University of Nebraska - Lincoln

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Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal) Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

10-10-2015

Assessment of Electronic Collection Development

in Nigerian University Libraries
nnenna obidike
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, [email protected]

Austin J.C. mole Ph.D

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, [email protected]

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obidike, nnenna and mole, Austin J.C. Ph.D, "Assessment of Electronic Collection Development in Nigerian University Libraries"
(2015). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Paper 1326.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1326
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Assessment of Electronic Collection Development in Nigerian University Libraries

Obidike, N.A. (Mrs.) 1 and Mole, A.J.C. Ph.D 2

*1
Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
2
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,

E-mail: [email protected]

*Corresponding author.

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: 08032611260

Abstract
The study assessed the state of electronic collection development (ECD) in Nigerian
university libraries. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The study was carried
out in three university libraries in Nigeria. The total population of library respondents
(Professionals and Paraprofessionals) used for this study was 208. Questionnaire and
interview schedule were the instruments used to collect the data for this study. The result
of the study revealed that ECD is not yet very effective in Nigeria university libraries. The
major factors militating against ECD in this study were inadequate funding of automation
which is also at infancy level, poor technical knowhow, lack of higher bandwidth in
Internet connectivity and lack of sound administrative policies and guidelines. The major
strategic measures for enhancing ECD include improved funding, constant evaluation of
automation facilities, adequate and regular systems upgrade, provision of skilled
manpower and periodic and regular training of librarians and paraprofessionals in the use
of modern ICT facilities.
Keywords: Professional librarians, paraprofessionals, electronic collection development,
university libraries.
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Introduction

Library collection development is one of the basic library services aimed at meeting the
information needs of the people (a service population) in a timely and economical manner
using information resources locally held, as well as from other organizations (Evans, 2000).
Librarians develop collections by buying or otherwise acquiring materials over a period,
based on assessment of the information needs of the library’s users.

Professionals (librarians) who work in the modern day libraries need continuous
grooming or training in other to acquire core competencies and new skills that will make
them not to be obsolete in this fast changing environment (Singh and Pinki, 2004). As a
result of this, they (librarians) need to shift their attention from traditional library activities
of collecting, processing, storing and accessing information, to offer or deliver customer-
centred automated information services; generated by using online/offline databases, e-
resources, e-journals, networks, consortia, etc.

Electronic Collection Development (ECD) vis-à-vis electronic library refers to

collection of electronically formatted information resources from a variety of sources such
as the Internet and the Web (Kovacs and Elkordy, 2006). In electronic or digital library
collection development, librarians tend to make digitization recommendations rather than
purchasing recommendations. They (librarians) do not evaluate what has been published,
but rather evaluate what is within their collection that is most valuable and unique to users.
To achieve this goal, librarians must be aware of the digital resources provided by other
libraries or organizations. The emerging technological development of the past years, such
as the electronic databases, online services, CD-ROMs and the introduction of Internet has
radically transformed collection development and access to information in university
libraries.

In any university library, a written collection development policy is an important

tool for guiding all activities related to planning, building, selecting and acquiring library
 3

materials (Magrill and Hickey, 1984). It is one of the first pieces of evidence in determining
whether a library is engaged in true collection development. University libraries are
becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of having a strong and constantly updated
written collection development policy (Bostic, 1988). Collection development policies
provide guidelines in the selection of materials and the allocation of funds. A written policy
provides the rationale for the selection of individual items and ensures consistency and
balance in the growth of collections.

At present, no known studies have been done on the state of Electronic Collection
Development in Nigerian university libraries. This paper aims to fill this gap through a
thorough assessment of the state of electronic collection development in three Nigerian
university libraries in order to promote an effective electronic collection development in
university libraries.

Research Questions
Four research questions were formulated to guide this study.
1. What is the state of electronic collection development in university libraries in
Nigeria?
2. What are the appropriate methods for facilitating electronic collection development
in university libraries in Nigeria?
3. What are the major impediments that are associated with electronic collection
development in the university libraries in Nigeria?
4. What are the strategies for enhancing ECD in Nigeria University Libraries?

