Internet connectivity in university libraries in Nigeria: the present state

Internet connectivity in university libraries in Nigeria: the present state Emmanuel E. Baro and Joy Oyinnuah Asaba Introduction Recent information and communication technology (ICT) innovations have led to the reappraisal of our understanding of library and information services. The traditional vision of the library as a provider of physical documents has been superseded by the library as a provider of access to information virtual and physical. If libraries are going to continue being relevant in the age of Google and Google Scholar, they need to move beyond the document and facilitate access to the increasing amount of data that are being made available on the web. To do this effectively, libraries need to have internet connectivity. While the traditional role of the library continues to be important, it would be naïve not to recognize changes in how today s information is being made available as well as changes in user expectations and user perceptions of the library. Stuart (2009) asserted that for most users today, the web is the first place they look for information. The internet, by making a variety of information easily accessible, is providing libraries with powerful new tools to meet their patrons information needs beyond their traditional printed materials. With internet connectivity, university libraries can reach beyond their walls to provide patrons with resources available in other libraries. With the availability of internet connectivity, university libraries can download current journal articles for the learning, teaching, and research needs of the academic staff and students. With the installation of internet connectivity in the library, there will be simultaneous access for many people at the same time and library users will have self-service to replace the unreliable service they may have received from library staff. Ajayi (2005) observed that: Any industry that sidelines ICT has simply signed a death warrant on its continued relevance. The library represents one area that has experienced this revolution. The fact that we live in a knowledge based society with the need for universal access has made it necessary for the library to redefine its role and mode of service delivery. The traditional brick and mortar libraries need to give way to libraries that are not limited by geography. It is essential for libraries to reinvent themselves if they hope to develop and facilitate access to information in this digital age. Ojo-Igbinoba, cited by Obaje et al. (2008) advocated the situating of the internet in every library so that the university staff and students may access it. Due to harsh economic conditions and government apathy to library development in Nigeria, the state of ICT in university libraries is mediocre. Studies affirm that the quality of a university can be judged by the content and quality of the services offered by the library. Womboh (2008) remarked that due to the economic conditions and government apathy, the content and quality of services of most Nigerian University libraries have deteriorated to such a level that the quality of the products of such universities has also been adversely affected. The National University Commission (NUC) in Nigeria set up a quality control division which completed research to test the quality of Nigerian University Academic Programs. The NUC set up benchmarks for each academic program which were evaluated and scored based on the following criteria: staffing 32 percent, academic content 23 percent, physical facilities 25 percent, library 12 percent, funding 5 percent, and employments rating 3 percent. Academic programs must have a score of 70 or above in each of the score areas of staffing (academic content, physical facilities, and library) in order to get full accreditation. The result of the 2005 NUT accreditation exercise was shocking. A total of 102 academic programs (7.16 percent) were not only denied accreditation but also barred from admitting new students. Four programs in universities that failed to get a score of 12 percent in the quality of library services were denied accreditation (NUC, Nigeria, 2006). A close examination of those university libraries where the academic programs were denied accreditation revealed that most of them do not have adequate ICT facilities. On the other hand, most of the libraries in which the programs received full or interim accreditation had a functional internet café, in addition to other ICT facilities (NUC, 2006). The world has become so information conscious that people are no longer satisfied with paper- and print-based library services. An information revolution has threatened traditional library practices and services. Librarians must embrace this revolution and participate actively and effectively in it in order to remain relevant, especially in universities. The Federal Government of Nigeria has ICT plans and policies for the country that have yet to materialize. The national policy on information technology has a mission statement that says: To make Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa and a key player in the information society by the year 2005, using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competitiveness. According to the policy, the government will set up and develop a national information infrastructure backbone as the gateway to the global information infrastructure and create state and local area networks. This policy is to be LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010, pp. 13-19, # Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/07419051011110603 13

