APPRAISING THE ROLES OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) AS A CHANGE AGENT FOR UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a change agent for university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study objectives include: (i) identifying types of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities used in university libraries in Kwara State; (ii) examining the roles of ICT in university libraries in Kwara State; (iii) investigating the challenges militating against the use of ICT in university libraries in Kwara State. In order to achieve the study objectives, three research questions were designed to guide the study, the two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study comprised 50 professional librarians population in selected university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis while the study used Chi-Square in analysing the two null hypotheses. The results revealed that (i) numerous ICT tools are used in the university library in Kwara State, Nigeria; (ii) ICT has changed the roles of university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria; and (iii) numerous challenges militates against the use of ICT in university libraries in Kwara State. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the Federal and State government including proprietors of private universities and other stakeholders should ensure adequate funding of university libraries in the light of active investment rather than a passive obligation, There is urgent need for the improvement of power supply in university libraries in order to enhance maximum use of the ICT facilities because they depend on light (electricity) to function.

Keywords: Appraise, change agent, information and communication technology, university libraries.

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