Reference and Information Services Delivery in Academic Libraries in Nasarawa State of Nigeria

Reference and Information Services Delivery in Academic Libraries in the Nasarawa State of Nigeria.

ABSTRACT  

The main purpose of this study is to examine the reference and information services delivery in academic libraries in Nasarawa State. To Achieve this, six research objectives were drawn which include; to identify reference and information services provided in academic libraries in Nasarawa State;

find out resources available for reference and information services in these libraries; Identify methods used for reference and information services delivery in academic libraries in Nasarawa State; ascertain the effectiveness of reference and information services in academic libraries in Nasarawa State;

determine hindrances to reference and information services delivery in academic libraries in Nasarawa State and suggest strategies for effective reference and information services delivery in academic libraries in Nasarawa State.

The study employed the survey research design. The user’s sample population of 272 and the total staff population of 7 constituted the sample for the study.

Two sets of questionnaires made up of 61 items each and an observation checklist were the instruments used to collect data which were presented in tables and analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and the mean.

Findings revealed that current Awareness services, Selective Dissemination of Information, Indexing, and Abstracting were the major reference services provided with 3.16, 3.09, 2.82, and 2.70 respectively.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents – – – – – – – – – – i
Approval Page – – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification Page – – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – – – v
Table of Contents — – – – – – – – – – vi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study – – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the Problem – – – – – – – – – 7
Purpose of the Study- – – – – – – – – – 8
Research Questions – – – – – – – – – – 9
Significance of the Study – – – – – – – – – 9
Scope of the Study – – – – – – – – – – 10

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Conceptual framework, – – – — – – – 11
An Overview of the Concept of Reference services in Libraries – – – – 14
Reference and Information Services offered in Academic Libraries – – – 17
Resources Available For Reference and Information Services in Academic Libraries- 21
Effectiveness of Reference and Information Service Delivery in Academic Libraries- 28
Method Used for Reference and Information Services Delivery- – – 29
Hindrances to Effective Reference Services – – – – – – 30
Strategies for Effective Reference and Information Services in Academic Libraries- 34
Review of Empirical Studies – – – – – – – – 37
Summary of Literature Review – – – – – – – – 41

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS
Research Design – – – – – – – – – – 43
Area of the Study – – – – – – – – – – 43
Population – – – – – – – – – – – 44
Sample and Sampling Technique- – – – – – – – 44
Instrument for Data Collection – – – – – – – – 45
Validation of the Instrument — – – – – – – – 45
Method of data collection – – – – – – 46
Method of Data Analysis – – – – – – – – – 46

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF DATA- – – – – 48
Table 1 – – – – – – – – – – 49
Table 2 – – – – – – – – – – 50
Table 3 – – – – – – – – – – 51
Table 4 – – – – – – – – – – 52
Table 5 – – – – – – – – – – 53
Table 6 – – – – – – – – – – 54
Summary – – – – – – – – – – 55

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Discussion of the Findings – – – – — – – – – 56
Implications of the Study – – – – – – – – – 65
Recommendations – – – – – – – – – – 66
Limitations of the Study – – – – – – – – – 67
Suggestion for Further Research – – – – – – – – 67
Conclusion – – – – – – – – – – – 68

REFERENCES- – – – – – – – – – 70

INTRODUCTION  

Nigeria has over the past few decades embarked on various areas of human endeavor that would bring about development educationally, economically, socially, culturally, and technologically. The role information plays in the development of individuals, organizations, institutions and the Nation has effectively placed it as a very vital commodity.

The benefits are only seen when the right information is provided to the user at the right time. Valid information is the key to knowledge which is a pre-requisite for any form of development.

That is why the value of any institution whose main duty is to disseminate information is by all reasons immeasurable in any growing nation; this information usually comes in various formats like books and non-books depending on the nature of the users.

Users normally come into the library with varying information needs which range from directional guidance to in-depth bibliographic search. Akinade (2000) states that the expectation of people when they visit the library to source for and retrieve information is always high.

Therefore, when the expectations are not met, the disappointment and frustration that follow can be just as high. Hence Libraries are not only willing to give help to individual readers; they consider the assistance as an important aspect of their responsibility to the users and justification for their training.

Academic libraries in its generic term referring to all the Libraries that exist in institutions of higher learning. Their major aim is to provide the curricular educational needs of the students as well as to support the teaching staff in their up-to-date materials required for their teaching.

Edoka (2000) defines academic libraries as “Libraries that exist in institutions of higher education such as universities, colleges of education, colleges of technology and polytechnics”. These are 10 largely tertiary education institutions usually available after secondary education.

There are variations in the extent of higher education, some colleges focus almost entirely on curricular needs. Universities in particular usually go beyond this to emphasize research and the interest of the wider population. 

REFERENCES

Aboyade, B.O (1983). Address on Reference Services in Nigeria Libraries Today. Lagos
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Adetoun, I (2006) Toward Achieving Standard in Academic law Libraries Vol (2) 59.
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Afolabi, M (1993). Factors Influencing book Theft and Mutilation among Users and Staff in
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State. State-of-the Art. Heart Land Journal of Library and Information Science Vol (2) 25-26.

CSN Team.

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