International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)

Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2022, pp: 1092-1097 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

Awareness and Utilization of Information

Retrieval Tools by Undergraduates: A
Comparative Study
Anthony Oboite SOLOMON (CLN), Queenneth ONWUESI
(CLN), Cyril IJEH (CLN)
The College Library, Federal College of Education (Technical), Ekiadolor
Hallmark University Library, Hallmark University, IjebuItele
Systems Librarian, The Polytechnic Library, Ile Oluji, Ondo State
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Submitted: 10-07-2022 Revised: 17-07-2022 Accepted: 21-07-2022
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ABSTRACT advance in libraries that were no longer just
The research focused on a comparative study of the storehouses of books, but as places where
awareness and utilization of information retrieval information was catalogued and indexed. This is in
tools by undergraduates in Federal Polytechnic accordance with the assertion of Akanwa&Udo-
Ondo (a public institution) and Hallmark Anyanwu (2017) information retrieval is concerned
University (a private institution). The research with the exploitation and extraction of information
employed the survey research method in which 331 and other contents of documents from different
sample was chosen to represent the 2,400 information sources.
population of the Federal Polytechnic Ondo; while Owing to information explosion and the
116 sample was chosen to represent the 165 emergence of new technologies, information
population of Hallmark University. The research needed by students is now found in different
found out that undergraduate students of the public formats in university libraries, technology centres
institution are more aware of traditional and computer laboratories. These technologies
information retrieval tools while undergraduate have brought an alternative to facilitate access to
students of the private institution are more aware of scholarly information for teaching and learning.
the online information retrieval tools. However, Consequently, students’ information needs for
both set of undergraduate students prefer utilizing research are met without difficulties. Their
the online information retrieval tools than the information needs can be satisfied from primary
traditional information retrieval tools. And the sources like journal articles and research reports or
major challenges militating against using secondary sources such as textbooks and reference
information retrieval tools are lack of training on books like the dictionary and encyclopedia.
how to use information retrieval tools and lack of According to Edom (2012) the traditional stock in
steady internet connectivity. The research trade of libraries all over the world is information
recommends that library professionals should train resources. In order to provide effective and
library patrons on how to utilize information efficient services to the users of the library,
retrieval tools in the library and library users information resources in print and non-print
should be provided with access to steady internet formats are acquired to enhance the knowledge the
connectivity. users need to excel in their various endeavours.
Key words: Information retrieval tools, Traditional This massive information that abound
information retrieval tools, Online information both electronically and in paper form has made the
retrieval tools, Federal Polytechnic Ondo, Hallmark need for information retrieval tools (IRTs) to
University retrieve the information apparent. These tools have
developed into widely used services and have
I. INTRODUCTION become essential tools for finding information.
The term Information retrieval was coined Information retrieval is concerned with the
in 1952 and gain popularity in the research exploitation and extraction of information and
communities from 1961. At that time, information other contents of documents from different
retrieval’s organizing function was seen as a major information sources. For Ajiboye, et. al (2013),

DOI: 10.35629/5252-040710921097 Impact Factor value 7.429 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 1092
 International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)
Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2022, pp: 1092-1097 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

information retrieval as the activity of obtaining OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

