Application of Ict in Library

Application of ICT in Libraries uniform resource locator http//unllib. unl. edu/LPP/anunobi-edoka. htm Use of ICT Facilities for Serials Functions in south-centralern Nigeria federal official University Libraries Chinwe V. Anunobi Ph. D Digital librarian Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria Benson E. Edoka Professor Department of program library and In coifion Science University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nsukka, Nigeria Introduction substance ab habituater expectation from any selective in doion providing system is to make unattached presently or remotely and in real m the pauperismful randomness, format non withstanding.In the university environment, the subroutine subroutine program subroutine library a major randomness providing system supports teaching, nurture and investigate with information materials of diverse types. Among these diverse information materials, serials argon implyed e modifiedly by faculty and research students. Before the development and physical exercise of ICT facilities for capturing/ erudition, processing dissemination and recuperation of information, serials trading operations were predominantly manual.However with the development of ICT base library service which brought with it self service and simultaneous addition to resources (Womboh & Abba 2008), heaps pursuance switched from print to electronic information. Furthermore, serials operations in developing countries which was besieged with problems associated with cost (Millis 1992, de Marcas 2000 Aina 2003), inadequate acquisition and processing tools (Szilvassy 1996), competency and admittanceibility problems (Cohen 1989 and Mullis 1992), embrace the phthisis of ICT facilities as an approach to overcome round of the mentioned problems.This is necessary since according to Ajayi (2003) any industry information or any new(prenominal) which sidelines ICT has simply sign-language(a) a death warrant The ICT facilities do in the library in commonp lace and serials unit in limited atomic number 18 based on the functions coiffureed therein. The functions fareed in the university serials unit as indicated by Tuttle (1983) are acquisition, processing, prevalent service and saving. These functions are synonymous with the functions performed in the university library though with more or less peculiarities emanating from the nature of serials.Therefore ICT facilities aim in the broad university library are alike applicable to the serials unit but overly with peculiarity occasioned by the nature of serials. These serve and operations deliver been transformed apply ICT. Aina (2004) informed that there is efficiency in resource organization as deli real and dissemination of information open become effective and easy. Repetitive and routine tasks in the library have been eliminated. Furthermore, the availability of bibliographic infobase, unspoilt text documents and digital library charm is now taken for granted as noned by Chesenga (2004).The IT (ICT) facilities utilization in the library is defined by the Ameri derriere Library stand (1993) as the application of calculators and new(prenominal) engineering science to the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information. Ifidon (1985) enumerated the functions ready(prenominal) for ICT employ in the library to intromit ordering and acquisition with the next activities ordering, receiving, settlement of invoice and administration of records and expenditure..Further to that, Oketunji (2001) and Chesenga (2004) itemisationed library functions in which ICT could be employ to include acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serials conquer, selective dissemination of information run and preparation of oversight information. Furthermore, the application of ICT facilities in the library could be in the stand completely or integrated form. Many countries and institutions are at varying train of ICT applicat ion in their library operation.Islam and Islam (2007) documented the physical exertion ICT in libraries in Bangladash and informed that though the economic consumption started between 1964 and 1995, progress was non make until 1996. In Nigeria some(prenominal) universities are at the advanced stage of ICT aim in library operations. Anunobi and Benard (2007) informed that in their study of ICT availability for library operations in the Imo enounce of Nigeria just now(prenominal) two of the four faculty member libraries Federal University of Technology Owerri and Imo State University show evidence of using ICT for library operations.Emorjorho, &Nwalo (2009) found in their study that only genuinely few libraries in the Niger-Delta of Nigeria wasting disease ICT in library operations where university libraries have more ICT facilities than the finicky libraries. Nok(2006) documented the use of ICT in Kashim Ibrahim library, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria while Ekpengong( 1997 ) presented the situation in special libraries in Nigeria. Ani, Esin and Edim(2005) as well analyze the use of ICT in Nigeria University libraries.For serials operation, Agbaje (200227) informed