Research Paper
Year: 2020 | Month: July | Volume: 7 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 64-74
Assessment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy of Librarians in National Root Crop Research Institute, Library
Onah Jude Chidike1, Ugwuanyi Linus Ikechukwu2, Oni Olalekan Abayomi3, Eseni Nwando Ogochukwu4
1Postgraduate Student, 2Lecturer,
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
3Department of Library and Information Science, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State.
4National Library of Nigeria, Enugu State Branch
Corresponding Author: Onah Jude Chidike
ABSTRACT
The study examined the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy of Librarians in National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Library. The design adopted for the study is descriptive survey. The population of the study consists of 10 library and information professionals in National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike. Total enumeration technique was adopted for the study, since the population size is small, manageable and accessible. The instrument for data collection used for the study is questionnaire. The data collected was presented using frequency distribution table, percentage, and mean. The findings revealed that, computers, mobile phones, television, Internet, Library oriented software, CD-ROMs, flash drive, digital camera, among others are available in the library. Also, Librarians in NRCRI possess such ICT literacy skills as Computer operation, Uploading and downloading file from the web, Digital scanner to scan document, picture etc. Save/ delete file on computer, Internet navigation, Together with Send and receiving of email, Send/receive text, audio, video using social media sites, Online Chatting, and Software for data collection and analysis. The study identified workshop, Self-study, Presentation, Organizing Conferences and seminars, Notice board, On-the-job training, Departmental lecture series, Classroom/lecture method, Institute lecture series, Television broadcast, Learned societies groups, Coaching and mentoring, and Industrial attachment as the method of acquiring ICT Literacy among Library Information Professional in NRCRI, Library. The study revealed such challenges as Inadequate funding, Inadequate ICT facilities, Low internet bandwidth, Lack of sponsorship to both national and international conference, seminar, workshop, etc, Lack of ICT policy, Lack of Internet infrastructure, Lack of Internet infrastructure, Erratic power supply, Over dependency on donor support, Inadequate ICT training of staff, and Technophobia as the challenges inhibiting the acquisition of ICT literacy skills among Library and Information Professionals in NRCRI, Library. The study recommended that, National Root Crops Research Institute should sponsor librarians to both national and international seminars and conferences to further training and development. Also, ICT facilities used for security of resources should be acquired and installed in the library as noon was available during the researchers visit.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy, Library, Information Professionals, research Library.
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