Nigeria is a developing country where the majority of the population live in rural areas. The majority of these rural dwellers are either non‐literate or semi‐literate. The need…
Abstract
Nigeria is a developing country where the majority of the population live in rural areas. The majority of these rural dwellers are either non‐literate or semi‐literate. The need to involve them in the national development process cannot be overemphasized. This can be achieved through the identification of the information needs of rural dwellers and the provision of innovative rural public library services to improve their level of literacy and education and to enhance their ability to use practical information relevant to their daily lives.
Details
Keywords
To review the current state of information communication technologies (ICT) application for information provision in Nigerian university libraries and make suggestions to enable…
Abstract
Purpose
To review the current state of information communication technologies (ICT) application for information provision in Nigerian university libraries and make suggestions to enable them take fuller advantage of ICT facilities to provide information more effectively to users.
Design/methodology/approach
Recent library and information science literature on university libraries and ICT application in Nigeria is reviewed to expose the state‐of‐the‐art and hence the problems which beset the university libraries in Nigeria as regards ICT application.
Findings
Identified obstacles militating against effective application of ICT in university libraries to include inadequate funding, inadequate electricity supply, shortage of competent manpower for operation and maintenance of ICT facilities, lukewarm attitude of the Nigerian government towards the provision of ICT facilities and low level of computer literacy among Nigerians.
Research limitations/implications
Physical visits were not paid to the university libraries; conclusions drawn are based on experience and evidence from current librarianship literature on Nigeria.
Practical implications
A very useful source of information on how to ameliorate the problem of low level of ICT application for information provision in university libraries in Nigeria.
Originality/value
Provides very useful and practical suggestions to enable university libraries in Nigeria take advantage of ICT facilities to provide information more effectively to their users. These include massive infusion of funds into purchase of ICT facilities, provision of constant electricity supply, greater commitment of university library staff to computerization efforts in their libraries, training and retraining opportunities for librarians in computer literacy and involvement of libraries in cooperative acquisition of electronic information resources through consortia.