Methodology

The study employed a descriptive survey design. This type of research design
seemed to be appropriate for this study because of the large body of data, with many
 4

variables which the target population of library respondents (Professionals and

Paraprofessionals) were expected to tick as they applied to them.

The study was carried out in three university libraries, made up of two federal and
one state –owned universities in Nigeria. The concerned university libraries were as
follows:

a. Nnamdi Azikiwe Library (NAL), University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

b. Professor Festus Aghagbo Nwako Library (FANL), Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Library, Awka, Anambra State

c. Enugu State University Library (ESUL), Enugu State University of Science and
Technology, Enugu.

The total population of library respondents (Professionals and Paraprofessionals)

used for this study from the three university libraries was 208; with the population of
professional librarians and paraprofessionals standing at 90 and 118 respectively. No
sampling was done in this study as the population size of 208 (Professionals and
Paraprofessionals) was considered manageable enough.

Questionnaire and interview schedule were the instruments used to collect the data
for this study. The questionnaire was structured using a-four-point rating scale of VAD
(Very Adequate), AD (Adequate), FAD (Fairly Adequate), NAD (Not Adequate); VHE
(Very Highly Employed), HE (Highly Employed), ME (Moderately Employed), NE (Not
Employed); SA (Strongly Agreed), A (Agreed), D (Disagreed), SD (Strongly Disagreed),
and VA (Very Appropriate), A (Appropriate), FA (Fairly Appropriate) and NA (Not
Appropriate). The university librarians, Heads of Collection Division and one digital
librarian from the three studied university libraries were interviewed.

With the help of two librarians in each of the three studied university libraries,
copies of the questionnaire (n = 208) were distributed among the professional and
 5

paraprofessional respondents to elicit their responses on the specific questions raised. An

audio play back cassette recorder was used to conduct the interview.

Analysis of data collected for this study was based on each research question using
frequency count and mean. SPSS version 16.0 software was used to calculate the mean of
each item in each research question. Frequencies of each item and means of the items in
each question were calculated and presented in tables.

RESULTS

Research question 1: What is the state of electronic collection development (ECD) in

university libraries in Nigeria?
Table 1: Mean Responses of Respondents in the Libraries on the State of ECD
Overall
S/N Item NAL FANL ESUL Mean SD Rank Decision
Equipped with computers and
their accessories for the FAIRLY
1 collection development staff 2.21 2.48 2.53 2.41 1.07 1st ADEQUATE
Always subscribe to e-
resources (online
journals/books) from major FAIRLY
2 publishers worldwide. 2.37 2.05 2.74 2.39 1.09 2 nd
ADEQUATE
Has wireless Internet FAIRLY
3 connection 2.46 2.05 2.58 2.36 1.10 3rd ADEQUATE
Adequately funded by the FAIRLY
4 state/federal government 1.98 1.88 3.11 2.32 1.04 4th ADEQUATE
The library has access to
online selection tools, such as FAIRLY
5 British and American BIP. 2.31 1.90 2.26 2.30 1.05 5th ADEQUATE
Has a WAN (Wide Area
Network) connection from
accessing publications from FAIRLY
6 local/university based authors 2.17 2.11 2.26 2.18 1.02 6th ADEQUATE
Has a LAN (Local Area
Network) connection for in FAIRLY
7 house processes. 2.07 2.24 2.05 2.12 1.06 7th ADEQUATE
 6

The acquisition unit has

strong Internet connectivity to
link up with publishers in FAIRLY
8 Nigeria and outside Nigeria. 1.99 1.86 2.11 1.99 1.01 8th ADEQUATE

Table 1 showed that the overall mean responses of respondents from the three studied
university libraries on the state of ECD fell below 2.50. The item “equipped with computers
and their accessories for collection development staff” scored an overall mean of 2.41
while the items “always subscribe to e-resources (online journals/books) from major
publishers worldwide” and “Has wireless Internet connection” had overall mean ratings of
2.39 and 2.36 respectively. On the other hand, “Adequately funded by the state/federal
government”, “The library has access to online selection tools; such as British and
American BIP” and “Has a WAN’ recorded overall mean ratings of 2.32, 2.30 and 2.18
respectively. The items “Has a LAN” and “The acquisition unit has strong Internet
connectivity to link up with publishers in Nigeria and outside Nigeria” scored overall mean
ratings of 2.12 and 1.99 respectively. This result is an indication that library staff
respondents did not agree on all the eight listed items in Table 1 on the state of ECD in
Nigeria university libraries.

