THE INFLUENCE OF LIBRARY KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND INFORMATION ACCESS

1.1 Introduction

Library 2.0 is a model for a modernized form of library services that reflects a transition within the library world in the way services are delivered to users. It refers to libraries using technologies such as the semantic web, cloud computing, mobile devices and re-envisioning our use of established technologies such as federated search to facilitate user-generated content and collaboration to promote and make library collections accessible.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Libraries are experiencing technology transformation. Right from the typewriter to cloud computing libraries have used technologies to improve service and visibility. These technology transformations have been reported, recorded and read by librarians to understand how to position ourselves in this ever-changing technology-driven society. Information society demands the strategic positioning of information in – content organization, information services, knowledge dissemination and archiving of resources. This demand has elevated the position of librarians from ‘information provider / facilitator’ to the ‘custodians of facts’. These demands have made it imperative for librarians to learn, implement and use the technology which is in force for effective and efficient service delivery. Libraries are among the early adopters of social media in order to connect with their patrons.

Libraries will continue to be a community hub in this network world just as they were in the traditional environment. As Michael Stephens (2006) said ‘to remain viable, interesting and relevant, libraries should seek methods to get out into the community, engage users with services and conversations, and offer collaborative spaces both online and in beautiful physical buildings. But here’s the other side of the coin: Librarians should embrace the social tools as well on a professional and even personal level. It’s the logical first step to put us on the way to Library 2.0’. The advent of information and communication technologies and mobile devices have posed challenges for libraries as well as created new opportunities. One significant challenge is the low patronage being experienced in today‟s academic libraries. Library patronage is on the decline, mostly because users are exploiting alternative sources like the internet and mobile devices to meet their information needs. This change in information seeking behavior has foisted on libraries to explore new means of providing information and interacting with their users. It is no longer news that libraries are evolving to meet the needs of 21st century information seekers.

The trend is that libraries are exploiting Web 2.0 technologies to re-establish connections with their users who have resorted to the internet. Like the proverbial mountain going to Mohammed, todays libraries are taking their services to millenial patrons who now „reside‟ on the net. To keep up with the demands of the 21st c academic environment, academic libraries are incorporating new concepts to provide the needed services and retain their relevance. Social networks (SN) are among the new concepts that libraries are engaging to interact with their patrons. Web 2.0 is the buzzword of all the conferences, seminars, discussion forms and literatures published on technology adoption in libraries during 2002 to 2012. Web 2.0 could be thought of as the set of everevolving tools that benefit online users (Stephens, 2006) and used by them to connect, communicate, collaborate, converse and create content. Further, Web 2.0 can be considered as the upgraded, improved, and modernized World Wide Web. It is a term used loosely to apply to everything from the explosion of social networking websites like MySpace and YouTube, to the rich, interactive software applications being served online, and even to the specific programming languages and technology tools that make the “new” web possible (Funk, 2009).

The advent of computer and communication technologies in the twentieth century has continued to vest the same responsibilities on librarians despite the changing packaging and delivery format from print to electronic. In spite of such development, librarians did not rest on their oars but have continued to enhance their capacity in order to address the required operations and services. New mode of library operations and services are made possible through automation and digital processes. To satisfy the yearning needs of the new set of information users (digital generation) who need information access and use to be interesting, and fun (Minocha, 2009), librarians began to transform staff competencies, services and access models (Casey & Savastinuk 2006). Recognizing the shift of information user’s attention to Internet and the Web as elaborated by Haythornthwaite (2005), librarians extended their operations and services to the web.

The use of the web by librarians at this point was restricted by limited computer science and technology skills. This is because the website used for operations and services are static, thereby requiring the acquisition of Java and php competencies to use them. Advances in web development further unveiled a move from the static web or Web 1.0 (Barskey (2006), to a platform where users are opportune to interact with the web through the creation, deleting or remixing of content (McManus, 2009). As information providers, librarians were therefore, empowered to jettison the limitations of Web 1.0 to serve library practitioners better with the facilities provided by Web 2.0. The basic step to ensuring that librarians in Nigeria utilize these new innovations in web development is to identify their awareness and use of Web 2.0 or social media.

Therefore, in Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Influence of Library 2.0 on LIS Undergraduate Students Information Access and Knowledge Sharing.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

The challenge of most librarians is to attract users to the library and to retain them. To deal with this challenge, librarians are reconsolidating, reshaping, re-designing and repackaging resources as a means of promoting their services and information (Iwhiwhu et al., 2010).

Librarians, in this digital age, are responsible for a wide variety of resources and services that expand far beyond the typical eight-hour work day. Igun (2010:18) opines that “librarians’ role in the global information environment is unique. His roles are critical for the necessary control of information resources in physical and virtual domains”. Lack of search skills, automation at infancy level, epileptic power supply, and technical know - how are some of the problems encountered by the academic libraries.

Notably, the advent of other sources of information like the internet, World Wide Web and even social media that has led to a new challenge for librarians to meet the rapidly changing information needs and expectations of the 21st century users. Librarians now have a challenge of making themselves more relevant in this digital age.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The main aim of the study is to ascertain the Influence of Library 2.0 on Library and Information Science (LIS) Undergraduate Students Information Access and Knowledge Sharing. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the influence of Library 2.0 on Library and Information Science undergraduate Students Information Access
2. To examine the impact of Library 2.0 on Library and Information Science undergraduate Students Knowledge Sharing
3. To examine the relationship between Knowledge Sharing and information access in digital library
4. To examine the role of web based library in information sharing in modern library
5. To examine the effect of web based library site on library efficiency

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1.4 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does Library 2.0 influences LIS undergraduate Students during Information Access?
• Does Library 2.0 negatively impact LIS undergraduate Students during Knowledge Sharing?
• Is there any relationship between Knowledge Sharing and information access in digital library?
• What is the role of web based library in information sharing in modern library?
• To what extent does of web based library site impact library efficiency?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Web based library site does not have any effect on library efficiency
• H1: Web based library site does have an effect on library efficiency

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant relationship between Knowledge Sharing and information access in digital library
• H1: There is a significant relationship between Knowledge Sharing and information access in digital library

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1.7 Significance of Study

This study will be relevant to students of different higher of learning as it would enlighten them on the benefit of Information Access and Knowledge Sharing in educational process. Finally, this study will also help to serve as literature (reference source) to the public, individuals and corporate bodies into what to carry out on further research on social network on academic adjustment of in school adolescent among Nigeria’s university students.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Influence of Library 2.0 on LIS Undergraduate Students Information Access and Knowledge Sharing using Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State as a Case Study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Influence: The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Social Network: A social network is a social structure made up of a set of social actors, sets of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors.

Academic: Academic achievement or (academic) performance is the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals.

Library: A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing.

Library 2.0: Library 2.0 is a loosely defined model for a modernized form of library service that reflects a transition within the library world in the way that services are delivered to users. The focus is on user-centered change and participation in the creation of content and community