implemented through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) (Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, 2001). Nigeria today is not yet an ICT country in Africa. The desire is there, the awareness has been created, but the will power to propel the ICT s progress has been lacking. If Nigeria is not yet an average IT country, its university libraries will not be any better in terms of internet connectivity. The convenience of the internet is likely tempting students to rely very heavily on it when searching for academic resources. Studies have shown that students rely on the internet for academic research over their use of campus libraries. Research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported that nearly threequarters (73 percent) of college students reported using the Internet for research more than the campus library (Jones, 2002). Other findings suggest a vast majority of students turning to the internet first for academic research (Griffiths and Brophy, 2005; Van Scoyoc, 2006). Nwagwu et al. (2009) asserted that the infusion of the internet into higher education has intensified access to archived information sources from various parts of the world, thus forming the first point of call for students and others when they seek information. As a result, institutions of higher learning are investing much to exploit the advantages of the information infrastructure for the benefit of their staff and students. Harris (2010) asserted that students and other users in this era want materials that are virtual and personalized. Many libraries are effectively using Twitter to communicate services like opening times, new arrivals, etc. while other libraries have developed applications that enable users to search catalogs from within Facebook. All these services can only be accessed through the availability of internet connectivity in today s library. It is well acknowledged in the library literature that the application of ICTs have provided one of the best innovations in the history of libraries and it is changing the shape of libraries and role of librarians at an unprecedented pace (Lewis, 2007). Ramzan and Singh (2009), in their study status of information technology applications in Pakistani libraries concluded that because no library can function effectively without sufficient computers, printers, e-mail and Internet, library software and electronic resources in today s information driven society should be installed without delay. Studies have shown that undergraduate students get information about their academic work directly from the internet and do not consult academic staff or the library. Sitima-Ndau (2010) in his study revealed that 86% of respondents obtained information through the Internet. This indicates that the Internet has become a major source of information for Malawian students in all areas of life. The internet for virtual reference services Digital reference or virtual reference is a service by which library reference service is conducted online, and the reference transaction is a computermediated communication. This form of reference work expands reference from the physical reference desk to a virtual reference desk where the patron could be writing from home, work, or a variety of other locations (Fullerton, 2002). The online reference desk is designed to allow access to resources and expertise for the greatest number of people, regardless of language, technical capability, and physical impediment. Baro (2009) in his work on the barriers to effective and efficient reference and information services in Nigerian libraries recommended internet connectivity for all libraries to enable them render virtual reference services. Libraries are offering services through a range of communication vehicles such as chat, instant messaging, and e-mail. Data from a study of virtual reference services indicate that even where people are physically in the library they may prefer to use chat reference than seek out a face-to-face encounter (Kroski, 2008). An increasing number of medical school libraries offer chat reference services to provide immediate, high quality information at the time and point of need to students, faculty, staff, and health care professionals (Dee, 2003). The scholar stated that many medical libraries are actively investigating and planning new chat reference services to meet the information needs of users. Today, e- mail alerts are also more common. People may be told about events, about the status of their interactions/requests andavailabilityofstaff.laszlo(2006) contends that e-mail allows one to reach out across the oceans, with no hindrance from the differing time zones-superiority over phone or fax. In libraries, e-mail is being used for both official and personal communication. It is being used for