that information technology whoremaster be an effective handmaid to serials solicitude at every stage of direction process and irrespective of content, use, format and over only dodging adopted for serials trouble by the organization in question Akinyotu (1977), Alabi (1985), Oketunji (2001) Agbaje (2002) and Oni (2004) noted that using various approaches, ICT facilities in serials unit whoremaster be for the fol commencementing functions and activities subscription control, procurement process, order preparation, fund analysis and accounting.They back end also be utilize for bibliographic file control, cataloguing of new serials, preparation of serials record entries and transaction control. Effecting serials additions, changes and deletions or collection control stop be performed with ICT facilities. Services and preservation functions such as servicing request for serials publication, top control file, missing issues, holdings accession of want list as easily as union lists are amenable to ICT facilities use.In their findings on the use of computer for library construct in Bangladesh, Islam and Islam (2007 ) discovered that all(a) the libraries surveyed utilise ICT for serials control as well as other activities. The operate leave aloned according to them include compact disc read-only memory searching, online searching, online networking, photocopying, online information run and database searching operate. In Nigeria according to Ikem and Ajala (2000), exploratory use of ICT in the library started with its use to produce Union list of Serials sponsored by Committee of University Librarians of Nigeria.That notwithstanding, its continuous use for various serials function is besides to be distinguishn. Statement of the Problem There are copious s tudies and belief on the use of ICT facilities for library functions in general. In Nigerian university libraries, ICT facilities were in the beginning utilise for serials functions and are still in use. However not very spiles has been found in literature as regards the areas of serials functions they are apply, and the facilities in use. thereof the survey tends to address this gap by observeing the extent of ICT use for serials operations.Objective of the dissect Identify the serials operations performed with ICT facilities in southern Nigerian national university libraries particularize the serials public services performed with ICT Find out the ICT facilities used for these serials operations feel if the use of ICT facilities in serials unit of the libraries is a determinant to their use for serials operations. explore Questions What serials operations are performed with ICT facilities in southern Nigeria Federal university libraries? In which serials public servic es are the use of ICT employed in Nigerian federal university libraries? What ICT facilities are used for these serials operations? Does the use of ICT facility in serials units of the libraries on a littleer floor(a) study determine its use for serials operations? Significance of the Study The expiration of this survey bequeath help academic libraries which do not apply ICT facilities for serials functions recognize areas of serials operation in which ICT can be used, and the ICT they can use. With that they can strategize on their use.For libraries using ICT facilities for various operations, they leave alone be acquainted with other areas ICT can be employed in serials operation and the institutions applying such. Donor agencies lead also be aware of the state of ICT facilities application in Nigerian university serials operation and decide on the areas to assist such institutions. Data ingathering The work covered all the federal university libraries in the three of the cardinal geopolitical zones in Nigeria namely conspiracy-East (SE), South-West (SW) and South South (SS). The three zones comprise seventeen states with 13 federal universities.The various zones and their comprehensive universities are South East(SE) University of Nigeria, Nsukka,(UNN), Federal University of Technology Owerri(FUTO), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (NAU), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike(MOUAU) South-South(SS) University of Calabar(UNICAL), University of Port Harcourt(UNIPORT), University of Uyo(UNIUYO) and South West(SW) University of Ibadan(UI), Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife(OAU), University of Lagos(UNILAG),University of Benin(UNIBEN), Federal University of Technology Akure(FUTA), and University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB).Questionnaire and reflexion checklist were employed to gather facts and opinion of serials ply from 11 of the 13 federal universities libraries. No samples were taken from FUTA and NAU as they had no well developed serials unit at the time of this study. Purposive sample distribution technique was used to select 55 from the 107 serials staff in the universities under study consisting of five (5) serials staff each including the Serials Librarian and any other four (4) staff which are responsible for acquisition, processing, user services and preservation in the serials units.Self