Academic Libraries And Social Networking A Panacea For Transforming Academic Libraries In Akwa Ibom State
Abstract
The study examines libraries and social Networking in Academic Libraries in Akwa Ibom State. These libraries have a large population of users who demand a variety of services to meet their teaching, learning and researcher needs. Though the issue of libraries networking is not new, it does not seem that academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State are taking it seriously. The study also investigates the extent to which academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State are involved in networking for more effective service delivery and the challenges affecting them. The study adopts the descriptive survey design.
Total enumeration technique was used. Questionnaire was the main instrument to collect data. Out of the 56 copies distributed in the five libraries, 32 were collected for the study. Management information was collected from heads of libraries though interview schedule. The simple descriptive statistical technique was adopted to analyze the research data. The study revealed that the heads of libraries and librarians were well disposed towards networking, there is no policy on networking in the libraries and there was low level of networking among libraries in the state.. the most preferred areas of networking among the libraries were interlibrary loan and document delivery. The challenges militating against networking among libraries are epileptic power supply, absence of web OPAC in most libraries and the lack of national policy on networking.
It was concluded that, academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State are well disposed towards networking among themselves. The following recommendations were made based on the findings: federal and state government should provide adequate financial resources for networking among Libraries. The national library of Nigeria in conjunction with other academic libraries should develop national policy on networking in Nigeria. The national universities commission (NUC), and national commission for colleges of education should coordinate online networking activities for effectiveness and efficiency.
Keywords: Libraries, social Networking, Transforming, Academic Libraries.
Networking
Introduction
Academic Libraries are libraries associated with institutions of higher learning which are devoted to academic activities of their parent institutions. One of the basic objectives of academic libraries is to provide information resources in their various formats in support of teaching, learning, research and community services to meet the information needs of users within the institution. Academic institutions are located in different part of Akwa Ibom state with large population of users who demand a variety of services to meet their needs whereas these institutions have limited capacity of resources to meet the demand of their various users.
The institutions are (i) University of Uyo, Uyo. (ii) Akwa Ibom state College of Education, Afaha Nsit, (iii) Akwa Ibom State Univeristy, Ikot Akpaden, (iv) Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura and (v) College of Arts and Science Nung Ukim, Ikono. These academic Libraries according to Ibegwam (2015) are expected to perform among other functions, cooperation with other academic libraries with views to developing a network of academic library resources that are at the disposal of the users thereby enhancing improved educational and information services. Efedarifu (2010) in his opinion asserted that “No library can effectively satisfy it users from the resources within it walls, we are living in a time where a library’s worth is increasingly being measured by the services it offers in terms of helping users to access universal information rather than its respective collection.
Active study dictionary-5th edition defined Networking as the ability of the institution to connect several computers together so that they can share information. Okeagu and Okeagu (2008) describe library networking as a situation where two or more libraries engaged in exchange of information through common communication channels usually for the purpose of accomplishing share objectives. To this end individual library with inadequate resources can quickly solve their problem through networking by collaboration and resources sharing among libraries within a particular area or zone.
Academic Libraries And Social Networking A Panacea For Transforming Academic Libraries In Akwa Ibom State
Therefore the issue of networking among academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State are not considered important due to the fact that the parent institutions have neglected the right position of networking in their scheme of things. Also purchase of resources become difficult among heads of academic libraries and subscribing for the networking in the libraries becomes a thing of the past among themselves so as to enjoy or share resources. Medhi (2010) summarizes that “ no library or resource center of the world is self sufficient to meet the various information needs of the users; hence academic libraries can solve their problem through networking.
There is an adage which says “a problem shared is a problem solved and the scripture concludes by saying there is joy in sharing. Networking in libraries most especially academic libraries will helps in no small measures to reduce cost and unnecessary duplications of resources among libraries in zone where there are cooperating making available their resources used for immediate transformation.
Statement of the Problems
Networking in academic libraries is a form of co-operative arrangement between several libraries exchanging information through computers facilities. It has been widely acknowledged as a panacea for transforming academic libraries thereby meeting users needs, yet many academic libraries are struggling to meet the needs of their users and the users on their part are complaining of unmet needs while using the library. Therefore, based on this the study wants to examine the extent to which academic libraries are involved in networking activities for effective service delivery among the collaborative libraries.
Objective of the Study
The main objective of the study is to investigate networking activities in academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State.
The specific objective(s) of the study are to:
- ascertain how disposed the management of the academic libraries are towards networking among the academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State.
- determine whether the libraries are involved in any form of networking among themselves.
- find out whether the libraries have a policy on networking.
- examine the areas in which the libraries would prefer to network e.g. sharing information resources, sharing of skilled personnel, sharing in the training programmes or sharing of ICT facilities.