the transmission of interlibrary loan requests, making of order inquiries and placing of orders, receiving reference questions from library users, sending reference questions to other libraries, and receiving answers to reference questions. In Malawi today, almost all institutions of higher learning provide access to the internet because there is no better tool for the dissemination of knowledge (Sitima- Ndau, 2010). Library funding Libraries in sub-sahara Africa are among the most under-funded institutions. Many libraries in Nigeria, especially academic libraries, depend entirely on government funding for their operations. The federal universities in Nigeria are funded by the NUC, while their state counterparts receive their funds from the State Ministry of Education. On the other hand, the private universities sponsored by missions receive funds from the missions, while the ones own by individuals receive their funds from the individual. Despite the general drop in hardware and software costs, many libraries in Nigeria cannot afford to purchase and install computers, and worse still establish internet connections on their own. Library internet connection in most countries in sub-saharan Africa is only feasible if the library parent institution gets connected (Chisenga, 2000). The convergence of ICT and its implications for library service in academic libraries have received the widest attention among the practitioners of library and information science. No library can be relevant in this modern age, the era of ICT without access to the internet. Murphy (2009) asserted that online archives are the stuff of librarians dreams. They don t need shelf space, handling gloves or air conditioned vaults; they can be searched quickly and used by anyone with a login 24/7 as it is in libraries in developed countries. According to Sitima-Ndau (2010) the University of Malawi s Chancellor College spends a considerable sum on its connection each year 6,000,000 14 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010

Malawi Kwacha (MK) (about GBP 25,989) is allocated to ICT activities and a monthly sum of GBP 5,100 is paid for its 1.2 Mbps connection. Methodology The study covered 104 public and private universities in Nigeria. The data collection for the study was conducted in two parts. Out of the number, 86 university libraries responded to the survey. First, the authors sent an e-mail to university librarians or senior library personnel to ascertain the availability of internet connectivity in the university libraries, as many university librarians or the senior library personnel did not respond to the e-mail survey. We followed that with a telephone interview with the university librarians or other senior library personnel. The e-mail survey contained four questions listed below: (1) Does your university library have internet connectivity for staff and students to use? (2) If yes, when was it established? If no, why? (3) How many computer systems are there with internet facilities in the library? (4) What are some of the problems your library encountered in regard to the provision of internet connectivity? Although, some of the universities have internet facilities in several locations within the university, this study focuses on the availability of internet connectivity in the university s main library. Data were collected through interview and e-mail between February and September of 2010 and the result is presented in the tables. Results Number of universities in Nigeria as of April 2010 As of April 2010, there were 104 approved universities in Nigeria, 27 federal, 36 state, and 41 private (NUC, 2010). From this number, university librarians or senior library personnel from 86 university libraries responded to the survey of which only 40 university libraries have internet facilities for staff and students to use. The result presented in Tables I-III arranged according to federal, state, and private universities in Nigeria. University libraries in Nigeria with internet connectivity as of August, 2010 Federal universities with internet connectivity. Out of the 27 federal universities in Nigeria 21 (77.8 percent) have internet connectivity in their main libraries for students and staff to use. The study revealed that most of the federal university libraries were connected to the internet much earlier without waiting to be compelled by the NUC accreditation team in Nigeria. There might be other internet locations within the universities, but for the purpose of this study, internet connectivity only in the main libraries was considered. For that reason, the number of computers in the main Table I. Federal university libraries with internet connectivity Name of university Date of internet connectivity was established libraries to serve the students and staff were recorded. As shown in Table I, the number of computers with internet connectivity in the federal university libraries for students and staff to use is fairly encouraging. To guard against power failure, the study requested whether there is a standby generator in the main libraries. Almost all the respondents responded positively that they have a standby generator in the main library, except the respondents from the National Open