developed questionnaire instrument do up of 5 items were distributed to the 65 staff. Items 1 to 3 of the questionnaire were developed along dichotomous checklist while items 4 and 5 were weighted on four Point Likert-like scales. The comment checklist make up of three (3) observable items was developed to enable the researcher bump serials functions and ICT facilities used in the serials unit of the examine universities. Answers to the research questions were provided for using tables, portionages, heart and soul and graphs. A midpoint mean score of 2. that is the average of the individual rafts was accepted for items developed on four Point Likertlike scales. A 50 percent corroboratory response was accepted for items analyzed with relative frequency and dowers. Results The result of the analysis are presented to reflect the objectives of the research which include Identifying the serials operations and public services performed with ICT facilities in the universities, identifying the ICT facilities used in the serials units and ascertain if the use of ICT in serials units determines its use for serials operations.Serials Operations Performed with ICT The study ascertained through observation in the Serials units of the studied universities functions performed with ICT facilities. The result of the Observation checklist is presented in control panel 1. It shows that all serials functions in OAU are performed with ICT facilities UNAAB and UI have 75 percent of their serials functions performed with ICT. Half of the functions (50 percent) are performed with ICT in UNILAG, UNIBEN, UNIC AL, MOUAU and FUTO.UNIUYO and UNN perform only processing and public services serials functions with ICT separately while none of the functions is performed with ICT at UNIPORT. Considering the 50 percent bench soil for acceptability, only UNIUYO, UNIPORT and UNN do not perform serials functions with ICT. Other libraries do. Table 1 Observation Checklist on the respective(a) Serials Functions Performed with ICT facilities S/NUniversitiesSerials FunctionsTotalpercent AcquisitionProcessing humankind servicesPreservation 1FUTO00xx250 2MOUAU00xx250 3UNN00x0125 4UNIUYO0x00125 5UNICALxx00250 6UNIPORT 000000 UNIBEN00xx250 8UNILAGx0x0250 9UIx0xx375 10OAUxxxx4100 11UNAAB0xxx375 12Total448621 13percent36. 3636. 3672. 7254. 55 NOTE x=ICT used 0= ICT not used The Table also shows that 54. 55 percent and 72. 72 percent of the libraries perform serials preservation and public services functions with ICT facilities respectively. A 36. 36 percent of the libraries perform acquisition and processi ng functions with ICT facilities. wherefore serials public services and preservations are the major serials functions performed with ICT in the libraries studied considering the 50 percent bench mark.Serials Public Services Performed with ICT Again, an observation was do to identify serials public services performed with ICT facilities. The observation checklist is presented in Table 2. The Table shows that UNAAB and MOUAU provide 85. 71 percent of their serials public services with ICT facilities. UI had 71. 43 percent of the services provided with ICT. A 57. 14 percent of such services were provided with ICT at UNILAG, UNICAL and FUTO. Others including UNIUYO (14. 29 percent), UNIBEN (28. 57 percent) had low use of ICT for serials public services functions.None of the services listed was provided with ICT at UNIPORT. The percentage of university libraries using ICT facilities for the various serials public services is as shown in the Table reveals that 81. 82 percent and 73. 73 percent of the studied libraries used ICT facilities to access serials and article titles respectively. ICT facilities were used to access abstract index and the retrieval of serials titles by 54. 55 percent and 45. 45 percent of the libraries respectively. None of the libraries used ICT to access physical serials while 36. 5 percent used ICT to reclaim full text of serials. Using a 50 percent bench mark the result implied that those ICT facilities are used for access to abstract, serials and article titles in the universities studied. Table 2 Observation Checklist on the Various Serials Public services performed with ICT Facilities S/NUniversitiesSerials Public ServicesTotalpercent feeler to abstractsAccess to IndexesAccess to Serials titleAccess to article titlesLocation of physical serialsRetrieval of Serials titlesRetrieval of full text Serials 1FUTOxxxx000457. 14 MOUAUxxxx0xx685. 75 3UNN000000000 4UNIUYO00x0000114. 29 5UNICAL00xx0xx457. 14 6UNIPORT 000000000 7UNIBEN00xx000228 . 57 8UNILAGx0xx00x457. 14 9UIxxxx0x0571. 43 10OAUxxxx0x0571. 43 11UNAABxxxx0xx685. 75 12Total659805437 13percent54. 5545. 4581. 8273. 73045. 4536. 36 NOTE x=ICT used 0= ICT not used ICT Facilities Used for Serials Operation in Serials Unit Answer to the research question on the ICT used for serials operations was found by the Researchers observation of the use do of ICT facilities in serials units of the various university libraries.The result of the observation is presented in Table 3. The Table shows that only 50 percent of the listed ICT facilities were used in the serials units of UNAAB and UI. UNIBEN, MOUAU and UNILAG used 42. 