1.0 INTRODUCTION
Information and communication technology has become the rave of the moment in global socio-economic affairs. It has become so important that every country, organization or institution no matter how highly or lowly placed want to identify and embrace it. The world presently is knowledge-driven and information has taken the centre stage in virtually everything, hence utilizing Information and communication technologies (ICTs) is therefore a sine qua non for a qualitative service delivery in university libraries.
A library is an organized collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. University libraries are of essence to the survival of University education in the world. This attribute of library’s importance has a role to play on the larger society because a well planned library impact positively on the University community; both the staff and student population. Meeting these objectives by libraries in University requires them using new tools such as information and communication technologies for functions and services in the library.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are sets of tools and resources used to communicate, create, manage information, store and disseminate information (Ani, et al., 2005). They (ICTs) encompass a wide range of rapidly evolving technologies including telecommunication technologies, such as telephony, cable, satellite, TV and radio, computer-mediated conferencing and videoconferencing, as well as digital technologies, such as computers, information networks (Internet, ‘the World Wide Web, intranets and extranets) and software applications. Interestingly, Valerie et al., (1999) sees Information and Communication Technologies (I;CTs) as computer-based tools used by people to work with the information and communication processing needs of an organization. They include the computer hardware and software, network and several other devices (video, audio, photography camera, etc) that carries information (text), images, sound, motion and so on into common digital form. Types of ICTs however includes; computers, software programs, audiotapes, audio visuals, phones amongst others
According to Aniekwu et al., (2002), Information and Communication technologies (lCTs) is an instrument of social economic renaissance and if properly used, it could assist growth and development of libraries in our higher institutions in Africa, this is because it has introduced new role in libraries by bringing about the revolutionary journey from traditional to digital ways of providing library services. Furthermore Anunobi., (2005) buttressed that accessing varieties of information and knowledge sources in libraries is now simple, easy and independent of time, place and subject disciplines. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) has a wider spectrum of applications with enormous relevance to university teaching and learning activities. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) utilization is, the presentation and distribution of instructional content through web environment (e-teaching) or systems offering an integrated range to support learning and communication (Chisenga, 1995). Instructional service delivery has to do with teaching/learning activities that take place in the classrooms. Therefore, quality of instructional service delivery entails the extent of effectiveness to which lecturers carry their classroom teaching/learning process. According to Bryson (1990), the central purpose of libraries is to provide service: access to information and information and communication technologies, especially computers, information networks and software applications, are making it possible for libraries to provide a variety of library and information services to their clients.
However, Taking into account the rate at which innovative use of ICTs is being introduced and the ever declining costs of ICT facilities, it is hope that it won’t be long before libraries start using satellite and’ mobile phone technologies to deliver information services to their clients located in remote and inaccessible areas. This study is however bent on investigating the use of ICT as a tool for service delivery in some Universities in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Introduction of ICTs in Nigerian University libraries have witnessed tremendous progress as many libraries have gone ahead to acquire these ICTs. Most libraries in Nigeria have not computerized any of their functions, the public card catalog and the visible index are still finding tools for books and journals in most libraries. In support of this submission Aguolu and Aguolu, (2002) buttressed that library and information services in Nigeria have yet to transend the traditional functions of information provision to library users despite the overwhelming presence of ICTs in majority of University libraries in Nigeria. The researcher is of the opinion that though there exist ICTs in university libraries, the extent of it been used for information delivery to users could not be ascertained. This study is bent on addressing this existing gap of lack of information regarding the extent of ICTs use for information delivery in University libraries by investigating the use of ICTs as a tool for service delivery in selected University libraries in Edo State Nigeria.
1.3 Objective of the Study
Specifically, the research was conducted to
1.4 Research Question
The study sought answers to the following questions
1.5 Scope of Study
The study will be on the use of ICTs as a tool for service delivery in selected libraries in Edo State Nigeria. Interestingly this study will focus only on ICT as a tool with other variables will be included. However, only University libraries within Edo State zone will be used for the study while other libraries will be excluded from the study.
1.6 Significance of the Study
It is hoped that the result of this study will help academic libraries which do not apply ICT facilities for library functions recognize areas were ICT can improve service delivery, and the ICT they can use. With that they can invest more into ICT development. For libraries using ICT facilities for various operations, they will be acquainted with other areas were ICT can be employed and the institutions applying such. The government and the general public will also be aware of the state of ICT facilities in Nigerian universities in the Edo State so as to know the plight of students and library staffs in other to which areas necessary assistance is needed in other to improve the standard of service delivery in our libraries.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
During the conduct of this research work, ‘the researcher encountered problems which affected the quantity and quality of data collected. Problems encountered included that of financial constraint and the reliability of responses from the population of research sampling.
1.8 Operational Definition of Basic Terms
Information communications technology (lCT): A set of technological tools and resources used to communicate and to create, disseminate store. Also it can be defined as the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve and transmit data
Library: This is an organized collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both.
University library: this are academic library is generally located on the campuses of colleges and universities and serve primarily the students and faculty of that and other academic institutions. Some academic libraries, especially those at public institutions, are accessible to members of the general public in whole or in part.
Service delivery: This is a process of getting services as effectively and quickly as possible to the intended recipient.
Information and communications technology (ICT): Information and communications technology (lCT) is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications- and the integration of telecommunications (telephone line and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information
Information: Information, in its most restricted technical sense, is a sequence of symbols that can be interpreted as a message. Information can be recorded as signs, or transmitted as signals. Information is any kind of event that affects the state of a dynamic system that can interpret the information.
Communication: is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, written, or behavior. It is the meaningful exchange of information between two or more living creatures.
Technology: is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, and methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a pre-existing solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, including machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures.
1.9 Summary
This chapter focuses on the concept of ICT as its important to modern day academic exercise especially as it relates to its use in the library. The chapter vigorously exposed various definitions of ICT in relation to its use in the study. While various types of ICTs were listed. The problem that ignited the study was stated in 1.2, while the study objectives and research question were outlined. The area of the study was shown as also in the chapter and factors that hindered the research investigation proper. The chapter was concluded with an array of definition of concepts relating to the study proper.