University of Nigeria who responded by saying they are yet to have a standby generator. State universities with internet connectivity. Out of the 36 states universities in Nigeria 11 (30.6 percent) have internet connectivity in their main libraries. The study revealed that most of the state university libraries got Number of computers in main library Standby generator website University of Jos 2001 12 Yes www.unijos.edu.ng University of Ibadan 2004 75 Yes www.ui.edu.ng Federal University of Technology, Yola 2002 82 Yes www.futy.edu.ng Nnamdi Azikiwe University 1998 100 Yes www.unizik.edu.ng University of Ilorin 1996 51 Yes www.unilorin.edu.ng Federal University of Technology, Owerri 2004 10 Yes www.futongr.com University of Nigeria, Nsukka 2007 100 Yes www.unn.edu.ng University of Port-Harcourt 2006 150 Yes www.uniport.edu.ng University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 2001 65 Yes www.unaab.edu.ng University of Benin 2004 7 Yes www.uniben.edu.ng Federal University of Technology, Akure 2006 25 Yes www.futa.edu.ng University of Calaber 2004 62 Yes www.unical.edu.ng University of Uyo, Akwa 2006 100 Yes Not yet University of Lagos 1996 70 Yes www.unilag.edu.ng Bayero University, Kano 1997 53 Yes www.buk.edu.ng Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 1997 80 Yes www.oauife.edu.ng University of Maduguri 2004 20 Yes www.unimaid.edu.ng Usman Danfodiyo University 2000 150 Yes Not yet Abubaka Tafawa Belewa University, Bauchi 2004 24 Yes www.atbu.edu.ng National Open University of Nigeria 2007 20 Not yet www.nou.edu.ng University of Abuja 2005 75 Yes www.uniabuja.edu.ng LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010 15

Table II. State university libraries with internet connectivity Name of university Date of internet connectivity was established Number of computers in main library Standby generator Website Niger Delta University 2007 15 Yes www.ndu.edu.ng Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma 2008 29 Yes but faulty www.aauekpoma.edu.ng Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port-Harcourt 2005 37 Yes www.rsust.edu.ng Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba 2007 15 Yes www.ajasin.edu.ng Lagos State University 2005 96 Yes www.lasunigeria.org Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso 2005 125 Yes www.lautech.edu.ng University of Ado-Ekiti 2006 64 Yes but small Not yet Adamawa State University 2007 100 Yes www.adamawastateuni.com Kogi State University 2006 25 Not yet http://myksuportal.com Benue State University 2001 85 Yes Not yet Sokoto State University 2002 20 yes Table III. Private university libraries with internet connectivity Name of university Date of internet connectivity was established Number of computers in main library Standby generator Website Covenant University 2002 75 Yes www.covenantuniversity.com Crawford University 2007 35 Yes www.crawforduniversity.edu.ng Babcock University 2003 50 Yes www.babcockuni.edu.ng Redeemer s University 2005 60 Yes www.run.edu.ng Igbinedion University, Okada 2005 12 Yes but small www.iuokada.edu.ng Benson Idahosa University 2002 12 Yes www.idahosauniversity.com Renaissance University, Enugu 2007 30 No Not yet Pan African University 2002 10 Yes Not yet internet connectivity only after been compelled by the NUC accreditation team. This was the case in Niger Delta University library and many others that got internet connectivity overnight as a result of pressure from the visiting NUC accreditation team in 2007 to meet the set standards before full accreditation of programs in the universities. In order to ensure uninterrupted power supply, the study requested the availability of standby generators in the state university libraries. It was revealed that some of the state university libraries such as Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, University of Ado-Ekiti, and Kogi State University are yet to have a functional standby generator. This probably could be as a result of lack of funds to purchase one. Private universities with internet connectivity. Out of the 41 private universities in Nigeria, eight (19.5 percent) have internet connectivity in their main libraries for students and staff of the university to use. The study also revealed that most of the private university libraries got internet connectivity only after been compelled by the NUC accreditation team. The reason for the NUC directive is to require universities and their libraries in Nigeria to render quality services that can compete globally with other universities and libraries all over the world. This is why many of the programs in private universities in Nigeria are either on partial accreditation or no accreditation. The study revealed in Table II that the number of computers in the main libraries of the universities owned by missions such as Covenant University, Crawford University, Redeemer s University, and Babcock University are greater than the computers in the universities owned by individuals such as Benson Idahosa University and Igbinedion University. Responses to the availability of a standby generator were positive for many with the exceptions of Igbinedion University library and Renaissance University library; they are yet to have a functional standby generator