information resources relevant to an information 1. To identify the level of awareness of
need from a collection of information sources. The information retrieval tools by undergraduates.
researchers went further to explain that many 2. To determine the level of utilization of
universities and public libraries use information information retrieval tools by undergraduates.
retrieval systems (tools) to provide access to books, 3. To examinethe challenges of using information
journals and other documents. From the foregoing, retrieval tools by undergraduates.
information retrieval tools (IRTs) therefore is the
means or applications through which information II. LITERATURE REVIEW
can be accessed from various sources. For the proper utilization of information
Libraries have always been concerned contents in information-bearing materials, whether
with storing and retrieving of information. As the in the library or not, there have to be necessary
quantities of information grew widely libraries tools put in place. These necessary tools are used to
were forced to make maximum use of information retrieve the information contained in those
retrieval tools to facilitate the storage and retrieval information-bearing materials. David-West (2020)
process (Atanda&Sherrifider, 2018). Information observed that information retrieval tools can be
retrieval tools are widely used for library services either print or digitized forms. The researcher
in locating information resources (Rahoo, Nagar further cited Edom (2012) who outlined these tools
and Bhutto, 2019). It also plays a vital role in as OPAC, CD-ROMS, online databases, internet
meeting the functions of the academic library by search engines, among others. Though these are
aiding the retrieval of information easily from the strictly digitized forms, thereare various kinds of
library. For proper utilization of library resources, print tools used in libraries, and they include;
there is a need for access to the needed information abstracts, indexes, catalogues, etc.
and the ability to retrieve it. As such, libraries have Presently, the proliferation of technology
always been concerned with storing and retrieving made various tools availableat the disposal of users
information in the media it is created on. As the for accessing the information they need.A library is
quantities of information grew exponentially, an organized collection of sources of information,
libraries were forced to make maximum use of made accessible to a defined community for
information retrieval tools to facilitate the storage reference or borrowing purposes. Little wonder
and retrieval process. These major tools are Atanda and Adeyemi (2018) see a library as an
Catalogues, Classification Schemes, Indexes, institution that provides physical or digital access
Abstracts, Bibliographies. Other Information to materials and it may be a physical building or
Retrieval tools in the library include the following: room, or a virtual space, or both. This goes to show
Encyclopedia, Directories, Dictionaries, Almanacs, that there is a paradigm shift from a library holding
Handbooks, Atlases, Periodicals, and to access. That is, while libraries pride themselves
Concordances among others. in the past with the number of collections they
However technological prowess has have, now more emphasis is placed on whether and
innovatively strategized and provided some how those collections can be retrieved, accessed,
information retrieval tools to assist users in the and utilized.
retrieval and utilization of library information The concept of information retrieval
resources. The online public access catalogue presupposes that there are some documents or
(OPAC) provides facilities for library users to carry records containing information that has been
out online catalogue searches and then check the organized in an order suitable for easy retrieval. An
availability of the item. It is the fastest way to information retrieval system is designed to retrieve
access information and a searching tool for users the documents or information required by the user
by Author, Title and Subject Keyword (Saha, community. It should make the right information
2018). The challenge however is that despite the available to the right user. Thus, an information
continuous user education programmes conducted retrieval system aims at collecting and organizing
in libraries, preliminary investigation shows that information in one or more subject areas to provide
undergraduate students do not know how to it to the user as soon as it is asked for. According to
effectively use these information retrieval tools Adeyemi and Atanda (2018), the term information
effectively; hence the need for this research to retrieval was coined in 1952 and gain popularity in
investigate the attitude towards use of information the research communities from 1961. At that time,
retrieval tools by undergraduate. information retrieval’s organizing function was
seen as a major advance in libraries that were no

DOI: 10.35629/5252-040710921097 Impact Factor value 7.429 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 1093
 International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)
Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2022, pp: 1092-1097 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

