USER NEEDS AND THE APPLICATIONOF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FACILITES AS DETERMINANTS OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research investigated user needs and the application of information technology facilities as determinants of collection development practices in university libraries in Northern Nigeria. Five research questions were provided to guide the study. Two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population for the study was eighteen thousand three hundred and sixty nine collection development librarians where thirty nine (39) eighteen thousand three hundred and twenty nine library users were library users in the nine university libraries studied. The sample size of the population was three hundred and seventy seven (377) according to Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size table. Questionnaire and observation checklist were the instruments used for data collection. Out of three hundred and seventy seven (377) copies of questionnaire administered, three hundred and thirty nine (339) copies representing 89.4% were used for the analysis. For the collection development librarians, thirty nine (39) copies of questionnaire were administered to them where nineteen (19) copies were returned. Descriptive statistical tools involving frequency counts and percentages, mean 3 and standard deviation were used to analyse the data in respect of the six research questions. Pearson product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was use to analyse the hypothesis. The findings of the study revealed among others that the main practice of collection development was through purchase and subscription. Similarly, insufficient computers with Internet facilities, poor Internet connectivity, lack of information technology skills, irregular power supply, download delay, difficulty in accessing some website, inadequate technology infrastructure, lack of technical assistance by library staff were seen as challenges to users’ needs and information technology on collection development processes in the universities under study. The study further revealed that there is significant relationship between information technology use and collection development practice in the study areas. The study recommended that the management of university libraries in Northern Nigeria should encourage resources sharing among university libraries as it would save time in the selection and acquisition of information resources. The study recommended further that there should be provision of funding for the acquisition of information technology facilities as well as proper training on ICT for library staff members through seminars, conferences and workshops to keep them abreast of better ways of developing their collections. The study recommended that there should be provision of modern information technology facilities to facilitate the collection development activities of the libraries such as in selection, weeding, preservation and conservation of information resources.