in their libraries. This could also be as a result of lack of funds to purchase and maintain a generator. Discussion of findings Availability of internet connectivity in university libraries in Nigeria It is evident that there is wide contrast in budgetary allocations between federal and state-owned universities, and between private universities that are purely funded by a single individual, and the private universities that are sponsored by missions. The provision of funds to the federal universities positively influenced the provision and maintenance of computers with internet facilities in the university libraries when compared to the state-owned universities as revealed by responses from university librarians and senior library personnel. This strengthens the finding of Nnadozie (2007) that the density of various computer types 16 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010

available in the university libraries is not as impressive as one would expect in a twenty first century information age. The university libraries established by state government were worse because only the desktop was found in some of them. This study further revealed a clear disparity between the federal universities and their state counterparts in terms of the provision of ICT facilities (Nnadozie, 2007). This finding of lack of internet facilities in some university libraries in Nigeria agree with the findings of Mojorho and Nwalo (2009) in their study of availability and use of ICT in libraries in the Niger-Delta region where it was found that only about one quarter of respondents from university libraries think that ICT facilities are adequately available. There is still disparity between private universities that are purely funded by a single individual and the private universities that are sponsored by missions. The study revealed that the private universities sponsored by missions have more computers with internet facilities in their libraries when compared to the universities sponsored by single individual. This could be as a result of the budgetary allocation which in turn influences the provision of facilities in these libraries. For example, the number of computers with internet capabilities in Babcock University, Redeemers University, and Covenant University (which are mission owned universities) are greater than computers with internet capabilities in private universities owned by single individuals like Igbinedion University and Adekunle Ajasin University. This finding conforms to the findings of Olorunsola and Idada (2003) in their comparison of the budgetary allocation to the library between Babcock University and Igbinedion University. According to the researchers, in the 2001/2002 session, Igbinedion University library estimated that their budget was #5,744,877. Amount released was #477,500. While Babcock University library estimates its budget in the same 2001/2002 session was #649,580,288. Amount released was #923,826,358 (Olorunsola and Idada, 2003). This shows the gap between private universities owned by a single individual and the ones sponsored by missions in terms of the budgetary allocation which eventually influence provision of library facilities. To be candid, libraries are not usually funded in this part of the world and many are facing severe budget problems. To worsen the situation, government has removed the 10 percent Library Development Fund meant for library development in public universities. Consequently, only a handful of Nigerian University libraries are currently connected to the internet. University libraries will find it extremely difficult to perform their services and carry out their obligations to members of the university community without adequate funding. Chisenga (2000) enumerated factors hindering internet connectivity in libraries to include: inadequate funding, inadequate telecommunication infrastructure and high cost of telecommunication facilities, and a general shortage of skilled IT human resources in libraries. Sadly, some university libraries like Enugu State University library, Delta State University library, Ebonyi State University library, Novena University library, Western University library, and a host of others responded by saying they are yet to have internet connectivity in their libraries in this digital age. If all these university libraries in Nigeria are not connected to the internet, they cannot be able to benefit from the huge advantages brought about by the internet connectivity by helping students and staff to access literature and to engage in academic communication. This may be why Agboola (2000) recommended that: Nigerian University libraries must take advantage of modern communication and information technologies to open up their contents. All Nigerian University libraries should be fully automated and linked to the Internet. This will enable them to communicate easily with one another and to share their resources. It will also open up to them the resources of libraries located outside the country. Similarly, Ajiboye and Tella (2007) are also of the view that if quality in higher education is to be attained in Africa, a more radical and positive approach to the provision of Internet facilities in our tertiary