longer just storehouses of books, but as places information. As cited by Kani, Makama and
where information was catalogued and indexed. Yahaya (2018), Lancaster (2012) explained that
The proliferation of technologies has information retrieval tools do not change the
made information overload a common knowledge of the user on the subject of his enquiry;
phenomenon. Information overload is the situation it merely informs him of the existence and
where one has more information than can be whereabouts of documents relating to his request.
handled. This massive information that abounds The information retrieval tools serve as a bridge
both electronically and in paper form has, between the worlds of creators or generation of
according to Ajiboye, et. al (2013), made the need information and the users of that information.
for information retrieval tools to retrieve the The major functions of information
information more apparent. These tools have retrieval systems as described by Shuib, et. al
developed into widely used services and have (2010) are:
become essential tools for locating information. To identify the information (sources)
Information retrieval is concerned with the relevant to the areas of interest of the target users’
exploitation and extraction of information and community; to analyze the contents of the sources
other contents of documents from different (documents); to represent the contents of the
information sources. analyzed sources in a way that will be suitable for
Whether or not there is a proliferation of matching users’ queries; to analyze users’ queries
technologies, it is undeniable that information is and to represent them in a form that will be suitable
pivotal to human survival and we need this for matching with the database; to match the search
information for a lot of activities, such as solving statement with the stored database; to retrieve the
problems, making a decision, reducing uncertainty, relevant information; to make necessary
resolving conflict, answering questions and satisfy adjustments in the system based on feedback from
curiosity (Shuib, Abdullah and Ismail, the users.
2010);provision of effective and efficient services Information retrieval tools are systems
to the users of the library (Echem and Udo- designed to retrieve information or documents that
Anyanwu, 2018); and meeting the legal needs of are required by the users. Ajiboye, et. al (2013)
clients (Anyim, 2020). As noted by Echem and opined that massive information that abounds both
Udo-Anyanwu (2018), to be able to provide electronically and in paper form has made the need
effective and efficient services to the users of the for information retrieval tools (IRTs) to retrieve the
library, information resources in print and non-print information more apparent. Information retrieval
formats must be acquired to enhance the tools make the right information available to the
knowledge the users need to excel in their various right user at the right time. Onwuchekwa and
endeavours. However, the absence of these Jegede (2011) have observed that information
resources amounts to the challenges of their retrieval tools are basic building blocks for a
underutilization as faced by some libraries. system that organizes recorded information
With the volume of information available collected by information organizations. This is to
today, it is difficult to find accurate information establish control of contents for information use as
that suits students’ learning needs. When a student well as for the promotion of users’ ease of access.
seeks information on a particular subject, he looks For the retrieval of information to be
at all possible information sources such as books, effective, library users must be taught.Ajiboye, et.
articles or journals and ends up with mountains of al (2013) observed that post-graduate students of
information. The problem is to find the right selected universities in the south-western region of
information for his needs. The material retrieved is Nigeria knew how to use information retrieval tools
often not suitable to the student’s learning style through their university library’s user education
(Shuib, et. al, 2010). For effective utilization of and information literacy programme, which forms
information resources, they are not only acquired the main source of their knowledge of the usage of
but organised in such a way they can be easily these tools. This shows that their university
accessed and retrieved by users. libraries play a major role in assisting the
Information retrieval, as seen by Echem respondents to make use of information retrieval
and Udo-Anyanwu (2018), is concerned with the tools. Also, Echem and Udo-Anyanwu (2018)
exploitation and extraction of information and showed that information retrieval tools provided in
other contents of documents from different the library record a very strong and positive
information sources; while Anyim (2020) sees relationship with students’ use of the library. And
information retrieval as a process through which the research of David-West (2020) implied that
reference application is utilized to access relevant online databases, internet search engines, e-

DOI: 10.35629/5252-040710921097 Impact Factor value 7.429 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 1094
 International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)
Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2022, pp: 1092-1097 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

journals, e-books, web publishing influences the sample size for 2400 population is 331 and that
information retrieval among academic staff for of 165 is 116; and the researchers administered an
effective dissemination of knowledge to the online questionnaire to them. The questionnaire
learner. was subjected to a pilot study, using students from
one Public Institution and one Private
III. METHODOLOGY Institutionfrom other populations outside the
The research adopted the survey research population for this study, and the Cronbach’s
design. The populations of the study consist of the Alpha method was used to determine the reliability
2,400 undergraduate students of The Federal of the instrument; showing for the Public
Polytechnic, Ondo, a Public Institution and the 165 Institution, a reliability coefficient of 0.84 and that
undergraduate students of Hallmark University, a of the Private Institution was 0.92. The overall
Private Institution. The study seek to investigate if reliability coefficient was 0.88. Thus, the
there is any difference in the awareness and instrument was considered reliable to elicit data
utilization of common information retrieval tools from the research respondents. Data from the
by these different set of students, owing to the instruments are analysed using descriptive
popular assumption that students of private statistics.
institutions are from wealthier homes and often
have access to functional libraries and ICT IV. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
facilities. The findings of the research are analysed below,
For the different set of respondents, the using Mean and Standard Deviation (S. D.) and a
sample size will be determined using Krejcie and Criterion Mean of 2.5.
Morgan (1970) sample size determinant. Hence,

Table 1: Extent of awareness of information retrieval tools

Information Retrieval Tool Federal PolytechnicOndo Hallmark University
Mean S. D. Mean S. D.
Index 3.4 0.9 2.56 0.06
Abstract 3.2 0.7 2.24 0.26
OPAC 2.95 0.45 3.04 0.54
Bibliography 3.1 0.6 1.52 0.98
Catalogue 3.55 1.05 2.72 0.22
Subject Heading List 2.45 0.05 1.4 1.1
Finding Aids 2.4 0.1 1.6 0.9
Register 3.3 0.8 1.6 0.9
Online database 3.35 0.85 3.04 0.54

Table 1 shows the extent of awareness of for in the library and students are aware of their
information retrieval tools by students of the availability.
Federal Polytechnic Ondoand Hallmark University. On the contrary, students of private
He Table shows that students of Public Institutions institutions are more aware of the online related
are more aware of the traditional information information retrieval tools like OPAC and online
retrieval tools like indexes, abstracts, databases. But they are scarcely aware of the
bibliographies, catalogues and registers; they are traditional information retrieval tools. This finding
also aware of online databases but not so aware of is in agreement with those of Anyim (2020) that
OPAC. This finding is in line with those of Echem law library patrons are aware of the availability of
and Udo-Anyanwu (2021) that card catalogues, OPAC, Search engines, indexes and shelves guide
bibliographies, abstracts and indexes are provided while they are not aware of abstract and
bibliographies.