Research question 2: What are the appropriate methods for facilitating electronic
collection development (ECD) in university libraries?
Table 2: Mean Responses of Respondents in the Libraries on the Appropriate
Methods that will Facilitate ECD
Overall
S/N Item NAL FANL ESUL Mean SD Rank Decision
VERY HIGHLY
1 Use of Internet 3.42 3.52 3.74 3.56 0.74 1st EMPLOYED
Provision of good Internet VERY HIGHLY
2 facilities 3.49 3.40 2.68 3.52 0.78 2nd EMPLOYED
Subscribing to electronic HIGHLY
3 journals 3.35 3.40 3.63 3.46 0.85 3rd EMPLOYED
HIGHLY
4 World Wide Web (WWW) 3.36 3.53 2.21 3.37 0.80 4th EMPLOYED
 7

Formulation of adequate HIGHLY

digital collection EMPLOYED
5 development policy 3.16 3.35 3.53 3.35 0.88 5th
HIGHLY
6 Online book in prints 3.18 3.35 3.21 3.25 0.90 6th EMPLOYED
Use of Online Public Access HIGHLY
7 Catalogue (OPAC) 3.31 2.99 3.37 3.22 1.03 7th EMPLOYED
Use of Online Publishers’ HIGHLY
8 Catalogue 3.11 3.15 3.21 3.16 0.99 8 th EMPLOYED
Subscribing to electronic HIGHLY
9 reference resources 3.10 3.22 3.05 3.12 0.98 9 th EMPLOYED
Subscribing to Full-Text HIGHLY
10 databases 3.22 3.20 2.74 3.05 0.94 10th EMPLOYED
Subscribing to Indexing HIGHLY
11 databases 3.22 3.28 2.58 3.03 0.91 11th EMPLOYED
Subscribing to E-book and HIGHLY
12 video streaming collections 3.09 3.11 2.79 3.00 1.01 12th EMPLOYED
Subscribing to individual e- HIGHLY
13 book and video streams 2.97 3.00 2.79 2.92 1.07 13th EMPLOYED
HIGHLY
14 Teleconferencing 2.73 2.59 3.05 2.79 1.15 14th EMPLOYED

The respondents from the three studied university libraries identified all the fourteen
items in Table 2 as the appropriate methods that will facilitate ECD in Nigeria University
Libraries. “Use of Internet” (3.56), “Provision of good Internet facilities” (3.52) and
“Subscribing to electronic journals” (3.46) stand out as the top three identified appropriate
methods that will facilitate ECD in Nigeria University Libraries. The library staff
respondents also identified other appropriate methods that will facilitate ECD such as
“World Wide Web (WWW)” (3.37), “formulation of adequate digital collection
development policy” (3.35), “online book in prints” (3.25), “use of Online Public Access
Catalogue” (3.22), “use of online publisher’s catalogue” (3.16), “subscribing to electronic
reference resources” (3.12), “subscribing to full-text databases” (3.05), “subscribing to
Indexing database” (3.03), “subscribing to E-book and video streaming collections” (3.00),
“subscribing to individual e-book and video streams” (2.92) and “teleconferencing” (2.79).
 8

Research question 3: What are the major impediments that are associated with electronic
collection development (ECD) in the university libraries in Nigeria?