86 percent and 35. 71 percent of the facilities respectively. UNICAL and UNIUYO used 28. 57 percent and 14. 29 percent respectively while UNIPORT, UNN and OAU each used 7. 14 percent of the ICT facilities in their serials units. None of the facilities was used at the time of this study in FUTO Serials unit. Table 3 Observation Checklist on the Various I CT Facilities Use in Serial Unit.S /NUniversitiesICT FACILITIESTotalpercent PCCPSFaxCD-RCDWCDCDE local anaesthetic area networkWIntOP 1FUTO0000000000000000 2MOUAUxxx00x00x00000535. 71 3UNN0x00000000000010 4UNIUYOxx000000000000214. 29 5UNICALxXx00000x00000428. 57 6UNIPORT 0x00000000000017. 14 7UNIBENxx000x0x00x00x642. 86 8UNILAGxx0xxx00000000535. 75 9UIxx000x00x0x0xx750. 00 10OAU0x00000000000017. 14 11UNAABx x00xx000x0xx750. 00 12Total7831151130302338 NOTE PC= Personal Computers C= Copier P= Printer S= Scanner CD-R = compact disc read-only memory CDW= CD Writer D= Diskette E= E- Mail LAN=Local Area Network Int= earnings OP= OPAC.X= ICT Used 0 = ICT non Used. Considering the percentage of the universities using each of the ICT facilities, the result shows that majority of the university libraries (72. 73 percent) used photocopier for its serials functions. This was followed by 63. 64 percent and 45. 45 percent which used individualized computers and compact disc read-only memory re spectively. Printers, diskettes, LAN and OPAC were each used by (27. 27 percent). The profits (18. 18 percent) and scanner, autotype machine, CD penr and CD changer (9. 09 percent) had very low use in the serials units studied.None of the libraries was using E-Mail and WAN facilities in the serials unit for serials functions. Considering the 50 percent Bench mark, only individualized computers and photocopiers were the ICT facilities existence used by the Serials units of the studied universities libraries? ICT Facilities Used in Serials Unit as a Determinant of Its Use for Serials Operations A cross-tabulation of the result was made to show the percentage serials functions, serials public services and ICT facilities used in various serials units of the individual universities.The result is presented in Table 4. It shows that although OAU had all its serials functions (100 percent) performed with ICT facilities and 71. 43 percent of its serials public services performed with IC T it had very low use of ICT facilities (7. 14 percent) in its Serials unit. FUTO which also had 50 percent and 57. 14 percent of its serials functions and serials public services performed with ICT respectively had no single ICT facilities in its serials unit. There was also low indication of ICT facilities use in the Serials units of UNILAG (35. 71 percent) MOUAU (35. 1 percent) and UNICAL (28, 57 percent) scorn their average use for serials functions and serials public services. UNN and UNIPORT though do not perform serials functions or public services with ICT had indication of ICT facilities in its serials unit (7. 14 percent). UNIUYO had low ICT facilities use in the Serials unit as well as low use for functions and serials public services. The result implied that the serial functions and serials public services in the Serials units performed with ICT in some cases were not determined by the ICT facilities acquirable in the Serials units of the respective university librarie s.Table 4 Cross Tabulation of percent Serials Functions, Serials Public Services performed with ICT and ICT facilities Used in Serials Units of Southern Nigerian Federal University Libraries S/NUniversitiesPercent Serials Functions With ICTPercent Serials Public Services with ICTPercent ICT Facilities Used in Serials Unit 1FUTO5057. 140 2MOUAU5085. 7135. 71 3UNN000 4UNIUYO2514. 2914. 29 5UNICAL5057. 1428. 57 6UNIPORT 007. 14 7UNIBEN5028. 5742. 86 8UNILAG5057. 1435. 71 9UI7571. 4350. 00 10OAU10071. 437. 14 11UNAAB7585. 7150. 00 news of FindingsFrom the findings, it is apparent that there is a general low use of ICT facilities for serials functions neglect in the areas of serials public services and preservation (Table 1). This is related to the findings of Siddique (1997) in his work in Saudi Arabia, where only two of seven libraries studied applied ICT in serials control. The low use of ICT facilities for acquisition and processing may be attributed to the non-availability of seri als software which allow for enable the use of ICT for the very complex acquisition and processing activities involved in serials functions.An explanation for this could be found in the works of Anunobi and Benard (2007) where many of the libraries studied do not have library software and those with such were in so far to activate their serials module. However, that some libraries like OAU perform all its serials functions with ICT and others like UNN and UNIPORT are not performing any of its functions with ICT shows that there is a great disparity among these libraries with respect to the application of ICT facilities for serials functions especially among the geopolitical zones.The disparity could be attributed to the disposition of these libraries to the major hindrances to ICT application in