Table 2: Extent of utilization of information retrieval tools

Information Retrieval Tool Federal PolytechnicOndo Hallmark University
Mean S. D. Mean S. D.
Index 2.95 0.45 2.4 0.1
Abstract 2.5 0 2.8 0.3
OPAC 2.7 0.2 3.44 0.94
DOI: 10.35629/5252-040710921097 Impact Factor value 7.429 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 1095
 International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)
Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2022, pp: 1092-1097 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

Bibliography 2.65 0.15 1.2 1.3

Catalogue 2.95 0.45 2.6 0.1
Subject Heading List 2.75 0.25 1.0 1.5
Finding Aids 2.4 0.1 1.28 1.22
Register 3.3 0.8 1.12 1.38
Online database 3.0 0.5 3.36 0.86

Table 2 shows the extent of utilization of retrieval tools made use of by the respondents is the
information retrieval tools as used by Internet Search Engines. David-West (2020) also
undergraduate students in public and private reported that online databases, OPAC and internet
institutions in Federal Polytechnic Ondo and search engines have a positive influence on
Hallmark University. While students of the Federal information retrieval among academics.
Polytechnic utilize more of Registers and Online A close look will reveal that both set of
Databases, students of Hallmark University utilize students are inclined to the utilization of online
more of the OPAC and Online Databases. The information retrieval tools, which seem easier to
findings are in line with those of Ajiboye, et al use because of the removal of the barriers of time
(2013) who discovered that the main information and location (Solomon and Bakare, 2022).

Table 3: Challenges encountered using information retrieval tools

Challenges in using Information Federal Hallmark University
Retrieval Tool PolytechnicOndo
Mean S. D. Mean S. D.
Lack of training on how to use 3.05 0.55 2.6 0.1
information retrieval tools
Difficulty in location relevant 2.75 0.25 2.44 0.06
information
Lack of steady internet connectivity 3.05 0.55 3.68 1.18
Lack of search skills needed to use 3.1 0.6 1.6 0.9
information retrieval tools
Inadequate time for using 2.8 0.3 1.0 1.5
information retrieval tools
Most information retrieval tools in 2.75 0.25 2.08 0.42
the library are out-dated

Table 3 shows the challenges V. CONCLUSIONS AND

undergraduate students in Federal Polytechnic RECOMMENDATIONS
Ondo and Hallmark University encounter in using The research shows that while
information retrievaltools. For the students of the undergraduate students of public institutions are
Federal Polytechnic Ondo, the major challenges more aware of traditional information retrieval
they encountered in using information retrieval tools like abstracts, indexes and catalogues,
tools are lack of training on how to use information undergraduate students of private institutions are
retrieval tools, lack of steady internet connectivity more aware of online information retrieval tools.
and lack of search skills. While for the This could be because they have functional
undergraduate students of Hallmark University, the electronic libraries in their institutions and they can
major challenges they encountered in using even access the library holdings from the comfort
information retrieval tools are lack of steady of their hostels. But both set of respondents are
internet connectivity and lack of training on how to more in tune with using information retrieval tools
use information retrieval tools; but not lack of that are online based. The use of online based
search skills. These findings are in agreement with information retrieval tools comes with the major
those of Ajiboye, et al (2013) who found out that challenges of lack of steady internet connectivity
library’s user education and information literacy and lack of user education on the art of the library
programme forms the main source of library users’ professionals.
knowledge of information retrieval tools’ usage; Following the research findings and discussions,
and that a major constraint of use information the following recommendations are made:
retrieval tools is Internet fluctuations.

DOI: 10.35629/5252-040710921097 Impact Factor value 7.429 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 1096
 International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)
Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2022, pp: 1092-1097 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

1. Library professionals should take out time to https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1

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connectivity for the libraries, so the libraries Higher Educational Institute of Pakistan.
can in turn provide internet access to their Asian Journal of contemporary education,
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4. Library patrons should be educated on how to https://doi.org/10.18488/journal/137.2019.31
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