Table 3: Mean Responses of Respondents in the Libraries on Factors that Militate

Against ECD
Overall
S/N Item NAL FANL ESUL Mean SD Rank Decision
STRONGLY
1 Inadequate funding 3.75 3.78 3.58 3.70 0.51 1st AGREED
STRONGLY
2 Epileptic power supply 3.51 3.49 3.68 3.56 0.69 2nd AGREED
3 Automation at infancy level AGREED
3.38 3.50 3.37 3.42 0.66 3rd
Lack of higher bandwidth AGREED
4 in Internet connectivity 3.19 3.53 3.16 3.29 0.70 4th
Poor access materials for AGREED
5 acquisition 2.88 3.18 3-16 3.07 0.95 5th
Lack of proper commitment
by the university
6 management 2.88 3.39 2.79 3.02 0.96 6th AGREED
Lack of technical know AGREED
7 how 3.15 3.09 2.79 3.01 0.90 7th
Lack of sound AGREED
administrative policies and
8 guidelines 2.96 3.35 2.53 3.95 0.95 8th
Lack of skill/in AGREED
9 competencies 3.01 3.00 2.58 2.86 0.97 9 th

Inadequate competent AGREED

10 personnel 2.79 3.11 2.47 2.79 0.98 10 th

Academic AGREED
Librarian/paraprofessional
11 reluctance to use ICT 2.46 2.96 2.58 2.67 1.04 11th

The respondents from the three university libraries clearly identified “inadequate
funding” (3.70) as the major factor that militates against ECD in Nigeria university
libraries. ‘Epileptic power supply” (3.56), “automation at infancy level” (3.42), and “lack
of higher bandwidth in Internet connectivity” (3.29) ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively as
the positively identified factors that militate against ECD in Nigeria university libraries.
 9

“Poor access to materials for acquisition” (3.07), “lack of proper commitment by the
university management” (3.02), “lack of technical know how” (3.01), “lack of sound
administrative policies and guidelines” (2.95) “lack of skill/in competencies” (2.86) and
“Academic librarian/paraprofessional reluctance to use ICT” (2.67) were also identified by
library staff from the three studied university libraries as militating factors against ECD in
Nigeria university libraries.

Research question 4: What are the strategies for enhancing ECD in Nigeria University
Libraries?
Table 4: Mean Responses of Respondents in the Libraries on Strategies for Enhancing
ECD
Overall
S/N Item NAL FANL ESUL Mean SD Rank Decision
Adequate funding from State and VERY
1 Federal Government 3.65 3.10 3.89 3.55 0.93 1st APPROPRIATE
Computerization/full automation
2 of the university library 3.64 3.19 3.58 3.47 0.94 2nd APPROPRIATE
Constant and uninterrupted power
3 supply 3.49 3.13 3.53 3.38 0.89 3rd APPROPRIATE
Training of librarians and
paraprofessionals in the use of
4 modern ICT facilities 3.60 3.10 3.16 3.29 0.90 4th APPROPRIATE
Creation of higher Internet
bandwidth for effective Internet
5 connectivity 3.59 3.04 3.16 3.26 0.91 5th APPROPRIATE
Constant evaluation of
6 automation facilities 3.36 3.10 3.32 3.26 0.84 5th APPROPRIATE
7 Adequate system upgrade 3.49 3.05 3.21 3.25 0.87 6th APPROPRIATE
Liaising with relevant related
groups such as staff of integrated
Libraries and Technology service
Department, various acquisitions
and public service department,
8 the catalogue department 3.45 3.11 3.05 3.20 0.90 7th APPROPRIATE
Development and support of the
Electronic Resource Management
tool (ERM) and other e-services
9 tool 3.39 3.04 3.11 3.18 0.87 8th APPROPRIATE
Formation of sound
administrative policies and
10 guidelines 3.42 3.15 2.95 3.17 0.89 9th APPROPRIATE
11 Provision of skill manpower 3.41 3.20 2.84 3.15 0.92 10th APPROPRIATE
Employing or Training Electronic
12 Resource Officer(s) (EROs) 3.36 3.03 3.00 3.13 0.96 11th APPROPRIATE
 10

