EXTENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATION IN PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES IN ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the extent of ICT integration in the public library services in Anambra State. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population comprised of twenty two librarians of the public libraries of Anambra State. No sampling was done as the population was small. Five research questions guided the study. Two instruments comprising of observation checklist and questionnaire were used for the study. The questionnaire was divided into sections B, C, D and E to aid analysis. Observation checklist was designed for section A which sought information on availability or otherwise of the ICT facilities in the libraries. Arithmetic mean was used in the analysis of section B,C,D and E. The major findings of the study were as follows: ICT facilities in the public Libraries in Anambra States are computers, mobile phones, CDROM, printers, scanners, flash, photocopier and email and are scattered among the libraries studied; the librarians possess the skills for ICT integration to a high extent; the extent of ICT application to services is low; the challenges included poor funding, lack of ICT policy, indifferent attitude of library management, lack of training culture and general inadequacy in the level of relevant infrastructures. Based on the findings, the implications of the study were pointed out and it was recommended that: the State Library Board and other stakeholders should devote more attention to ICT by providing needed infrastructures in the libraries; address the challenges as revealed in the study like poor management attitude, poor funding, lack of ICT policy, and aggressively adopt strategies for improvement as revealed in the study like improved funding, introduction of ICT policy in the libraries, training and retaining of library staff on ICT issues, among others.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

APPROVAL PAGE ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

ABSTRACT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF TABLES ix

LIST OF FIGURES x

LIST OF APPENDICES xi

CERTIFICATION xii

DEDICATION xiii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

Background to the study 1

Statement of the problem 6

Purpose of the study 8

Significance of the study 8

Scope of the study 10

Research questions 11

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Conceptual framework 13

Information and Communication Technologies 13

Public library and public library services 15

Integration 18

Theoretical framework 19

Synergy model 20

Theoretical studies 22

ICT facilities for library services 23

Skills necessary for librarians to ensure ICT integration in libraries 26

Public library services where ICT facilities are applied 30

Impediments to ICT integration in the libraries 32

Possible ways of integrating ICT in libraries. 36

Empirical Studies 39

Summary of literature review 47

CHAPTER THREE: METHODS

Design of the study 50

Area of the study 50

Population of the study 51

Sample and sampling technique 51

Instruments for data collection 52

Validation of the instrument 53

Reliability of the instrument 53

Method of data collection 54

Method of data analysis 54

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

Summary of findings 67

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Discussion of results 69

Conclusions 74

Implications of the study 75

Recommendations 76

Limitations of the study 78

Suggestion for further research 78

References 79

Appendix 87