institutions must be adopted. In the same manner, Ondari-Okemma (2007) in his work recommended that the internet should be made available widely in institutions of higher learning and other research institutions in sub- Saharan Africa so that scholars can use it for collaboration and communication. Scholars within the region can make use of the internet to collaborate among themselves and with scholars elsewhere in the world. The recent federal government of Nigeria approval of #3.6 billion contract on the 19 May 2010 for the provision of modern computers and installation of internet connectivity in 290 schools (tertiary institutions) and libraries across the country is a welcome devolvement in the right direction. Lack of maintenance culture in Nigeria In 2004, the Federal University of Technology, Owerri library was among the ten university libraries in Nigeria that benefited from donations of full complimentary internet facilities from a donor agency The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) as revealed in the interview. Responses from the interview with university librarians revealed that most of the computers in the libraries with internet facilities were donations from organizations such as the Education Trust Fund, NUC, MacArthur Foundation, UNESCO, AGORA, and NITDA. The question is how many university libraries among the ten beneficiaries from the OSIWA donations still maintain those computers with the internet capability? Many of those computers with internet capability in those libraries that benefited from these donor agencies are not functioning again due to either breakdown of computers and inability to replace them due to lack of funds or the lack of technical personnel in the libraries to constantly service and maintain the networks. This was the case of Delta State University library internet connectivity which was scheduled to be fully connected in 2001. The internet capability failed as a result of the following reasons: network failures and crashes that affected the workstations and network drivers; after installation, some of the workstations could not access the server (Igun, 2005). This was due to unavailability of skilled manpower to maintain and manage the systems after the initial installation. As a result, the internet connectivity project has been abandoned until now. Lack of technical personnel in the university libraries The interview with university librarians revealed that the major LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010 17

problem facing the library is the lack of technical personnel in the library to constantly service and maintain the networks to avoid breakdown or crashes. Internet connectivity in libraries requires skilled manpower to install and manage the networks. The demand for technology literate staff in libraries has gone up, and unfortunately there is a general shortage of staff to install and manage internet facilities in libraries in Nigeria. Due to poor funding, libraries cannot attract computer programers, systems analysts, or network administrators. The result has been breakdown of computers, crash of networks, and eventually abandonment of the internet facilities in the library. This finding agrees with Chisenga (2000) who in his earlier study reported the shortage of skilled technical staff in libraries in the sub-sahara Africa. Enakrire and Onyenania (2007) on their part also stated that the lack of manpower capacity tends to result in the centralization of technical expertise in an attempt to get the greatest value out of a scarce resource. According to them, this leads to available expertise being overly stretched with people trying to handle far greater and more diverse tasks than they would on other continents. Date of establishment of internet connectivity in the libraries The introduction of accreditation of courses by the NUC involves visits to university libraries (among other teaching facilities in the universities) to determine the qualitative and quantitative aspects of their book and journal collections as well as availability of internet facilities for staff and students use (NUC, 1991). This requirement has forced university administrators to take library development more seriously. It has now become customary in most Nigerian universities for money to be released on an ad hoc basis for the provision of internet facilities as well as the development of book and journal collections whenever accreditation visits are imminent. Date of establishment of internet connectivity as shown in the table revealed that some of the first and second generation universities (federal universities established in the 1960s and 1970s) got internet connectivity in the 1990s early before every other university library. For example, the Niger Delta University library only got their internet connectivity hurriedly in 2007 when NUC scheduled accreditation within that period. Thanks to the NUC without which internet connectivity would not have been a reality in the university libraries in Nigeria. Power supply in the university libraries In order to overcome the irregular power supply problem in university libraries in Nigeria, university librarians were asked whether their university library has standby