ABSTRACT

The study investigated the provision and utilization of ICT facilities in public university libraries in Abia State. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Five research questions were posed while four null hypotheses were formulated and tested using t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study is 1,160 respondents. Proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 209 respondents consisting of 106 students and 103 Para professional and professional staff. Three sets of instrument were used for this study. These include :( i) Observation checklist and two structured questionnaires, entitled: Questionnaire on Provision of ICTs Facilities in Public University Libraries (QPICTFPULs) and Questionnaire on Utilization of ICTs Facilities in Public University Libraries (QUICTFPULs). The instruments were subjected to face validation by three validates. To ascertain the reliability of the instruments, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) formula was used which yielded a coefficient of 0.84 and 0.80 for staff and students' instruments, (QPICTFPULs and QUICTFPULs), respectively. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Based on the data collected and analyzed, the study identified ICT facilities that are provided in public universities libraries amongst which are: projectors, printers, photocopying machines, electronic search engines and scanning machines. Also, identified were rationales for provision of ICT facilities which include: power point for presentation during lectures/workshop, storage of information(examination records in CD-ROM, flash drives and floppy diskettes),facilitate interconnectivity of information resources from other libraries and others. Reasons for utilization of ICT facilities were examined amongst which are: transmission of data and information, charging and discharging of materials in the library, access what other libraries have in their collection and others. The extent of utilization of ICT facilities were low on CDROM database, On-line catalogue, e-journal, projector, scanning machines, fax machine, microfiche and micro-film while the extent of utilization was high on the remaining ICT facilities such as internet/web, e-mail services, photocopying machines, printer and electronic search engines. The study further identified factors militating against the provision of ICT facilities which include: inadequate funding of library services, poor electric power supply, high cost of importation of ICT equipment and others. Factors militating against the utilization of ICTs facilities was examined which include: epileptic power supply, poor maintenance culture and frequent break down of ICT facilities. Strategies for enhancing the provision of ICT facilities include: provision of stable power supply, comprehensive national and international ICT policy, collective advocacy for government and institutional funding for ICT and training. Also, strategies for enhancing the utilization of ICT facilities in public university libraries was identified amongst which are: stable internet connectivity, providing ICT facilities to the academic staff, encouraging self-learning and making teaching via ICT compulsory. The test of hypotheses revealed that there was no significant (p<O.05) difference between the mean ratings of the respondents on the rationale for provision and utilization of ICTs facilities in public universities libraries, extent of utilization of ICTs facilities, factors militating against the provision of ICT facilities and strategies for enhancing the provision of ICT facilities in public universities libraries in Abia State .Based on the findings, the study, among others, recommended that the government and the managements of the universities concerned should ensure effective connectivity of public universities libraries to network for efficient use of available ICT facilities for research information and resource transfer among the institutions, government should make adequate provision for ICT facilities in public universities libraries for sustainable information sharing and research purposes and that there should be capacity building( training) for both staff and students in ICT facilities utilization for quality studies aid research in Nigerian universities.