Employing electronic collection

librarian(s) (ECLs) in the
13 university library 3.26 3.11 2.53 2.97 1.00 12th APPROPRIATE
Nurturing effective and
productive vendor relationships
with producers and providers of
14 e-resources 3.26 2.94 2.68 2.96 0.93 13th APPROPRIATE
Electronic resource activities,
such as troubleshooting problem
reports, reviewing and
15 negotiating license agreement 3.22 2.99 2.37 2.86 0.94 14th APPROPRIATE

In Table 4, the respondents from the three studied university libraries identified the
items that read “Adequate funding from State and Federal Government” (3.55),
“Computerization/full automation of the university library” (3.47), “Constant and
uninterrupted power supply” (3.38) and “Training of librarians and paraprofessionals in
the use of modern ICT facilities” (3.29) which ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively as
major strategic steps that should be adopted by Nigeria university libraries in enhancing
ECD. Other strategic steps for enhancing ECD that were identified by the library staff in
this study include “Creation of higher Internet bandwidth for effective Internet
connectivity” (3.26), “Constant evaluation of automation facilities” 3.26), “Adequate
system upgrade” (3.25), “Liaising with relevant groups such as staff of the integrated
libraries and technologies service department, various acquisitions and public service
department, the catalogue department” (3.20), “Development and support of the Electronic
Resource Management (ERM) tool and other e-services tool” (3.18), “Formation of sound
administrative policies and guidelines” (3.17), “Provision of skill manpower” (3.15),
“Employing or training Electronic Resource Officers (EROs)” (3.13), “Employing
Electronic Collection Librarians (ECLs) in the university libraries” (2.97), “Nurturing
effective and productive vendor relationships with producers and providers of e-resources”
(2.96) and “Electronic resource activities, such as troubleshooting problem reports,
reviewing and negotiating license agreement” (2.86).
 11

A cross section interview with the University Librarian, Head of Collection

Development Division and a Digital Librarian in the three studied university libraries
revealed that ECD is being practiced in the three libraries. According to the interviewees,
none of the studied university libraries has been fully computerized. One of the libraries
(Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, UNN) has six hundred and seventy-five (675) computers which
were connected to the Internet through Local Area Network (LAN)/Wide Area Network
(WAN). Professor Festus Aghagbo Nwako library has five hundred and eight-two (582)
desk top computers which have not been connected online. A situation where 582 desktop
computers were left unconnected online in a university library does not speak well of
electronic collection development.
The digital library at Professor Festus Aghagbo Nwako library has one hundred and
twenty (120) laptop computers that have been fully connected to the Internet (strictly meant
for academic staff). ESUT library has only forty-eight (48) computers that are connected
to the Internet. From this observation, ESUT library cannot boast of many computers and
this again does not speak well of electronic collection development in the university library.
According to the Head of Collection Development Division at Nnamdi Azikiwe
library, various sections/some library functions (special collection, collection
development, serials, reference etc) are gradually receiving automation attention. The
interviewees from the three studied university libraries were able to point out some of the
challenges of ECD in Nigeria University Libraries which include low Internet bandwidth,
erratic power supply, computer illiteracy by some library users and staff, poor funding etc.
This agrees with the result obtained from the questionnaire.
In their own view, university libraries in Nigeria should be adequately funded and
library staff properly trained on modern ICT equipment. They emphasized the need for
university management in collaboration with library management to train library staff and
organize conferences and workshops. This also agrees with the result obtained from the
questionnaire.
 12

Discussion
Electronic collection development in any university library requires adequate
funding, modern ICT facilities, and staff training. According to Olaojo and Akewukereke
(2006), collection development/electronic collection development (ECD) is a planned,
continuous, and cost effective acquisition of quality, relevant materials to meet the needs
of users and the objectives of the library. With inadequate or poor funding, the provision
of ICT infrastructure for effective ECD in university libraries would more or less be a
mirage; as money is required to procure computers, provide reliable Internet connectivity
or make subscription to e-resources (online databases) (Nkoyo et al., 2011). Accordingly,
Ifidon (2002) asserted that the quality and adequacy of the resources and services available
in Nigerian university libraries are functions of the level of financial support which the
libraries received from their governing authorities and advocates the need to evolve
appropriate policy on funding of university libraries in Nigeria for better state of ECD.
Based on the findings of this study, one would not say that ECD has come of age in
the three studied university libraries. In any discussion on application of modern
technology in academic library vis-à-vis ECD, the first thing that comes to mind is
procurement of computers and Internet connectivity. The connectivity can be through
Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN), depending on the choice of
the university library management.
According to Alasa and Kelechukwu (1999), the adoption of Local Area Network
(LAN)/Intranet and other computer networks in university libraries will be a boost to ECD
and knowledge management processes. This implies that librarians can provide the needed
information from the libraries to academic staff in their offices for knowledge generation
and transfer without waiting for them to come to the library for information patronage. This
informed the rationale for the proposition by Ani et al., (2005) for adoption of information
technology (ICT) in Nigeria university libraries as a strategy for library networking,
electronic collection development and knowledge management.
 13

