| TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
| Cover Page ……………………………………………………………… | i | |
| Title Page ……………………………………………………………….. | ii | |
| Declaration ……………………………………………………………… | iii | |
| Certification …………………………………………………………… | iv | |
| Dedication ………………………………………………………………. | v | |
| Acknowledgement …………………………………………………….. | vi | |
| Table of Contents ………………………………………………………. | vii | |
| List of Tables …………………………………………………………… | x | |
| List of Figures ………………………………………………………… | xii | |
| Abstract ………………………………………………………………… | xiii | |
| CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION | ||
| 1.1 | Background to the Study……………………………………………… | 1 |
| 1.2 | Statement of the Problem……………………………………………… | 3 |
| 1.3 | Research Questions…………………………………………………… | 4 |
| 1.4 | Research Hypotheses…………………………………………………. | 5 |
| 1.5 | Objectives of the Study……………………………………………….. | 5 |
| 1.6 | Significance of the Study……………………………………………… | 6 |
| 1.7 | Scope of the Study……………………………………………………. | 7 |
| 1.8 | Limitation of the Study……………………………………………… | 7 |
| 1.9 | Operational Definition of Terms…………………………………… 8 | |
| CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE | ||
| 2.1 | Introduction………………………………………………………….. | 10 |
| 2.2 | Conceptual Definitions: Information, Communication and Internet | 10 |
| 2.2.1 | Information………………………………………………………….. | 10 |
| 2.2.2 | Communication as a Concept ………………………………………… | 12 |
| 2.2.3 | The Internet Technology……………………………………………… | 14 |
| 2.3 | Academic Libraries: Objectives and Roles…………………………… | 15 |
| 2.4 | Historical Evolution of the Internet in University Libraries in Nigeria | 18 |
| 2.5 | Relevance and Purpose of the Internet in Academic Libraries……….. | 21 |
| 2.6 | Utilization of Internet for Information Services Provision by Academic | |
| Libraries ……………………………………………………………… | 24 | |
| 2.7 | Internet Services and Resources……………………………………… | 25 |
| 2.7.1 | Information Retrieval Services……………………………………… | 26 |
| 2.7.2 | Information Search Services………………………………………… | 27 |
| 2.7.3 | Information Communication Services ……………………………… | 28 |
| 2.7.4 | Multimedia Information Services…………………………………… | 31 |
| 2.8 | Users‟ Satisfaction with Internet Services in Academic Libraries….. | 33 |
| 2.9 | Factors Militating against Internet Access and Use in Nigeria‟s | |
| University Libraries ………………………………………………… | 37 | |
| 2.10 | Summary of Literature Review……………………………………… | 39 |
| CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY | ||
| 3.1 | Introduction………………………………………………………….. | 45 |
| 3.2 | Research Method……………………………………………………. | 45 |
| 3.3 | Population of the Study……………………………………………… | 45 |
| 3.4 | Sample and Sampling Technique……………………………………… | 46 |
| 3.5 | Instrument for Data Collection……………………………………… | 47 |
| 3.6 | Validation of the Research Instrument………………………………… | 48 |
| 3.7 | Reliability of the Instrument………………………………………… | 48 |
| 3.8 | Administration of the Instrument……………………………………… | 49 |
| 3.9 | Method of Data Analysis……………………………………………… | 49 |
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
| 4.1. | Introduction……………………………………………………………. | 51 |
| 4.2. | Questionnaire Response Rate………………………………………… | 51 |
| 4.3 | Descriptive Analysis of the Socio-demographic Characteristics of | |
| Respondents …………………………………………………………. | 52 | |
| 4.4 | Analysis and Discussion……………………………………………… | 55 |
| 4.4.1 | Internet Services more frequently Used in the University libraries in | |
| North West states of Nigeria …………………………………………. | 55 | |
| 4.4.2 | Purposes for Using Internet Services in the University Libraries…….. | 58 |
| 4.4.3 | Extent of Utilization of Internet Services for Information Services | |
| Delivery by the University Libraries …………………………………. | 62 | |
| 4.4.4 | Internet Services most preferred by Users in the University Libraries of | |
| Northwest States of Nigeria …………………………………………….. 65 | ||
| 4.4.5 | Extent are the University Libraries under Study have been able to Satisfy their | |
| Users with the Information Services they Provide using the Internet ………… 67 | ||
| 4.4.6 | Factors Militating against Effective use of Internet for Information Services | |
| Delivery by the University Libraries in Northwest States of Nigeria ………….. | 69 | |
| 4.5 | Test of Hypotheses…………………………………………………… | 73 |
| 4.6 | Discussion of Findings………………………………………………… | 86 |
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
| 5.1 | Introduction ………………………………………………………… | 91 |
| 5.2 | Summary of the Study……………………………………………… | 91 |
| 5.3 | Summary of Major Findings………………………………………… | 92 |
| 5.4. | Conclusion………………………………………………………….. | 93 |
| 5.5. | Recommendations………………………………………………….. | 94 |
| 5.6. | Suggestions for Further Research …………………………………… | 95 |
| Bibliography………………………………………………………………… | 96 | |
| Appendix…………………………………………………………………… | 102 | |
LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.1: List of Federal University Libraries in the North Western States of
| Nigeria | 45 | |
| Table 3.2: Number of Librarians in the Three (3) University Libraries | 46 | |
| Table 4.1: Response Rate to Questionnaire Used for the Study | 51 | |
| Table 4.2: Classification of the Respondents by their Highest Educational | ||
| Qualifications | 52 | |
| Table 4.3: Classification of the Respondents by their Years of Working | ||
| Experience in the Libraries | 54 | |