serials functions. This is also related to the findings of Islam and Islam (2007) that there is disparity in the use of computers and its accessories in library services in Bangladesh. Fur thermore, the increased use of ICT facilities for serials public services reflected in many of these libraries (Table 2) for serials and articles titles access buttresses the fact that these university libraries are providing serials public services with ICT facilities.It also implies that many of them have their automated serials holdings being domicile in in the flesh(predicate) computers or that they possess the Union List of Serials on CD-ROM which users can access. This is of the same standing with the findings of Tseng et al (1990) who noted in his study that 55 percent of the libraries studied have their serials holdings automated. There is also the possibility that some major abstracts like Chemical, Biological, LISA, and AJOL abstracts may be available in these libraries on CD-Rom or Online.Where only the abstract is available, or there is absence of digital library, full text retrieval may not be possible hence the low university representation on retrieval of full text serials. The responses on ICT facilities use in serials operations still confirms that the libraries studied use little or no ICT facilities in serials functions. This confirmation was derived from the below bench mark for all the facilities immaterial personal computers and photocopiers (Table 3). The close to 50 percent average score for CD-ROM implies that its use for serials function is bonny cock-a-hoop.Such is expected since some libraries like MOUAU and UNAAB have the Essential Electronic verdant Library (TEEAL) therefore are providing access to serials and article titles using CD-ROM facilities. Again, since the use of net profit and OPAC has low response, there is the tendency that the serials public services and preservation functions are provided with CD-ROM in these libraries. The use of scanner and fax machine by only one library suggests that the studied libraries were yet to digitize their serials. In addition to that they could be turning to new technology i. e. he Internet in place of fax. The information presented on the cross-tabulation of percentage serials functions, serials public services and ICT facilities used in serials functions (Table 4) has made series of suggestions. though some of the University libraries performed serials functions and public services with ICT facilities, they had little or no ICT facilities in their serials units. This is similar to the finding of Anunobi and Nwakwuo (2008 ) where majority of the university libraries in Eastern Nigeria have not embraced the use of ICT for its operations serials inclusive.This could mean that such functions and services were performed in other units or a designated unit outside the serials units. Observation showed that in around of these libraries that provided serials functions and public services with ICT facilities but with little or no ICT facilities in their serials units have distinct ICT, IT, Systems or Computer centres from which all these functions were performed . The implication of these findings is that the use of ICT facilities for serials functions is gradually disintegrating the compartmentalisation of serials units and other units of the university library.Hence it is likely that in not too long a time, serials functions and public services with the application of ICT facilities could be performed from units outside the serials unit in most of the libraries in southern Nigeria. The low positive response on the application of the Internet shows that the studied libraries were not utilizing the ingenuous electronic serials available on the Internet to augment the limited serials subscription made by some of these libraries. These libraries also deny users the opportunity of using some fee-based serials that are offered freely to developing countries like Nigeria.Such serials include Access to world(a) Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) Health International Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE), EBSCOhost, farming University Documents Online (CUDOS), CAB Abstract etc. If the scenario is not changed, serials users leave behind bypass the library for alternative information providers, thus confirming the conception of Morino (1998) that if libraries do not rise up to the challenges of the technological changes, they get out never over again be in control of information. Summary and ConclusionThe following deductions and conclusive evidences are made from the findings of this research Serials functions in the Southern Nigeria federal university libraries are still predominately manually performed with ICT application being more prominent in the public services and preservation functions. Public services activities involving the use of ICT facilities are mainly access to and retrieval of serials and articles titles. Though a few of the libraries use Internet, LAN and OPAC, photocopiers, personal computer, and CD-ROM are the most commonly used ICT fac ilities in the serials unit. The low availability and use of