Ogunsola, (2004) made it clear that the librarian does not have to be literate in the
various technologies before employing them for effective electronic collection
development. In other words, he/she does not have to be a technical expert before using
any form of technology or programmer or before using a computer. However, he/she is still
required to possess some technological knowledge, albeit at an abstract or intellectual level.
Nonetheless, computers have had a great impact on acquisition processes in academic
libraries in relation to electronic collection development in developed countries of Europe
and America and in some developing countries globally, especially Nigeria (Jegede and
Towolawi, 2010). Books-in-print (BIP) are now available not only on microfiche but
online. In a similar vein, many Publishers’ catalogues and bibliographies can be accessed
via online computers (i.e. through the use of CD-ROM and Internet.

Results show that methods such as “use of Internet”, “provision of good Internet
facilities”, “subscribing to electronic journals”, and “World Wide Web (WWW)” were the
top four appropriate methods for facilitating Electronic Collection Development (ECD)
among all the other identified appropriate methods. Rosenberg (2005) revealed that an
adequate ICT infrastructure with a sufficient number of networked and Internet connected
workstations is essential if a library is to offer access to e-resources and develop e-
resources for effective ECD. Any Nigeria university library that affords to embrace a
number of these appropriate methods of ECD will no doubt have access to publisher
packages. The PERI (Programme for the Enhancement of Scientific Publications)
programme offers access to over 14,000 journal titles from 11 publishers plus
approximately 20 databases, with country licenses available in some African countries
(Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and
Zimbabwe) (Rosenberg, 2005). Once these appropriate methods of facilitating ECD are
put in place in Nigeria university libraries, university libraries in Nigeria will be able to
access not only locally published materials but materials published elsewhere which the
various university library users will find useful. Such materials will include what has been
produced within Nigeria universities; such as theses and dissertations, research reports,
 14

papers presented at conferences and journal articles written by members of the academic
staff, as well as what has been more formally published.

Today, emerging technologies offer libraries new and efficient methods for
performing ECD task (Adesoji et al., 2013). According to Jegede and Towolawi (2004),
through some methods of ECD, electronic publishing is fast changing the role of librarians
in building and acquiring library resources as well as providing access to such resources.
The Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) have expanded and made available
resources that were unimagined in earlier years to be accessible in these present days
without any difficulty.

Adequate collection development policy implies formulation of a collection

development policy that will always establish ground rules for planning, budgeting,
selecting and acquiring library materials (Vohra, 2003). These documents provide a
framework for coordinated collection development programme throughout university
libraries. A digital library tries to provide a seamless environment where the co-operative
access, filtering, manipulation, generation, and preservation of these documents will be
supported as a continuous cycle (Castelli, 2006). Collection development policies also
function as a guide to library resources for faculties, library users and other libraries by
describing the scope and nature of the collection. In any written collection development
policy, the e-resources should be considered alongside printed resources, such as e-
journals, books and databases.
Teleconferencing as an identified appropriate method of facilitating ECD in this
study entails meeting through a telecommunications medium. It is more or less a generic
term for linking people between two or more locations by electronics (Carla, 2014).
Computer teleconference uses telephone lines to connect two or more computers and
modems. Anything that can be done on a computer can be sent over the lines.

