Research Articles in University Library
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Item ACCREDITATION ISSUES FOR LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE SCHOOLS(Journal of Applied Information Science and Technology, 2007-02-02) Nkiko Christopher; Felicia YusufPurpose: The paper examines the issue of accreditation, types, status and ethical considerations in Library and Information Science, with reference to other professions as a model to adopt. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper began by defining the concept of accreditation, objectives and types. It went further to discuss issues and status of accreditation with disciplines in Nigeria, Lessons from other disciplines in connection with there professional standards. It finally enjoined the Nigeria Library Association (NLA) and Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) to borrow a leaf from other developed countries to help ensure standards in the profession. Findings: from the paper accreditation is said to be a process by which institutions or programmes continuously update their educational standard through evaluation programme and institutional accreditation are the two types we have, some of the objectives of accreditation are: to stimulate and integrate the efforts of institutions to evaluate the standards of education; to strengthen the capabilities of the educational institutions for service to the nation; and to identify educational institutions that meets stated criteria for academic quality. In Nigeria, the National University Commission (NUC) is responsible for the accreditation of Library and Information Science (LIS) Schools, unlike in United Kingdom (UK) United State of America (USA) and Australia where professional bodies are chiefly responsible for the accreditation of LIS Schools. Other professional bodies in Nigeria like Nigeria Institution of Architecture, the Council of Legal Education, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and Chartered Accountants of Nigeria participate actively in the accreditation of their professions. It is therefore suggested that NLA and LRCN should live up to their responsibility by participating in the accreditation exercise of LIS Schools, provide parameter for recognition of the degrees and empower librarians and LIS Schools with adequate skills and competence to compete globally. Practical Implication: The NUC should incorporate NLA and LRCN to implement the stipulated standards for accreditation of LIS Schools. Originality: Its originality is in the writers’ analysis of accreditation issues in LIS Schools in Nigerian Universities, as against what is done in some other countries vis-à-vis other professions NLA, LIS School, NUC and LRCN have much lessons and information to gain from the work.Item Pioneer Bachelor Degree: Citation Analysis of Covenant University Students' Research Projects(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2007-11-02) Nkiko Christopher; Adetoro, NiranThe paper reports a citation analysis of the pioneer Covenant University bachelor degree students' research project reports of 2006, accepted by the university academic departments and submitted to the university library. The analysis was performed to help the library determine which materials that are most sought after and used by students. 557 research reports were analyzed, which generated a total of 14,655 citations, an average of 26.3 citations per research report. The type of material cited, number of Internet/electronic resource citations, and recency of citations were analyzed. The result corroborated the findings of citation analyses from the literature. Books (53.3%) were cited more frequently than journals (21.5%). About 64% of the total citations were to recent material.Item Library and Information Support for New Partnership for Africa 's Development (NEPAD)(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2008-02-02) Nkiko Christopher; Yusuf, FeliciaDespite abundant human and natural resources, Africa is adjudged the poorest region of the world. It has 34 out of the 44 countries in the globe classified as “least developed”. In trying to solve the problems of underdevelopment, African leaders have a determination to extricate themselves and the continent from the malaise of underdevelopment and exclusion in globalizing world. No one, no matter how benevolent, can identify and seek lasting solutions to the continent's impoverishment except Africans. It behooves our leaders to galvanize all available forces to redefine our external relationships, strengthen internal dynamics, and harness collective talents and will for making life more meaningful. Bukarambe (2004) avers that Africa is the poorest and most marginalized of all continents, with about half of its population living below the poverty line on less than $1 a day. There is impatience among a vanguard group, the rank and file of Africa, to reverse this hardship and to create a standard of living comparable to other continents.Item Managing a Sustainable Institutional Repository: The Covenant University Experience(Samaru Journal of Information Studies, 2010) Nkiko Christopher; Christian Bolu; Michael-Onuoha HappinessThe paper examined the ubiquitous nature of digital institutional repositories and their concomitant capabilities. It specifically show-cased the robust process and technical details involved in the development and sustenance of Covenant University Institutional Repository which has consistently ranked number one repository in Nigeria based on webometric rankings. Relying on Strajda Process Management model, Covenant University adopted two open source software- Dspace and E-print based on adjudged robustness of the metadata, relative easy to setup as well as amenable to customization. The paper recommended among others, the sensitization of researchers on the dangers of ceding copyright to Journal publishers as the practice divests them of inherent rights and may preclude deposition of their works on the Institutional repository thereby undermining growth of content and visibility of research outputs. It further recommended backup systems that forestall intrusion and mitigate effect of potential disasters