| Table 4.4: Respondents‟ Opinion on the Internet Services Used in the Libraries | 56 | |
| Table 4.5: Respondents‟ Opinion on Purposes of Internet Usage in the Libraries | 60 | |
| Table 4.6: Respondents‟ Opinion on the Utilization of Internet Services in the | ||
| Libraries | 63 | |
| Table 4.7: Respondents‟ Opinion on the Preference of Internet Services in the | ||
| Libraries | 66 | |
| Table 4.8: Respondents‟ Opinion on the Levels of Satisfaction with Internet | ||
| Services Provided in the Libraries. | 68 | |
| Table 4.9: Opinions of the Respondents on Factors Militating against Effective | ||
| Use of Internet in the Libraries | 70 | |
| Table 4.10: ANOVA Summary for the Type of Internet Information Services | ||
| Provided to Users in the University Libraries | 74 | |
| Table 4.11: Mean Scores of the Respondents on the Type of Internet Information | ||
| Services they Provide to Users in their Libraries | 75 | |
| Table 4.12: Analysis of Variance on Purpose of Internet Usage in the | ||
| University Libraries | 76 | |
| Table 4.13: Mean Scores of the Respondents on the Purposes for Internet | ||
| Usage in the Libraries. | 76 | |
| Table 4.14: Summary of Scheffe‟s post Hoc analysis of Sources of Difference | ||
| in the Purposes for which Internet was Used in the Different Libraries | 77 | |
| Table 4.15: One Way Analysis on Extent of Internet Services Utilization by the | |
| Libraries | 78 |
| Table 4.16: Mean Scores of the Respondents by University on the Extent of | |
| Utilization of the Internet Services in the Libraries. | 79 |
| Table 4.17: Summary of Scheffe‟s Post Hoc Analysis of Sources of | |
| Difference in the Extent of Utilization of Internet Services in the | |
| Different Libraries | 79 |
| Table 4.18: One Way Analysis on Internet Services Preference by the | |
| University Libraries | 80 |
| Table 4.19: Mean Scores of the Respondents on Preferences for Internet | |
| Services by the Libraries | 81 |
| Table 4.20: Summary of Scheffe‟s Post Hoc Analysis of Sources of | |
| Difference in the Preference for Internet Services by the Different | |
| Libraries | 81 |
| Table 4.21: Analysis of Variance on Satisfaction with Internet Services | |
| Provided for Users by the Libraries. | 82 |
| Table 4.22: Mean Scores of the Respondents on the Level of Satisfaction with | |
| Internet Services by the Libraries. | 83 |
| Table 4.23: Summary of Scheffe‟s Post Hoc Analysis of Sources of | |
| Difference in Level of Satisfaction with Internet Services in the | |
| Different Libraries | 84 |
| Table 4.24: One Way Analysis on Factors Militating Against the Effective Use | |
| of Internet Services in the Libraries | 85 |
| Table 4.25: Mean Scores of the Respondents on the Factors Militating Against | |
| the Use of Internet Services by the Libraries. | 85 |
| Table 4.26: Summary of Scheffe‟s Post Hoc Analysis of Sources of | |
| Difference in Factors Militating against the use of Internet Services by the | |
| Different Libraries | 86 |
| LIST OF FIGURES | |
| Fig. 1: Percentage Distribution of the Respondents by their Highest | |
| Professional Qualifications in the Libraries | 53 |
| Fig. 2: Percentage Distribution of the Respondents by their Years of Working | |
| Experience in the Libraries | 54 |
| Fig. 3: Percentage Distribution of the Respondents by Internet Services Used | |
| in their Respective Libraries | 57 |
| Fig. 4: Purposes for which Internet Services are Used in the Library | 61 |
| Fig. 5: Usefulness of the Internet Services in the Libraries | 64 |
| Fig. 6: Internet Services Preference in the Libraries | 66 |
| Fig. 7: Level of Satisfaction with Internet Services Provided in the Libraries | 68 |
| Fig 8: Rated Levels of Factors Militating against Internet use in the Libraries | 71 |
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted to investigate the utilization of Internet services by librarians in federal university libraries in north western states of Nigeria. In the study, six research questions and six hypotheses were formulated and tested. One hundred and seventy-seven respondents were issued copies of the questionnaires out of which, one hundred and fifty-five (155) completed copies were retrieved and used for the study. The data collected for the study were analysed using frequency tables and percentages while the hypotheses were tested using one way ANOVA to compare the mean scores of the respondents from the three university libraries studied. The findings of the study showed that the federal university libraries in the Northwest states provided basically the same Internet services to their users. The Internet is used for searching information for research and other purposes. Utilization of Internet services in the libraries was constrained by factors such as poor funding, high cost of connectivity, lack of adequate power supply, etc. The study recommended among other things, that there is the need for owners/stakeholders of the universities for the provision of Internet services, that to maximize the benefits of Internet use in the libraries, steps should be taken to ensure training and re-training of academic librarians to enable them stay abreast of developments in information work in this Internet era. Also, alternative sources of power supply should be explored to address the current problem of poor power supply from the national electricity grid.