Results in Table 3 revealed that “inadequate funding”, “epileptic power supply”

“automation at infancy level”, “lack of higher bandwidth in Internet connectivity” and
 15

“poor access to materials for acquisition”, were among the identified factors that militate
against ECD. Electronic collection development cannot be achieved in any university
library without proper digital technology which revolves around Information and
Communication Technology (ICT). The identified militating factors of ECD in this study
are not different from the findings of Haliso (2011) who cited Hann (1995) and stated that
organizational (e.g. inadequate existing ICT resources, lack of commitment by institutional
management, lack of updated ICT strategy, lack of adequate budget/fund, erratic power
supply etc), cultural (e.g. academic librarian reluctance to use ICT, difficulty in training
the academic librarians/paraprofessionals etc), human factors (e.g. lack of ICT qualified
staff/personnel, skill level of academic librarians etc) are key factors that can affect the use
of ICTs in relation to electronic collection development.
Another scholar whose work or study supported the findings of this study is
Chisenga (2004) who carried out a study on the use of ICT in ten Anglophone African
public libraries. His findings reported that lack of funds, lack of qualified ICT personnel,
erratic power supply led to the non-availability and under-use of ICT facilities resulting in
low ECD standard. The verbal reports of the interviews from the three studied university
libraries also revealed that low Internet bandwidth, poor funding, inability of most library
staff to use computers and epileptic power supply were some of the factors militating
against ECD in Nigerian university libraries. Okiy (2005) stated that lack of fund and lack
of management support were among the factors that hinder the growth of ICTs in Nigerian
university libraries which invariably will affect the state of electronic collection
development. Still lending credence to the views of the library staff respondents from the
three studied university libraries on the militating factors of ECD are Sani and Tiamiyu
(2005) who pointed out that irregular power supply, librarians’ attitude towards the use of
ICT and poor funding among others stood as militating factors towards ICT availability
and use as well as adequate electronic collection development in Nigerian university
libraries.
 16

The lack of higher bandwidth in Internet connectivity as militating factor of ECD in

this study is not unconnected with the funding problems academic libraries face today.
Academic libraries in Federal and State universities receive little or no funds from the
government. As long as academic libraries in Nigeria do not have adequate bandwidth in
Internet connectivity, provision of good Internet services to their clientele will always be
jeopardized and this will invariably affect electronic collection development.

Haliso (2011) stressed on the importance of Information and Communication

Technologies (ICTs) in enhancing service provision to library clientele. Results in Table
7a revealed that in the opinion of the library staff respondents from the three studied
university libraries, some of the strategies to be adopted to improve or enhance ECD in
Nigerian university libraries include “provision of adequate funds”, “computerization/full
automation of the university library”, “constant power supply”, “training of librarians and
paraprofessionals in the use of modern ICT facilities” and “creation of higher Internet
bandwidth for effective Internet connectivity” among others.
The responses of the respondents from the three studied university libraries on
strategies to enhance ECD vis-a-vis the identified militating factors of ECD bother on
provision of adequate funds, skill manpower or personnel, and ICT. ICT has impacted so
much on every sphere of academic library activity, especially in the form of the library
collection development (electronic collection development) strategies, library building and
consortia (Krubu and Osawaru, 2011). Academic libraries should strive to be computerized
and automated in other to carry out vital library functions. John Harris University library
(UNIBEN) and Benson Idahosa University library (BUI) are automated and the kind of
software they apply in computerization/automation process is Strategic Library
Automation Management (SLAM) (Krubu and Osawaru, 2011). According to these
authors, the automated sections/divisions of the two libraries that have received full
automation were the Readers’ Service Division, Technical Service Division, and
Collection Division. Any automated library system will not only provide fast and error free
service but at the same time bring about increased efficiency (Chuene, 2000). Successful
 17