on sustainability of Institutional Repository.Item Involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing(Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 2010-04-02) Felicia Yusuf; Nkiko ChristopherThe study examined the involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing practices in three academic libraries in Nigeria. Twenty five respondents comprising current cataloguers and those who had worked as cataloguers were used for the study. A descriptive survey method using a self-constructed questionnaire was used. Four research questions were posed and analysed using frequency counts and percentages. Results showed that the involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing is fast becoming a reality, with one university library depending more on non-professionals while the other two showed less dependence on them. Methods adopted by these libraries to ensure quality control include close supervision by professionals, training non-professionals in copy cataloguing, and designation of a librarian to constantly edit the catalogue for possible re-cataloguing. The use of prepared worksheets by librarians to be keyed in by non-professionals is the least used strategy. Other major findings include changes in cataloguing practices which comprise online cataloguing, cataloguing of Internet resources and electronic files, copy-cataloguing, different metadata structures, introduction of OPAC and the involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing practices. Outsourcing, procurement of ICT, employment of Systems Engineers as part of library staff, attendance of workshops and conferences among others were some of the strategies adopted to cope with these changes; however, the application of ICT was the most frequently used strategy. The study concluded that cataloguing practices in the libraries sampled have witnessed changes as a result of the application of ICT in organizing library materials which has in turn changed the role of cataloguers from merely providing bibliographic details of materials to that of supervision and other administrative functions, and in order to maintain relevance, librarians have been forced to build capacity in the area of ICT.Item Involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing: a survey of practices in three academic libraries in Nigeria(Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 2010-04-02) Nkiko ChristopherThe study examined the involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing practices in three academic libraries in Nigeria. Twenty five respondents comprising current cataloguers and those who had worked as cataloguers were used for the study. A descriptive survey method using a self-constructed questionnaire was used. Four research questions were posed and analysed using frequency counts and percentages. Results showed that the involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing is fast becoming a reality, with one university library depending more on non-professionals while the other two showed less dependence on them. Methods adopted by these libraries to ensure quality control include close supervision by professionals, training non-professionals in copy cataloguing, and designation of a librarian to constantly edit the catalogue for possible re-cataloguing. The use of prepared worksheets by librarians to be keyed in by non-professionals is the least used strategy. Other major findings include changes in cataloguing practices which comprise online cataloguing, cataloguing of Internet resources and electronic files, copy-cataloguing, different metadata structures, introduction of OPAC and the involvement of non-professionals in cataloguing practices. Outsourcing, procurement of ICT, employment of Systems Engineers as part of library staff, attendance of workshops and conferences among others were some of the strategies adopted to cope with these changes; however, the application of ICT was the most frequently used strategy. The study concluded that cataloguing practices in the libraries sampled have witnessed changes as a result of the application of ICT in organizing library materials which has in turn changed the role of cataloguers from merely providing bibliographic details of materials to that of supervision and other administrative functions, and in order to maintain relevance, librarians have been forced to build capacity in the area of ICT.Item Women in Nigeria: Towards improved information accessibility, capacity building and constitutional development(2011-11-23) Nkiko ChristopherThe Nigerian women represent a powerful, creative and credible force that must be empowered to contribute to the constitutional development of the nation. Their involvement would be tantamount to catalyzing and releasing dormant but rich potentials to the benefit of all. The paper examines information as a veritable resource for capacity building necessary for principled participation in any polity. It concludes that awareness, confidence and participation of women in constitutional development of a country are a function of information at their disposal.Item Bibliotherapy and aging phobia among Covenant University staff(Ife PsychologIA, 2011-11-26) Nkiko Christopher; Yusuf, Felicia O.Reading is one of life's greatest pleasures and opens the door to culture, knowledge and independence. It can be very therapeutic. This study examines the effect of bibliotherapy on aging phobia among Covenant University academic and senior staff. The result shows that reading of books has influenced positively their perception and attitude towards aging. And that books especially the bible, internet and friends are major sources of information to ameliorate any fear of aging.Item Book Piracy in Nigeria: Issues and Strategies(Elsevier, 2013-10-13) Nkiko ChristopherAbstract Book piracy is an illegal and illegitimate reproduction of other people's intellectual property for economic reasons without prior consent or authorization. This paper examines the intricate dimension of book piracy in the Nigerian Publishing Industry. It notes the dangers the trend portends to qualitative education and scholarship in general. The paper identifies the different