UNIZIK Journal of Research in Library and Information Science

Investigating the relationship between lecturer’s awareness cum attitude and their adoption of open access scholarly publishing in Nigerian Universities

Blessing N. Otubelu, Chinwe V. Anunobi, Angela N. Anike — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The study investigated the relationships between lecturers’ Awareness, Attitude and their adoption of open access scholarly publishing in state universities. Open access scholarly publishing is relatively a new medium to access and it disseminates scholarly output. It is a powerful tool that can enhance sharing of knowledge between scholars and readers and as well aim to reduce the access and knowledge divide. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 1,111 lecturers in Faculties of Education and Sciences in the five state universities in the South-East of Nigeria while the sample was 834 respondents selected through proportionate sampling technique. The alpha coefficients of the instrument were 0.85 and 0.83 for the two sections of the instrument. The Pearson Product Moment correlation was used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that there is high and positive relationship between lecturers awareness and their adoption of open access scholarly publishing in state universities. Also, the findings of the study revealed that there is high and positive relationship between attitude of lecturers and their adoption of open access scholarly publishing in state universities. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the university library management should provide continuous advocacy programs, trainings on open access to promote lecturers’ awareness, positive attitude and enhanced knowledge of open access.

Manual cataloguing and classification skill acquisition and practices among cataloguers in Federal and State University Libraries

Okonkwo, Lucy Ndidiamaka , Obiora Cyril Nwosu — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This study investigated manual cataloguing and classification skill acquisition and practices among cataloguers in Federal and State University libraries in South – East, Nigeria. The researcher employed the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 201 professional cataloguers and librarians in the university libraries in South- East. The entire population was used for the study. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Two instruments titled: “Librarians Cataloguing and Classification practices (LCCPQ) and “Test of Cataloguing and Classification Skills of Cataloguers (TCCSC) were used for data collection. The instruments were validated by three experts from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The reliability index of 0.70 and 0.81 were obtained for two parts of the LCCPQ while 0.71, 0.73 and 0.86 were obtained for TCCSC using Cronbach Alpha and K-R 21 Method. Mean was used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the research were based on the research questions. The findings on research question one (1) shows that manual cataloguing skills acquisition scores of cataloguers in federal university libraries are slightly more than those in the state university libraries. The findings on research question two (2) were in favour of cataloguers from state university libraries which indicated that cataloguers from state university libraries have higher or slightly more manual cataloguing and classification practices than federal university libraries. However, in the test of null hypothesis, the mean rating of the two groups (federal and state university libraries) among cataloguers shows that their manual cataloguing and classification skills acquisition and practices did not differ significantly. In conclusion, cataloguers in federal university libraries acquire manual cataloguing and classification skills more when compared to those cataloguers in state- owned university libraries while those in state university libraries practiced more of manual cataloguing than federal university libraries. It is therefore, imperative that accessibility to information resources in these libraries would also vary. Thus, there is still need for both institutions to be upgraded . Based on the findings, it was recommended that cataloguers in federal and state university libraries should be trained in order to improve their manual cataloguing and classification skill acquisition and practices.

Assessment of university libraries in Southeast Nigeria based on Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria Standards

Amaka Raymonda Obiamalu, Anthonia Ukamaka Echedom — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This study assessed university libraries in Southeast Nigeria based on Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria Standards. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 10 university libraries in Southeast Nigeria. The total population was used because the sample size was small and manageable for the study. The sample size for the study consists of 10 university libraries which comprises of five federal and five state university libraries. The instrument for data collection was structured interview adopted from LRCN standards. The instrument for data collection was validated by three experts. The data collected was analysed with percentage. The finding of the study revealed that the composition of the university library staff in Southeast Nigeria is not in line with LRCN standards and guidelines. The library services provided for university library patrons are not up to the standards recommended by the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN). Part of the recommendations of this study is that in order to conform to LRCN standards, university managements should consult university librarians before recruiting library personnel. The services that are recommended by LRCN should be provided in full by the university libraries. The LRCN personnel should embark on annual assessment of university libraries, to ensure that the right categories of library personnel and library services are provided in the library.

Impact of Teaching Use of Library on Students’ Access to Information Resources and Attitude to Library Use in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Toto, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

James Friday, Magoi J. S., Lilian Zenom Elisha — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This study investigates the impact of teaching use of library, study skills and information and communication technology (ICT) course on students’ ability to access information resources and their attitude to library use. Survey method was employed for the study. Questionnaire named Students’ Access Ability Questionnaire (SAAQ) was developed by the researchers; the reliability of the instrument was obtained using Cronbach’s alpha method to derive the coefficient value of 0.82 and was used for the collection of the data. The target population of the study was 1800 students of the School of Information Technology, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Toto, Nasarawa State. The sample size for the study was 360 respondents representing 20% of the population under consideration, proportionately selected from the four departments of the school through randomization. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Mean score was used to answer the research questions, while t-test statistic was used in testing the hypotheses. The result obtained from the respondents that answered research questions one (1), revealed that the aggregate mean was 3.44 which is greater than the weighted mean of 2.50. Similarly, the obtained aggregate mean score that answered research question two (2) was 3.19 also higher than the weighted mean of 2.50. The two stated null hypotheses were retained because the obtained t-values were less than the p-value. The study recommended among others that the teaching use of library, study skills and information and communication technology (ICT) be offered in both first and second semesters of the first year. It should be made a two hour credit units.

Promoting Institutional Repositories in Nigerian Research Institutes

Rita Chinelo John-Okeke, Stella Ngozi Anasi — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This study was undertaken to investigate the promotional strategies of the research librarians for implementing institutional repositories in four research institutes in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was employed and thirty (30) research librarians participated in the study. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect information from the librarians. The quantitative data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that no research institute in Nigeria has implemented open access institutional repository. This is because the libraries were not proactive in implementing institutional repository as they lack promotional strategies such as advocacy, infrastructural development, training of library staff among others. As a matter of urgency the libraries should engage the institutions management with well-articulated written proposals for the implementation of institutional repositories. It is important the libraries do more in training library staff by encouraging them to attend workshops and conferences where issues of institutional repositories implementation are discussed. They should also understudy the strategies being employed by university libraries that have implemented institutional repositories.

Agricultural Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Farmers in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria

Festus Anya Ogbonna, Chinwe V. Anunobi — Sat, 13 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This paper investigated agricultural information needs and seeking behaviour of farmers in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 101,559 farmers in the five communities of Aninri L.G.A. The sample size of 1,188 was used for the study which was selected through multistage sampling procedure. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts; the reliability of the instrument was established using test re-test method for research question 1, 3 and 4 which yielded 0.95, 0.78 and 0.7 respectively, Cronbach alpha was used for research question 2 and 5 which yielded 0.87 and 0.88 respectively. Data was analyzed using frequency counts and mean. Frequency counts was used to answer research questions 1, 3 and 4 while mean was used to answer research question 2 and 5. Items to the values of 2.5 and above were agreed or accepted while below 2.5 were rejected. The study found out that farmers in Aninri needed agricultural information on improved seed/seedling, disease control, and weed control. Farmer’s sources for agricultural information through neighbours, fellow farmers; while farmers align to information obtain from oral discussion, neighbours/friends as their information seeking behaviour. Furthermore, illiteracy is the major hindrance farmers face in sourcing agricultural information, government at various levels should ensure adequate provision of fertilizer, improved seedlings, weed/disease control mechanism and modern technology application for farmers and the establishment of telecentres were recommended.