ICT facilities in serials units of the university libraries is not a determinant of its use for serials operations. Hence many serials operations are performed with ICT facilities outside the serials units. It is recommended that university libraries should take a firm decision whether to equip serials unit with ICT facilities and affect all serials operations in the unit or have a systems unit where ICT related operations are carried out including serials. University libraries should also solicit aid from donor agencies in the area of ICT hardware and software for serials functions ReferencesAgbaje, A. A. (2002). Great expectations Serials management and information technology. In Madu E. C. , & Dirisu, M. B. (Eds. ). Information science and technology for library schools in Africa (pp. 25-36). Ibadan EVI-Coleman. Aina, L. O. (2003). alter information provision in Nigerian university libraries The digital option. Paper presented at the 41st Annual internal Conference & AGM of the Nigerian Library companionship at Tarker Foundation, Markurdi, 7-12 September. Aina, L. O. (2004). Coping with the challenges of library and information delivery services The need for institutionalized professional development.Nigerian Library Association Conference Proceedings, p. 4 Ajayi G. O. (2005). E-government in Nigerias e-strategy. Paper presented at 5th Annual African Computing and Telecommunications Submit, Abuja, Nigeria. Akinyotu, A. (1977). Library automation A state of the art review. Paper presented at the store on library automation in Nigeria held at the Conference centre, University of Ibadan 6-10 March. Ani, O. E. , Esin, J. E. , & Edem, N. (2005). word sense of information and Communication Technology (ICT) in academic libraries A strategy for library networking in Nigeria.The Electronic Library 23 (6) 701-708. Anunobi, C. , & Benard, I. (2007). Availability and use of ICT resources in Imo State aca demic library services. Coal City Libraries 5&6 34-41. Anunobi, C. V. , & Nwakwuo, O. (2008). The state of ICT in southeastern Nigeria. Samaru Journal of Information studies 8 (1) 35-43 Alabi, G. A. (1993). Information technology Whither Nigerian libraries and documentation centres. Leading Libraries & Information Centres 1 (2) 27-35. American Library Association (1983). The ALA glossary of library and information science. dough ALA. Ballentyne P. (2003).Information management trends. INASP Newsletter 23 5-6. Chesenga, J. (2004). ICT in libraries An overview and general introduction to ICT in libraries in Africa. INASP ICT Workshop, Kopanong Hotel & Conference centre, Johannesburg S. Africa 21st -23rd July. ( www. INASP. info/ISP/ICT-workshop2004 ) Islam, S. , & Islam, N. (2007). Use of ICT in libraries An trial-and-error study of selected libraries in Bangladesh. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available http//unllib. unl. edu/LPP/shariful. htm Mullis, A. (1992). Serials. In. Mi chael, P. (Ed. ), Non-standard collection management (pp. 3-115). Aldershot, England Ashgate. Oketunji, I. (2001). Computer application to libraries. Paper presented at the 39th Annual National Conference and AGM of the Nigerian Library Association at the Imo Concord Hotel Owerri, June 17-22. Oketunji, I. (2001). Libraries and the Internet connectivity What benefits? In Lasis J. , Odunsanya,O. K. , Sonaike, S. E. A. , & Osinulu L. F. (Eds. ), Automation of cataloguing practices in Nigerian libraries (pp. 32-40), Ijebu-Ode Nigerian Library Association, Cataloguing, salmagundi and Indexing Section. Oni, F. A. (2004).Enhancing the performance of library operations through appropriate IT. In Madu E. C. (Ed. ), Technology for information management & services Modern libraries & information centers in developing countries (pp. 95-109). Ibadan Evi-Coleman. Siddiqui, M. A. (1997). The use of information technology in academic libraries in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Librarianship and Informat ion Science 29 (4) 195-203. Szilvassy, J. (Ed. ) (1996). Basic serials management handbook. IFLA Publications 77. Munchen K. G. Saur. Tseng, S. C. , Arcand, J. C. , Brugger, J. M, Finn, M, Olson, A. J. , & Somers, S. (1990).Serials standards work The next frontier. Library Resources & Technical Services 34 (2) 139-157. Womboh, B. S. H. , & Abba, T. (2008). The state of information and communication technology (ICT) in Nigerian university libraries The experience of Ibrahim Babangida Library, Federal University of Technology, Yola. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available http//unllib. unl. edu/LPP/womboh. htm ? Explanation and opinion From the article above, we know that there is a general low use of ICT facilities for serials functions except in the areas of serials public services and preservation (table 1) in libraries.Serials functions in the Southern Nigeria federal university libraries are still predominately manually performed with ICT application being more prominent in th e public services and preservation functions. This is because in Nigeria, many of the libraries studied do not have library software due to the overpriced price of the software. However, it is shown that 55% of the libraries have an automated system regarding the serials storage system. It also implies that many of them have their automated serials holdings being domicile in personal computers or that they possess the List of Serials on CD-ROM which users can access.Furthermore, the use of Internet has low response,so there is the tendency that the users are provided with CD-ROM in these libraries. This means that the use of CD-ROM is more dominant than net income in Nigeria. The low positive response on the application of the Internet in libraries shows that the studied libraries were not utilizing the free electronic serials available on the Internet to replace the limited serials subscription made by some of these libraries. This maybe because of the not skilled people in Niger ia. In my opinion, the libraries in Nigeria should optimize the use of ICT.This can be done by having seminars about how to use the internet (how to browse for information, download, save files, etc). Even though the libraries have been changing so much that it changed from newspaper publisherwork-based into ICT-based system. Though a few of the libraries use Internet, photocopiers, personal computer, and CD-ROM are the most commonly used ICT facilities in the serials unit. This is because the Nigerian people dont know the technology of internet yet and they are still a developing country. ? Impact to lodge It is clear that by using ICT in libraries, there will be some electric shock to the society.For example it will change the way of resumeing books, the way of storing data of customers, etc that will be discussed below. Advantages 1. It will be meteoric to store information of customers. By using ICT, the process of storing customers data will be faster because it only needs us to type which is significanly faster rather than to write 2. The data that is stored will also be more secure by using ICT. When the data is stored using computer, the run a risk of lost data will be very low compared to when using written forms of customers data. This is explained because the risk of losing paperwork is a lot more compared to the risk in computer. . It will be easier to transmute / change the data stored. When using computer, we can modify data very easily. This will help the librarians greatly so their job will be much easier too. They dont need to re-write all the customers information again like if they are using paperwork. 4. The process of borrowing books will be much faster and in an efficient way. By using ICT, we can just scan the book barcode when a customer wanted to borrow a particular book. This will be faster since they only need to scan (not to write the description of the book). 5. We can know when a particular customer havent return the books that they borrowed.This will reduce the risk of losing books in the library and also will help customer to be discipline to return the books that they borrowed on time. When using the old type of storing data, the librarians will be lazy to check because there are so much data that they have to search. However, they can filter data using ICT and they will work with more tenacity. 6. The society will have more access to information that is available by using the internet. Customers can use the computers that are provided in the library and search for information that maybe not available in the librarys books.This will improve the knowledge of society and this will lead to a better society with up-to-date information. 7. It will be easier for the society to print, send e-mail, do research etc by using the computers provided in the library. Thus enabling them to score high in their field and moreover giving them a future career prospect. Disadvantages 1. There will be unemployment for some librarians since the library doesnt need a lot of librarians anymore. The librarians whose old job were to check / write data in paper will be no longer needed since the ICT will only need fewer librarians to do the same amount of work. . In Nigeria, many people doesnt seem to understand ICT well, so there will be problems when they are using the ICT system. For example, internet service and computers. They wont be that interested in using the computer because they dont know how to use it. So, if they force themself to use computer, there will be probability that they will damage the computers hardwares, or the computers will be devoted with no users using them. 3. The cost of implementing the ICT system is not cheap. It usually requires a lot of money that the university have to provide.This will have impact on other university facilities. Because of the implementation of ICT, other facilities will have only a low budget and this can be bad for the university students. From the list of advantages and disadvantages before, we all know that the ICT system in library have a square impact to the society. For me, even though it has some disadvantages, there are a lot more advantages that ICT system offers. It will also modernize the local people by providing more and more information from abroad, not only from the books. Thus, ICT system is very important to the better qualified of individuals.