forms of book piracy as: local reproduction of fast moving titles using newsprint or poor textured paper, abuse of publication rights, hi-tech reproduction overseas, circumventing the e-book version, illegal reprography, unauthorized excessive production by printers, and translation without permission. Some of the causes of book piracy are poverty, book scarcity, ignorance of the copyright laws by the public and the uncooperative attitude of some countries in endorsing international treaties on intellectual property rights. The paper recommends the following as panacea to stemming the tide of the menace: cost reduction strategies, national book policy and commissioning of local authorship, awareness and enforcement of copyright laws, revitalization of libraries, sanctions on countries showing complacency towards piracy, special algorithms to detect illegal downloads, security printing devices and moral suasion.Item Information Literacy Search Skills of Students in Five Selected Private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria: A Survey(Library Philosophy and Practices, 2014-01-02) Ilogho, Julie E.; Nkiko ChristopherABSTRACT The study investigated the knowledge of information literacy and search skills of students in five selected private universities in Ogun state, Nigeria. It also examined students’ ability to distinguish diverse information sources as well as assess the effectiveness of information literacy programmes of private universities. The sample consists of 359 respondents drawn proportionately from a population of 400 from the selected universities. Descriptive survey method was used to elicit data through the Monash University Library Questionnaire on Information Literacy in this study. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages. It was found that preponderance of respondents have low knowledge of information literacy skills, showed high deficiency in identifying diverse information sources and the various information literacy programmes of the respondents’ institutions lacked hands-on. The study concluded that sound information literacy skills is a desideratum in knowledge acquisition in the twenty-first century and recommended inter alia; that information literacy skills be integrated into the secondary and tertiary schools’ curricula. Thus, the need for an enhanced and continuous library user education geared towards empowering students to be sufficiently familiar with information sources, mutual collaboration between teachers and librarians to ensure integrated mode of lecture delivery, constant advocacy and sensitization outreaches.Item OPTIMAL SELECTION OF DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: LEVERAGING ON COVENANT UNIVERSITY MODEL(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2015-02-02) Nkiko Christopher; Bolu Christian; Adewunmi WoleThe use of institutional repository (IR) has gained tremendous acceptance in several Higher Education Institution (HEI) in many countries. However, many HEIs report poor usage and enthusiasm. This paper develops a decision model to assist in characterization and selection of digital repository solutions in academic libraries. Five technologies, namely: Eprints, Dspace, Fedora Repository, Greenstone and SAP Document System explored. Using the model, these were evaluated with respect to installation process, functionality, performance, cost, security, usability, workflow, scalability and interoperability. The model was found to adequately address the critical transparency requirements for due diligence selection process in the establishment of Covenant University Institutional Repository. It is recommended that leveraging on this model would enhance adoption and usage of digital repositories in developing countries.Item COMMUNITY-FOCUSED SELECTIVE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION SERVICES FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH INFORMATION PROVISION AND UTILIZATION: CENTER FOR LEARNING RESOUCES AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL CHANGE(IFLA WLIC, 2015-02-02) Nkiko Christopher; Iroaganachi MercyWith the rapidity of transformation of the modern society to a knowledge economy, as well as the ever increasing deployment of ICT for retrieval and management of knowledge by libraries, global solutions are now available for hitherto localized and seemingly intractable problems. As laudable as this scenario of a flat world which provides information for virtually any issue of human concern, in unimaginable dimension, may seem, there still exists the need to bridge the yawning gap in women’s information access and utilization in Nigeria. It is against this background that the study surveyed and show-cased practical outreach undertaken by the Centre for Learning Resources (Covenant University Library) in addressing particular information needs of women within its environs. The paper highlighted community impact initiatives, workshops, and research targeted at ameliorating specific deficiencies associated with women through the instrumentality of information access and library services. The study extrapolated from the unique experiences of the Centre for Learning Resources, Covenant University to construct a model for modern libraries in developing countries for evolving as agent of reconstruction of their immediate geo-polity. It identified constraints of libraries in community services. The paper concluded that libraries should traverse traditional roles to embrace challenges presented by their peculiar setting in order to maintain continuous relevance.Item Examination of the Nexus Between Academic Libraries and Accreditation: Lessons from Nigeria(Routledge, 2015-04-08) Nkiko Christopher; Ilo, Promise; Idiegbeyan-ose, Jerome; Segun-Adeniran, ChidiThe article investigated the nexus between academic libraries and accreditation in the higher institutions with special focus on the Nigerian experience. It showed that all accreditation agencies place a high premium on library provisions as a major component of requisite benchmarks in determining the status of the program or institutions being assessed. Academic libraries help to enrich formal classroom curricular and act as a broadening influence on lecturers and students as well as nurture in them the virtue of independent inquiry. State-of-the-art academic libraries confer prestige on the institutions and have tremendous impact on student retention, rankings, and high profiling of parent institution during accreditation. The article noted that there exists strong intrinsic and sometimes imperceptible relationship between academic libraries and higher education. It recommended institutionalization of global and regional ranking of academic libraries, among others.Item Awareness and Perception of Plagiarism of Postgraduate Students in Selected Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria.