Electronic reference service delivery at the Redeemer's University Library: Closer to the promised land (original) (raw)
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Review of Information Science and Technology (RIST) , 2024
The paper discusses the concept and types of digital reference services provided in university libraries. The paper also highlights some media tools that university libraries can employ to provide digital reference services given the effect of social media platforms such as FaceBook, WhatsApp, X, blogs, etc on human communications especially, the communication patterns and information services and user attitudes in university libraries. This means that the available social media tools can enhance the digital reference services provided in university libraries. Consequently, major services such as current awareness services, selective dissemination of information, document delivery services, and readers' advisory services offered with the aid of technology are discussed. The paper emphasizes that effective digital services using information and communication tools enhance work output in university libraries. Several recommendations for effective digital reference services in Nigerian university libraries were made including adequate budget, strategic plan, and availability of skilled personnel. This would ensure that university libraries provide effective digital reference services and stay updated with the developments brought about by information and communication technology (ICTS) tools.
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Status of Reference Service Implementation in Federal University Libraries in North-East Nigeria
New Zeal in Africa’s Development., 2021
Reference services are personal assistance eagerly given to library users in pursuit of information by a librarian in charge of the reference service section of the library. The study investigated the status of reference services being implemented in federal university libraries in NorthEast Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives and research questions; type of reference services available for implementation and the extent of implementation. The study adopted a descriptive research design to elicit responses with a sample size of n=15 professional and certified librarian. Data was collected using a close-ended questionnaire and was rated using five-point Likert scale. Content validity ratio was computed to be 1.00, and then approximated to .99 for ease of manipulation while reliability coefficient index of 0.82 was obtained through Cronbach Alpha method. Frequencies and Percentages were used for data analysis and presented in tables. The results showed that traditional (face to face) and digital reference services are readily available for implementation by reference librarians. Also, both traditional (face to face) and digital reference services are implemented though not adequate. The study concluded that all these reference services types are implemented in Nigerian university libraries though inadequate due to some pressing demand and recommended that government should ensure proper funding that will carter for staff training and development through in-service training, workshops and seminar as this will improve staff professional and technical skills for proper implementation of reference service delivery in other to ensure users satisfaction.
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Proceedings of the 9th National Conference of the Academic and Research Libraries Section, 2023
This research explore the adoption and use of digital reference services in federal university libraries in northern Nigeria. The study employed mixed method approach using exploratory research design. Both questionnaire and interview were used for the collection of relevant data. Twenty (20) questionnaire were administered and were all retrieved successfully (100%). Meanwhile, questionnaire were analysed in a tabular form to clearly demonstrate how each objective of the study were achieved whereas thematic analysis were used for the analysis of the interview. The findings reveals that thirteen (13) out of twenty (20) federal university libraries have adopted one or different forms of digital reference services (representing more than half or majority) while two (2) university libraries have their services failed due to technical problems. However, five (5) federal university libraries were on the process of adopting the services. Also, majority of the libraries adopted in the year 2018. Also, in majority (12) of the libraries, e- Librarians were responsible for the provision of the services in the e- library, only four(4) university libraries of federal university Kashere, Zaria, Lafia and Ilorin have their services provided in the reference unit by reference librarian. About, six (6) university libraries in federal universities of Kashere (537), Zaria (5,685), Dutsin Ma (10,521), Jos (11,705), Lafia (2,877) and Makurdi (125) recorded a statistics of patronage of the services. It has been recommended that digital references services should be the top priority in services offered to the users in federal university libraries through adopting different forms of digital reference services, competent and ICT skilled personnel should be recruited, and services should be extended beyond e-library or reference section but all other units of the library, an up-to-date record of statistics of patronage should be kept. Lastly, adequate funding should be released to the federal university libraries in order to acquire necessary ICT facilities for effective digital reference services.
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Nnamdi Azikiwe Library University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1 st International Hybrid Conference , 2024
The influence of information and communication technology (ICT) tools in the provision of digital reference services in university libraries cannot be overemphasized. However, the review of the literature revealed that many university libraries have been using information and communication technology (ICT) to provide digital reference services. The way information services are provided in university libraries has changed significantly as a result of this circumstance. This paper, therefore, discusses the concept and types of digital reference services provided in university libraries. It is obvious that university libraries now provide information services through a variety of technologies, including hardware, software, networks, and media for the gathering, storing, processing, transmitting, and presenting of information in textual, multimedia, audio, and visual formats. The paper also highlighted some media tools in university libraries to provide digital reference services. Consequently, major services such as current awareness services, selective dissemination of information, document delivery services and readers' advisory services provided with the aid of technology were discussed by the paper. Also, a lot of areas of human communication have altered as a result of social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp Twitter, blogs, etc. These changes have also affected communication patterns, information services, and user attitudes in university libraries. This means that the social media tools available enhance the digital reference services provided in university libraries. Finally, to enable the work output in university libraries for efficient digital reference services, a great deal of information and communication technology tools have to be employed.It is therefore advised adequate budget, strategic plan, as well as skilled personnel, should be provided in university libraries for efficient digital reference services.This would ensure that university libraries provide effective digital reference services and stay up to date with the developments brought about by information and communication technology (ICTS) tools.
EXPLORATORY STUDY OF ONLINE REFRENCE SERVICES OF LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
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