generator to keep the computers running for staff and students to use in case of public power failure. The study revealed that nearly all the university libraries with internet facilities have a standby generator; some university librarians mentioned having 100 kva generator while other university librarians mentioned having 200 kva generator in the library. However, some university librarians responded that they have only a small generator. Those libraries are the University of Igbinedion and University of Ado-Ekiti. While responses from Ambrose Alli University revealed having a generator, it is faulty. Invariably, these three university libraries have no generator to keep the computers running. The idea of the university libraries having their own standby generator is to guard against power failure as experienced by users in previous studies like Awolabi (2007). A stable electricity system is indispensable infrastructure in the proper functioning of computer systems. In spite of the awareness, African countries as noted by Anyarelue (2006) have been characterized as having poor provision of electricity. That is the reason why this study also investigated the availability of standby generator to constantly make the systems functioning without power interruption. Sitima-Ndau (2010) in his study at the University of Malawi s Chancellor College identified limited internet terminals, slow internet speed, electricity failure, and internet service charges as obstacles to internet use by students. Conclusion The quality of the university library facilities is an important component in the reputation of the university. As a matter of fact, the quality and effectiveness of academic programs of a university are measured in part by the quality of the library. During an accreditation exercise of a program, if the library is scored less than 70 percent but all other components are scored 100 percent that program will not get full accreditation. This may be why Aguolu (1984) asserted that the university library is the most important organ in the university because academic worth, intellectual vitality, and effectiveness of any university depend largely upon the state of the health and excellence of its library which is its lifeblood. In a bid to meet NUC requirements such as having a well-equipped library with internet facilities, university administrators are striving hard to meet the requirements. Suffice it to say that university libraries in Nigeria are still faced with a lot of challenges. The most important is in the area of funding which has its effect on every sphere of the life of the university. Without adequate funding it is absolutely impossible for a university library to live up to its mandate which is to support teaching and research. Commenting on the situation of private university libraries in Nigeria, Olorunsola (2009) remarked that for any private university library to attain world class status, the following are to score high: funding, staffing, the collection, access to global information, acquisition and subscription to current resources, both print and electronic, and the provision of literacy skills that will enable users maximize library resources. Most of these cannot be achieved without functional computers with internet facilities in the libraries. As revealed in the study, very many university libraries in Nigeria still do not have internet facilities available in the libraries to attain a world class status. Arising from these findings, the study therefore recommends the following:. Provision of funds by the federal, state, and private university owners (single and mission sponsored) for the procurement of modern computers and installation of internet facilities in the libraries.. Employment of permanent technical experts to maintain the systems.. Non-governmental organizations local and international to give support by providing full internet facilities to university libraries in 18 LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010

Nigeria and also organize training and re-training of librarians to effectively use and maintain the systems. REFERENCES Agboola, A.T. (2000), Five decades of Nigerian University libraries: a review, Libri, Vol. 50, pp. 280-9. Aguolu, C.C. (1984), The future of libraries and information service in Nigeria, Nigerian Libraries, Vol. 20, pp. 53-70. Ajayi, G.O. (2005), E-Government in Nigeria s e-strategy, paper presented at the 5th Annual African Computing and Telecommunications Summit, Abuja. Anyarelue, F.U. (2006), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Department Libraries in Government and Private Sectors. NLA, Delta State Chapter AGM, Warri. Baro, E.E. (2009), Barriers to effective and efficient reference and information services in Nigerian libraries, Communicate: Journal of Library and Information Science, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 11-24. Chisenga, J. (2000), Global information and libraries in sub-sahara Africa, Library Management, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 178-87. Dee, C.R. (2003), Chat reference service in medical libraries: part 2 trends in medical school libraries, Medical Reference Services Quarterly, Vol. 22 No. 2, pp. 15-28. Enakrire, T.R. and Onyenania, O.G. (2007), Factors affecting the development of information infrastructure in Africa, Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 15-20. Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (2001), Nigeria National Policy for Information Technology (IT), Abuja. Fullerton, V. (2002), IFLA Digital Reference Standards Project, available at: www.ifla. org/vii/s36/pubs/drsp.htm (accessed 15 June 2009). Griffiths, J. and Brophy, P. (2005), Student searching behaviour and the web: use of academic resources and Google, Library Trends, Vol. 53 No. 4, pp. 539-54. Harris, S. (2010), Libraries of the future. In: putting the researcher at the centre of information, Research Information, Vol. 46, p. 9. Jones, S. (2002), The internet goes to college: how students are living in the future with today s technology, available at: www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/pipcollegere port.pdf (accessed 15 June 2008). Kroski, E. (2008), On the move with the mobile web: libraries and mobile technologies, Library Technology Reports, Vol. 44 No. 5, pp. 6-8. Laszlo, P. (2006), Communicating Science: A Practical Guide, Springer, Berlin. Lewis, D.L. (2007), A strategy for academic libraries in the first quarter of the 21st century, College & Research Libraries, Vol. 68 No. 5, pp. 418-34. Mojorho, D. and Nwalo, K.I.N. (2009), Availability and use of ICTs in collection management in University and special libraries in the Niger-Delta Region, Nigeria, Library Philosophy and Practice. Murphy, J. (2009), CUP launches digital archives, Research Information, Vol. 43, pp. 9-10. National University Commission (NUC) (1991), Approved Minimum Academic Standards for all Nigerian Universities, NUC, Lagos. National University Commission (NUC) (2006), Results of the November 2005 system-wide accreditation exercise, Monday Meno, Vol. 5 No. 3. National University Commission (NUC) (2010), Nigerian Universities approved by the NUC, available at: www.nuc.edu.ng/ pages/universities.asp?ty¼1&order¼inst_ name (accessed 15 January 2010). Nnadozie, C.O. (2007), Current trends in ICT availability and use in governmentowned universities libraries in South-Eastern Nigeria, The Information Technologist, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 39-55. Nwagwu, E.W., Adekannbi, J. and Bello, O. (2009), Factors influencing use of the internet: a questionnaire survey of the students of University of Ibadan, Nigeria, The Electronic Library, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 718-34. Obaje, A.M., Sani, A. and Lawal, V. (2008), Internet access and usage by staff and students: a case study of University of Jos Main Library, Bauchi Road Campus, The Information Technologist, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 160-71. Olorunsola, R. (2009), Library development in a private university: the first seven years, in Osagie, A.U. (Ed.), Change and Choice: The Development of Private Universities in Nigeria, Rawel Fortune Resources, Benin City. Olorunsola, R. and Idada, D.A. (2003), Private university libraries in Nigeria: a comparative study, Middlebelt Journal of Library and Information Science, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 64-75. Ondari-Okemma, E. (2007), Scholarly publishing in sub-saharan Africa in the twenty-first century: challenges and opportunities, First Monday, 12 (10-1 December), available at: http://fisrtmonday. org/htbin/cgiwrap/binojs/index.php/fm/article/ viewarticle/1966/1842 (accessed 15 June 2009). Ramzan, M. and Singh, D. (2009), Status of information technology applications in Pakistani libraries, The Electronic Library, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 573-87. Sitima-Ndau, B. (2010), Practical solutions to the challenges of undergraduate internet use, Link: Connecting Commonwealth Librarians, Vol. 10, pp. 4-5. Stuart, D. (2009), Programming skills could transform libraries role, Research Information, Vol. 45, pp. 20-1. Van Scoyoc, A.M. (2006), The electronic academic library: undergraduate research behaviour in a library without books, Libraries and the Academy, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 47-58. Womboh, B.S.H. (2008), The state of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigerian University libraries: the experience of Ibrahim Babangida Library, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Library Philosophy and Practice, available at: www.webpages.uidaho. edu/~mbolin/agyen-gyasi.htm (accessed 20 July 2009). FURTHER READING Owolabi, K.A. (2007), Internet access and usage by students of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana, Afikpo, Nigerian Library Link A Journal of Library and Information Science, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 38-47. Emmanuel E. Baro (karapere kumor@yahoo.com) holds a Master s degree in Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. He works as Librarian II at the Niger Delta University Library, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Joy Oyinnuah Asaba (oyinnuahjoy@ rocketmail.com) holds a Bachelor s degree in Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. She works as Assistant Librarian at the Niger Delta University Library, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 9/10 2010 19