventional inventory management.
Originality/value
It is suggested for further research to consider the topic from a mixed method approach as well as extend the focus on the possibility of legal regulations and government support to exceptional operational practices among organisations, especially those in the context of the food production sector, where this research was based.
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Nafisat Afolake Adedokun-Shittu and Abdul Jaleel Kehinde Shittu
Deployment of ICT facilities for teaching and learning in higher education is no longer a new trend, however, assessing the impacts of these deployment on lecturers and students…
Abstract
Purpose
Deployment of ICT facilities for teaching and learning in higher education is no longer a new trend, however, assessing the impacts of these deployment on lecturers and students requires more effort. The purpose of this paper is to employ a mixed method design consisting qualitative and quantitative procedures to examine the impact of ICT deployment in teaching and learning at a University in Nigeria. The survey data were drawn from 593 respondents (students and lecturers) and was analyzed using linear regression. For the qualitative part, one-on-one and focus group interviews were conducted among seven students and eight lecturers to seek their varying opinion on ICT impact on teaching and learning. Lecture-room observations were conducted across three classes to see how ICT is integrated. These multiple means findings were triangulated, compared and contrasted to validate the study. Predictors of ICT impact were found to be perception, integration, motivation and challenges. The qualitative interview and observation findings generated four similar themes as the quantitative result which was conceptualized as a model that serves as a framework for researchers on ICT impact assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a mixed method design consisting qualitative and quantitative procedures to examine the impact of ICT deployment in teaching and learning at a University in Nigeria. The survey data were drawn from 593 respondents (students and lecturers) and was analyzed using linear regression. For the qualitative part, one-on-one and focus group interviews were conducted among seven students and eight lecturers to seek their varying opinion on ICT impact on teaching and learning. Lecture-room observations were conducted across three classes to see how ICT is integrated. These multiple means findings were triangulated, compared and contrasted to validate the study.
Findings
Predictors of ICT impact were found to be perception, integration, motivation and challenges. The qualitative interview and observation findings generated four similar themes as the quantitative result which was conceptualized as a model that serves as a framework for researchers on ICT impact assessment.
Practical implications
The use of multiple research designs to get rich and diverse view of participants incorporated in this study help to generate solid findings on the impact assessment of technology in education. The conceptual model (Adedokun-Shittu 2011 ICT impact assessment model) generated through a mixed method research design has four components which are substitutable to CIPP and Kirkpatrick models. It also fills a crucial gap left by both models.
Originality/value
This study produces a model that is conceived as a conceptual framework for researchers on impact assessment and is made up of the generated themes and named ICT Impact Assessment Model comprising Positive effect, Integration, Incentives and Challenges. This model is represented in a cyclic form because the assessment process can start from any stage and the assessment could be done individually or holistically. This makes it useful for both formative and summative assessment of ICT integration in teaching and learning (Adedokun-Shittu et al.S, 2012). The mixed method approach (survey, interviews and observations) used in the study that generated this model also supports its usefulness in any kind of evaluation (formative or summative).
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Ifeanyi J. Ezema and C.I. Ugwu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current status of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) projects in Nigerian university libraries.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current status of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) projects in Nigerian university libraries.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey research methodology was applied. A total of 125 questionnaires were distributed to librarians in eight government‐funded universities in South Eastern Nigeria.
Findings
Only three out of the eight universities surveyed have started ETD projects in their libraries. Other universities have the intention of adopting ETD but very little has been done towards this. The study also revealed that university libraries in Nigeria stand to benefit immensely from ETD projects. Some of these benefits as revealed from the findings include enhancing scholarly communication in Nigeria, promoting the global visibility of Nigerian universities, and enhancing research dissemination. The results of the study also revealed some challenges of ETD in Nigeria. Strategies to mitigate these challenges were also identified from the findings.
Practical implications
The paper establishes that the adoption of ETD in Nigerian university libraries is very low. Nigerian universities must therefore adopt a pragmatic approach to develop an ETD program that will facilitate the dissemination of research documented in theses and dissertations.
Originality/value
The originality of the work lies in the empirical evidence obtained from the eight university libraries surveyed.
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This study discusses the role of librarian in the 21st century. Libraries are in a state of dilemma due to dramatic changes that information and communication technologies (ICTs…
Abstract
This study discusses the role of librarian in the 21st century. Libraries are in a state of dilemma due to dramatic changes that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have brought to libraries. Libraries are faced with various challenges including insufficient funds, but the inability of librarians to acquire IT skills relevant to addressing 21st century library services could be seen as a more difficult challenge, because without these skills it will be difficult for today's librarians to render adequate services to their patrons. Therefore, it is important for librarians to recognize and proactively seek to acquire the ICT skills needed to deliver 21st century library services to their patrons. This means that librarians need to also recognize the need to continually update themselves to keep up with today's fast-paced IT changes so that they will be able to deliver what is expected of them in this new millennium.