(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2016-02-02) Idiegbeyan-ose, Jerome; Nkiko Christopher; Osinulu, IfeakachukuPlagiarism undoubtedly constitutes a seemingly imperceptible threat to the growth of genuine global scholarship. The understanding of various perspectives of the phenomenon is critical to finding a lasting solution. It is against this background therefore, that the study investigated awareness and perception of plagiarism of postgraduate students in selected Universities in Ogun State Nigeria. Survey research design was used while adopting stratified and random sampling methods to select 338 respondents from federal, state and private Universities for the study. The findings revealed average level of awareness of plagiarism among postgraduate students, level of training influenced their level of awareness; pressure to meet deadlines, inadequate writing skills and lack of knowledge of what constitutes plagiarism were found to be responsible for the malaise. The study also revealed a significant positive relationship at r = 0.294 and p < 0.05 implying that as awareness increases, the positive perception of plagiarism would also improve. However, it revealed a significant difference in perception of plagiarism at f(2,327) = 25,000 and p < 0.05 implying that what postgraduate students perceived as plagiarism differ across the types of institution. The paper concluded that plagiarism is a heinous academic crime which negates the main objective of research to discover new facts and expand the frontiers of knowledge. The paper recommended the intensification of awareness and sensitization programmes on plagiarism by various institutions; that the National Universities Commission should enforce the use of Turnitin in all Nigerian Universities and the introduction of information ethics as a compulsory course of study in the tertiary institutionsItem Performance assessment model for academic libraries(Annals of Library and Information Studies, 2016-03-02) Mercy Iroaganachi; Nkiko ChristopherThe study explores performance assessment models in academic libraries and show-cases the practical experiences at the Covenant University Library. The paper which is based on an observational study of the researchers’ daily work experiences and review of literature identified constraints to performance assessment in academic libraries and has attempted to give solutions. The paper concludes that academic libraries should overcome constraints and imbibe the culture of performance assessment that involves a continuous and periodic process of fine-tuning critical management and functional processes, either reactively or proactively through deliberately designed parameters (indicators). It extrapolated from the unique experiences of the Centre for Learning Resources, Covenant University to construct a model (Lib-PERFQUAL) for libraries around the world. This is a model that comprises all indicators necessary to maintain continuous relevance and achieve utmost efficiency.Item Digital Divide(Journal of Cases on Information Technology, 2016-07-01) Jerome Idiegbeyan-ose; Nkiko Christopher; Mary Idahosa; Nwanne NwokochaThis paper discussed digital divide, issues and strategies for intervention in Nigerian libraries. It defined digital divide as the gap that exist between countries, within countries, individuals, families and so on in their access and usage of Information Technology facilities such as the internet, computers, laptops, various handheld devices, application software etc. The paper also discussed the causes of digital divide comprising finance, level of education, location of the individual and language as well as discussing the effects of digital divide to encompass inequality in access to information; ineffective services to users, libraries being unable to satisfy their clientele. The paper went further to discuss the present state of ICT facilities adoption and use by Libraries in Nigeria, compared to their equals in developed countries. The paper pointed out that most Nigerian libraries are far from full automation and Internet connectivity; the staff lack technical skills to build and maintain ICT for enhanced service delivery; libraries in rural areas of these developing countries are more neglected as available ICT facilities and internet connections are mostly available and accessible in the urban areas thus, those leaving in the rural areas are cut off from the numerous benefits of ICT. The paper concluded that Digital divide is a menace that affects information availability and access; growth and development in between countries and within countries and has led to inequality in access and use of ICT facilities as such, Nigerian libraries should wake up to their responsibilities by providing the required infrastructure needed to bridge the gap to prevent the escalation of digital divide. The paper finally recommended the formulation and implementation of ICT policy, adequate funding of libraries by those concerned, education and training of human resources to build and maintain ICT facilities, curriculum innovation by library schools so as to inculcate ICT courses for skills acquisitions of the professionals, improvement of maintenance culture and eradication of corruption in the entire system to enable developing countries take advantage of ICT facilities, make progress and move along with modernity and global sophistication.