automation projects have generally been dependent on external funding, which is sourced
from many international funding agencies (Rosenberg, 2005).
Funding of university libraries was identified by the respondents from the three
studied university libraries as a strategic measure in enhancing ECD. With adequate
funding from both the state and Federal Government and some philanthropic organizations,
appropriate hardware and software infrastructure would be procured to improve the much
desired ECD. When academic libraries are adequately funded, militating factors of ECD
such as automation at infancy level, lack of training facilities, lack of competent search
skill on librarian at both strategic and operational level will be well addressed by the library
management.
The interviewees from the three studied university libraries also stated that tackling
erratic power supply, increasing the Internet bandwidth, forming a consortium where
academic libraries will be able to pay and buy electronic resources/materials from the
Internet, and provision of adequate funds to the library management for procurement of
computers and other modern ICT equipment were some of the strategic measures of
enhancing ECD in Nigerian university libraries.
Constant and uninterrupted power supply identified as a strategic measure of
enhancing ECD in university libraries can be achieved through the help of the government.
The government can do that by replacing obsolete power cables and transformers in and
around power generating stations that supply electricity to universities in Nigeria. More so,
the university management, through adequate fund provision to the library management
should provide change over generators to power the libraries in situations of power outage
on campus.
Training of librarians and paraprofessionals, sound administrative policies and
guidelines and creation of higher Internet bandwidth were also identified as strategic
measures of enhancing ECD in university libraries in Nigeria. According to Haliso (2011),
training the academic librarians and other paraprofessionals to appropriate skills and use
of Information and Communication Technologies is very vital. Training can come in many
 18

forms but the most important and cost effective one is training on-the-job. Unless library
management has sufficient fund to send their staff to the most advanced countries, it is
always advisable to have in-house training policy.
Higher Internet bandwidth in Internet connectivity is a sure way of enhancing ECD
in Nigerian university libraries as evidenced from the result of this study. Haliso (2011),
did a study to show the availability of bandwidth for Internet services in academic libraries
in Southwestern Nigeria. The finding from that study revealed that majority of the
academic libraries (65.5%) did not have a separate bandwidth connection to provide
Internet services to their clientele. This development can always be traced to poor funding
of those universities. Once adequate funds are provided to the university library
management, it will help to procure modern ICT facilities for efficient and progressive
ECD.
Employing or training Electronic Collection Librarians (ECLs), Electronic
Resource Officers (EROs) and engaging in some electronic resource activities such as
troubleshooting were other identified strategic measures of enhancing ECD in this study.
Electronic Collection Librarians and Electronic Resources Officers will be in a position to
motivate other library staff in ensuring that there is that effective vendor relationships with
producers and providers of e-resources. Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving,
often applied to repair failed products or processes (Persson, 1982).

Recommendations
Arising from the findings and discussion of this study are the following
recommendations.
1. Nigerian university libraries should strive and embrace electronic collection
development practice especially in this era of Information and Communication
Technology.
 19

2. For university libraries to fair well in the business of electronic collection

development, library staff that are not computer literate should take positive steps
to remedy their deficiencies so as to adapt with the changing time of ICT.
3. Generous financial support should be made available to Nigerian university libraries
by Federal/State Government and philanthropic organizations for effective ECD.
4. Every division of the Nigerian academic libraries should be automated in order to
facilitate and create an avenue for effective services/ECD.
5. Academic libraries should provide enough desk top computers and laptops,
connected to the Internet to serve the library users.
6. Effective and sufficient electricity power supply supplemented with standby
generators should be provided to check the menace of frequent electricity power
failure.
7. University libraries should increase their Internet bandwidth for easy Internet
access.

Conclusion
In conclusion, it must be observed that Electronic Collection Development (ECD)
is part of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which university libraries in
Nigeria have started embracing for better and efficient information storage and delivery.
Through ICT/ECD, there is increased speed in some library operations services such as
acquisition, cataloguing and classification, processing, storage, retrieval and dissemination
operations.
With sound and efficient ECD in Nigerian university libraries, staff and students
will have the opportunity to access desired information more easily. Again, university
libraries in Nigeria will have the opportunity to link their users to electronic databases
scattered all over the Internet world wide. Finally, as the world of information continues
its march towards the electronic format, librarians who work in university and public
 20

libraries need to treat electronic content like printed content by developing a set of
standards to manage electronic collections.

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