- find out the challenges of networking among the academic libraries and possible remedies.
Academic Libraries And Social Networking A Panacea For Transforming Academic Libraries In Akwa Ibom State
Scope of the Study
The academic libraries under study are:
- University of Uyo, Uyo
- Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) Ikot Akpaden
- Akwa Ibom State College of education, Afaha Nsit
- College of Art and Science, Nung Ukim Ikono
- Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura
Literature Review
Academic libraries and other types of libraries in the world are expected to provide information resources on various subjects needed by their patrons in the academic environment but it is obvious that no individual library is able to provide all the resources to satisfy the needs of its users. Okeagu and Okeagu (2008) posit that university libraries have realized that no matter how they are well funded, it is difficult to acquire all the information resources needed by their users. Resource sharing is a form of library cooperation by which a number of libraries working together provide access to information resources beyond the scope of individual library.
Librarian like Etuk (2011) noted that resource sharing among libraries is imperative as no single library can acquire all the resources the users needs. In like manner, Owolabi, Bamigboye, Agoboola and Lawal (2011) opine that it is not easy for a single library to satisfy the needs of its users, which gave rise to the concept of library cooperation, also known as resource sharing. Ikem and Nwaho (2002) describe funding as central to the success of every University library where this is inadequate as indicated in most of the libraries, the need for resource sharing for greater effectiveness becomes compelling that is why Ifijeh (2011) averred hat with low funding, universities are not able to operate libraries with “first-class services”.
The alternative to this inadequate funding in Nigeria libraries is networking so that users’ needs can be met adequately at less cost. In a network, libraries are expected to have access to the resources owned by cooperating libraries either online or manually so that sharing resources will be at ease in order for the libraries to identify what it can share with other libraries. The Webster’s collegiate dictionary-10th edition defined networking as the exchange of information or service among individuals, groups or institutions, while the chambers dictionary described networking as a group of people with a common interest, especially of these who meet socially, to share information, swaps contact etc.
Academic Libraries And Social Networking A Panacea For Transforming Academic Libraries In Akwa Ibom State
The introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) has made networking, sharing of resources in a library with other libraries made easy. Nwalo (2008) posited that, advances in ICT have facilitated resources sharing through computer networks and information is being made available by publishers electronically.
A generalized obstacle to resources sharing and access to information among university libraries in Nigeria according to Edem (2010) are:
- Lack of finance
- Lack of well developed ICT infrastructure
- Lack of requisite skill in ICT;
- Faulty formation strategies
- Unstable power supply
- Low level conversion of local content for national and international access among others.
Conferences and workshops also have been organized at national and sectional levels to articulate the challenges and prospects of resource sharing among university libraries in Nigeria, yet the situation has not changed significantly and the constraint continue to exist.
Etim (2006) also highlighted the challenges facing African Universities libraries in sharing resources in the digital age as a high cost of internet access, the ineffective configuration of campus networks for distance education, the absence of a critical mass of trainers and lack of reliable and permanent source of power supply. He says Nigerian libraries are still not been able to make full use of the manual form of resources sharing talk less of the online resource sharing system.
Summary of Findings
The summary of findings from the study shows that;
- there is low level of networking among the libraries in the state
- the heads of libraries and professional librarians in the academic libraries are well disposed towards networking.
- there is no policy on networking among the academic libraries in the state
- the most desired area of networking among the libraries are inter-library lending and document delivery, donation and exchange of publications;
- the major challenges of networking among the academic libraries are; epileptic power supply, absence of web OPAC in most libraries and non-availability of national policy on networking.
Academic Libraries And Social Networking A Panacea For Transforming Academic Libraries In Akwa Ibom State
Conclusion
In the conclusion, the study revealed that, the libraries were inadequately, funded and the resources were inadequate to meet the needs of their users. Again, academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State are well disposed towards networking among themselves and with other libraries. Therefore it is pertinent to work out modalities for networking in each library so that the informational needs of their users can be met.
Recommendation
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made for implementation to improve networking among academic libraries in Akwa Ibom State in Particular and Nigeria in general.
- National library of Nigeria in conjunction with other libraries most especially academic libraries should work out implementatble national policy on networking in Nigeria;
- Federal and state governments should provide adequate financial resources for networking among libraries.
- National libraries of Nigeria should make union catalogue of libraries possible on zonal or chapter basis pending the time majority of libraries can access other libraries catalogue online;
- Heads of libraries should make provision of ICT facilities a priority for networking among libraries through tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUND) and
- heads of libraries and other professionals libraries should build themselves up through reading of Relevant literature on networking through capacity building and staff training.
References
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The chambers dictionary