EXTENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) INTEGRATION

ABSTRACT

This study assessed extent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) integration in John Harris library services of University of Benin. Related literature of eminent scholars’ views on the study were reviewed. A descriptive survey was employed to carry out the study. The population of this study comprised of all the staff of John Harris Library University of Benin. One hundred (100) respondents were sampled for this study. To ensure a representative sample for this study, sampling was done using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument employed for this study was a self-structured questionnaire that sought information from the respondents from respondents. The reliability of the research instrument was ascertained using test-retest reliability technique. The reliability of the retrieved instrument was ascertained using Cronbach Correlation Coefficient method. A reliability coefficient score of 0.76 was obtained. Data was collected from the respondents and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count and simple percentages. Findings revealed that the ICT facilities are available in the John Harris Library of University of Benin. The extent the librarians possess necessary ICT skills for integration of ICT in the library services is low. There are many hindrances to ICT integration in John Harris library services University of Benin such as high cost of maintenance, lack of skill personnel, irregular power supply and many others. There are possible ways of integrating ICT in John Harris library such as government making money available for infrastructural development, training and retaining of staff, equipment should be services regularly and so on. Based on the findings stated above, the following recommendations were made: Fund should be provided to libraries on regular basis. All libraries, irrespective of the type need strong financial support from the parent organization. Provision of standards standby generator in libraries, to serve the computers and other ICT facilities in case of power outage. In addition to this, the Nigerian government in particular, should strive to permanently solve the challenges confronting the power sector. The librarians must become higher system thinkers and fully equip themselves to work in digital and computer environment. Policies that would encourage the deployment and development of ICTs in all institution should be formulated and implemented for the nation’s development to be sustained. Finally, the government of Nigeria should make library and information services, a part of national development initiatives and plans.