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Modern information technologies (ITs) are increasingly being applied in the administrative and housekeeping functions of libraries. These ITs are, however, not extensively…
Abstract
Modern information technologies (ITs) are increasingly being applied in the administrative and housekeeping functions of libraries. These ITs are, however, not extensively utilised in Nigerian libraries and the reasons for this have been advanced. Among the reasons identified are:
D.M. Mbaakanyi, F.N. Ubogu and E. Lumande
Authority control is one of the methods designed to maintain the quality and integrity of the catalogue as a bibliographic tool, bringing together the variant forms of the same…
Abstract
Authority control is one of the methods designed to maintain the quality and integrity of the catalogue as a bibliographic tool, bringing together the variant forms of the same material, the same author and the same subject. A controlled subject heading structure makes it possible to effect a comprehensive search, as does name authority control, thereby enabling the patron to receive full information about the actual holdings of the library. The paper discusses the planning for and ultimate use of the CD‐MARC Subjects in the Library of the University of Botswana. The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is the controlled vocabulary used in assigning subject headings in the Library. The Library realised the desirability to control the subject heading files in the automated system to ensure integrity of the files and opted to do this using the CD‐MARC Subjects. The structure of the records of the CD‐MARC Subjects was mapped to corresponding fields in the thesaurus structure of our system software, TINlib, and made available to our vendor. The thesaurus structure has provision for references and notes associated with subject headings including use, use for (UF), see also broader terms (BT), see also narrower terms (NT), see also related terms (RT), and scope note. Our approach to references that could lead to blind alleys is to print out each 360 field in the database and enter the headings given as examples as thesaurus terms. These terms would automatically have postings assigned to them. The contents of the relevant records in the CD‐MARC Subjects were to be imported as is without change of punctuation pattern. A profile was subsequently written that enables the downloading of terms that are connected to documents in our database. The additional advantage of this is that the thesaurus will not be overloaded with terms that have no documents attached to them. The profile has been tested and a little refinement was found to be necessary. Ultimately, the effort would allow for consistency in subject control, efficiency of search, improved precision and recall, and a reliable database. Our experience should be useful to others anticipating the use of CD‐MARC Subjects or other CDROM‐based authority control tools.
The chapter discusses the importance of capacity building and need for continuous professional development for library and information science professionals in university…
Abstract
The chapter discusses the importance of capacity building and need for continuous professional development for library and information science professionals in university libraries. The changing dynamics in higher education, information and communication technologies and the shift in the learning landscape has led to more demands for skills and competencies of library and information professionals. The need for training is more urgent than before. If University Libraries are to remain relevant in the 21st Century, they need to constantly adapt and have professional staff who are able to cope with such rapidly changing environments enabling them to deliver resources and services efficiently and effectively. The chapter, therefore, document the importance of capacitating staff in university libraries.
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Anna Marie Johnson, Claudene Sproles, Robert Detmering and Jessica English
The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper introduces and annotates periodical articles, monographs, and audiovisual material examining library instruction and information literacy.
Findings
Information is provided about each source, and the paper discusses the characteristics of current scholarship, and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.
Originality/value
The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
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Emmanuel E. Baro, Benake‐ebide C. Endouware and Janet O. Ubogu
The aim of this paper is to investigate whether undergraduate students in the College of Health Sciences in Niger Delta University are information literate, and to determine…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to investigate whether undergraduate students in the College of Health Sciences in Niger Delta University are information literate, and to determine whether they are aware of and use different information resources including electronic ones, and to assess their ability to evaluate information before use.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaire and interview methods were used to collect data from the students.
Findings
The students mostly rely on textbooks, medical journals, the internet, colleagues, and the Nigerian National University Commission's virtual library for information. They rarely use electronic resources such as MEDLINE, HINARI, the Cochrane Library, and EbscoHost. This could be because of a lack of awareness and skills necessary to search databases. Problems such as lack of time, the challenge of locating “good citable stuff”, inability to use effectively the medical library, and poor skills in information searching were mentioned. The study recommends that medical librarians and faculty should collaborate in integrating information literacy skills into the medical school curriculum.
Originality/value
This paper may help inform discussion about students' competences for locating, selecting, evaluating and using information essential for lifelong learning.