Item Health, Information, Perception and Demographic Variables as Correlate of Gender Equality in Science Technology Engineering and Math (Stem) Education in South-West Nigeria(Annals of Global Health, 2017-04-07) Iroaganachi, Mercy A.; Nkiko Christopher; Eni, A. O.With the level of efforts and interventions by researchers and organizations around the world towards gender equality in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), the number of women participation is still very low. UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2015) revealed that female representation is only about 30% of the total population in STEM while in Africa it is about 17% ( Ekine, 2013). This statistics, raises the question of what could be responsible for the resistant disparity?Item Value-added Service to Academic Library Users in 21st Century: Using Competitive Intelligence Approach(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2017-11-02) Idiegbeyan-Ose, Jerome; Nkiko Christopher; Osinulu, IfeakachukuHigher education in the twenty-first century globally has been characterized and driven on business ethos. The institutions are faced with stiff competition in an attempt to increase their student enrolment, attract international students and faculty, pioneer centres of excellence, show-case outstanding research output, produce astute graduates and get listed in top ranking league tables. The paper therefore examined the effects of leveraging on value-added services to academic library users through competitive intelligence as a predictor of competitive advantage among tertiary institutions. It identified value-added personnel, collection, processing of materials and dissemination of information as constituting specific target selling points to be enriched with the concept. It however noted and x-rayed the concept of competitive intelligence as a critical precondition for achieving effective value-added service delivery in academic libraries. The paper concluded that robust collection coupled with technology-driven retrieval system as well as digital reference services would lead to greater user satisfaction and enhanced patronage of library services. It recommended among other factors the need to benchmark competitor institutions to gain competitive advantage over the market.Item Information Technology and Transcription of Reading Materials for the Visually Impaired Persons in Nigeria(Canadian Centre of Science and Education, 2018-09-07) Nkiko Christopher; Atinmo, M.I; Michael-Onuoha, Happiness Chijioke; Ilogho, Julie E.; Fagbohun, Michael; Osinulu, Ifeakachuku; Adetomiwa, B; Usman, K.OStudies have shown inadequate reading materials for the visually impaired in Nigeria. Information technology has greatly advanced the provision of information to the visually impaired in other industrialized climes. This study investigated the extent of application of information technology to the transcription of reading materials for the visually impaired in Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design of the ex-post facto to select 470 personnel as respondents. A questionnaire titled Information Technology Use Scale (α=0.74), and Interview Schedule (α=0.75), were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The findings indicate that information technology in transcription was low and a significant positive relationship between application of information technology and transcription of information materials (r=0.62: p<0.05). The study recommended among others that Multi-National Corporations should be sensitized to extend their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to help in procuring modern information technology devices and software to enhance transcription.Item Adoption of Integrated Library Management Software(NewGenLib): The Experience of Kano University of Science and Technology Library, Wudil, Kano State(Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 2018-11-23) Olatunji Sunday Olabisi; Farouq Binta L.; Idris MustaphaAdoption of library automation software is imperative. In the changing phase of the information sector, Open Source Integrated Library System is gaining more significance across the world for various factors such as availability of source code, flexibility, cost benefit, better quality control, self-customization and community support. The main objective of this paper is to examine the experience of KUST Library in the adoption of NEWGEN Library Management Open Source Software (OSS). The methodology adopted was a survey design, data was collected using questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to 5 staff of the library in the cataloguing units. The participants were limited to the cataloguing unit because it was observed that the software is presently in use in only the cataloguing unit of the library Findings show that the main reasons for the adoption of NewGenLib ILMS by KUST library were: provision of on-the-spot access to information, proper organization of information resources, accurate charging and discharging process, up to date statistical records, evaluation of information resources, linkage to all the faculty libraries for efficient management and adequate services to the users and resource sharing. ICT facilities available in the adoption of NewGenLib Software in KUST library include: server, computers, barcode printer, barcode label, camera, battery, computer printers, internet, barcode reader, UPS and photocopy machine. While scanning machine, inverter, projector are not available. The major challenges faced in the adoption of NewGenLib ILMS in KUST library are: erratic power supply, insufficient manpower, inadequate training and technical support, lack of participation, inability to modify some of the fields, accession number field not available on the interface where other fields are, scalability and speed, lack of supervision, lack of motivation. Based on the findings, the University management should create an avenue where all the staff will be actively involved in the adoption of the NewGenLib Integrated Library Management Software; they should also organize a workshop where the staff can be trained about the various modules of the software. The University library hopes to adopt the software to the services of other departments in the library after concluding the data entry process.