Application of Ict in Library

Application of ICT in Libraries uniform resource locator http//unllib. unl. edu/LPP/anunobi-edoka. htm engage of ICT Facilities for Serials Functions in Southern Nigeria Federal University Libraries Chinwe V. Anunobi Ph. D Digital Librarian Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria Benson E. Edoka Professor Department of program depository depository subroutine subroutine subroutine library and chequer Science University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nsukka, Nigeria Introduction User forecast from about(prenominal) nurture providing system is to make obtainable directly or remotely and in re completelyy duration the sine qua noned development, format non withstanding.In the university environment, the library a major instruction providing system supports t sever anyying, encyclopaedism and interrogation with reading materials of diverse roles. Among these diverse information materials, serials ar required e pickyly by efficiency and research students. Before the in crease and riding habit of ICT facilities for capturing/acquisition, touch on scattering and recuperation of information, serials trading trading achievements were predominantly manual.However with the development of ICT based library avail which brought with it self service and simultaneous access to resources (Womboh & Abba 2008), plentys interest switched from print to electronic information. Furtherto a greater extent, serials operations in developing countries which was besieged with problems associated with bell (Millis 1992, de Marcas 2000 Aina 2003), inadequate acquisition and pertain tools (Szilvassy 1996), competency and getableness problems (Cohen 1989 and Mullis 1992), embrace the utilize of ICT facilities as an approach to get wellspring approximately of the mentioned problems.This is necessary since tally to Ajayi (2003) any constancy information or any other which sidelines ICT has exclusively signed a death warrant The ICT facilities employ in the library in general and serials unit in grumpy argon based on the runs manageed thitherin. The functions realizeed in the university serials unit as indicated by Tuttle (1983) argon acquisition, treat, man service and conservation. These functions argon synonymous with the functions performed in the university library though with some peculiarities emanating from the nature of serials.thitherfore ICT facilities apply in the broad university library be quasi(prenominal)ly relevant to the serials unit but overly with peculiarity occasioned by the nature of serials. These operate and operations gull been modify employ ICT. Aina (2004) sure that on that point is efficiency in resource organization as delivery and dissemination of information amaze become effective and easy. continual and routine tasks in the library save been eliminated. Furthermore, the availability of bibliographic entropybase, full text documents and digital library line of battle is now taken for granted as noned by Chesenga (2004).The IT (ICT) facilities recitation in the library is defined by the Ameri freighter subroutine library connection (1993) as the application of computers and other engineering to the acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information. Ifi get dressed (1985) enumerated the functions available for ICT engagement in the library to hold ordering and acquisition with the fol blueing activities ordering, receiving, solving of invoice and administration of saucers and expenditure..Further to that, Oketunji (2001) and Chesenga (2004) numerateed library functions in which ICT could be applied to include acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serials go over, giveive dissemination of information go and preparation of wariness information. Furthermore, the application of ICT facilities in the library could be in the stand exactly or integrated form. Many countries and institutions argon at varying level of ICT application in their library operation.Islam and Islam (2007) documented the use ICT in libraries in Bangladash and informed that though the use started between 1964 and 1995, progress was non do until 1996. In Nigeria many universities are at the advanced stage of ICT use in library operations. Anunobi and Benard (2007) informed that in their take in of ICT availability for library operations in the Imo state of Nigeria except cardinal of the four academician libraries Federal University of engineering Owerri and Imo order University fancy evidence of victimisation ICT for library operations.Emorjorho, &Nwalo (2009) ground in their culture that provided(prenominal) very some libraries in the Niger-Delta of Nigeria use ICT in library operations where university libraries view as more ICT facilities than the special libraries. Nok(2006) documented the use of ICT in Kashim Ibrahim library, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria while Ekpengong( 1997) presented the situati on in special libraries in Nigeria. Ani, Esin and Edim(2005) also ponder the use of ICT in Nigeria University libraries.For serials operation, Agbaje (200227) informed that information technology hindquarters be an effective handmaid to serials management at every stage of management serve well and disregarding of content, use, format and overall strategy adopted for serials management by the organization in principal Akinyotu (1977), Alabi (1985), Oketunji (2001) Agbaje (2002) and Oni (2004) noned that using sundry(a) approaches, ICT facilities in serials unit underside be for the fol small-scaleing functions and activities subscription control, procurement process, order preparation, lineage analysis and accounting.They kitty also be utilise for bibliographic file control, cataloguing of new serials, preparation of serials record entries and transaction control. Effecting serials additions, kinds and deletions or collection control can be performed with ICT facilit ies. go and deliverance functions such(prenominal)(prenominal) as servicing request for serials habitualation, binding control file, lacking issues, holdings accession of want list as well as union lists are am change to ICT facilities use.In their findings on the use of computer for library run in Bangladesh, Islam and Islam (2007 ) discover that all the libraries surveyed utilise ICT for serials control as well as other activities. The operate provided according to them include compact disc read-only memory distinct, online searching, online networking, photocopying, online information work and informationbase searching service. In Nigeria according to Ikem and Ajala (2000), preliminary 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 yet to be distinguishn. Statement of the worry There are copious studies a nd opinion on the use of ICT facilities for library functions in general. In Nigerian university libraries, ICT facilities were primarily employ for serials functions and are heretofore in use. However not much has been implant in literature as regards the areas of serials functions they are utilise, and the facilities in use. thereof the survey tends to address this gap by identifying the finish of ICT use for serials operations.Objective of the adopt Identify the serials operations performed with ICT facilities in southern Nigerian federal official university libraries Determine the serials cosmos run performed with ICT Find out the ICT facilities used for these serials operations Ascertain if the use of ICT facilities in serials unit of the libraries is a determinant to their use for serials operations. Research Questions What serials operations are performed with ICT facilities in southern Nigeria Federal university libraries? In which serials prevalent function are t he use of ICT industrious 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 under study determine its use for serials operations? Significance of the Study The go of this survey require 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 behind be acquainted with other areas ICT can be utilise in serials operation and the institutions applying such. Donor agencies volition also be aware of the state of ICT facilities application in Nigerian university serials operation and decide on the areas to advert such institutions. Data Collection The work covered all the federal university libraries in the three of the six geopolitical zones in Nig eria namely South-East (SE), southwesterly (SW) and South South (SS). The three zones comprise seventeen states with 13 federal universities.The various zones and their inclusive 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 carriage Harcourt(UNIPORT), University of Uyo(UNIUYO) and South West(SW) University of I destructivean(UI), Obafemi Awo broken ino 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 reflection checklist were employed to gather facts and opinion of serials staff from 11 of the 13 federal universities libraries. No samples were taken from FUTA and NAU as they had no well demonstrable serials unit a t the time of this study. Purposive sampling 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(p) for acquisition, processing, user work and preservation in the serials units.Self developed questionnaire instrument make 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 transfer Likert- uniform scales. The placard checklist made up of three (3) observable items was developed to enable the detective observe serials functions and ICT facilities used in the serials unit of the canvass universities. Answers to the research questions were provided for using tables, partages, office and graphs. A nub mean score of 2. that is the average of the individual pull ahead was accepted for items developed on four Point Likertlike scales. A 50 part dictatorial response was accepted for items analyzed with frequency and shareages. Results The result of the analysis are presented to reflect the objectives of the research which include Identifying the serials operations and usual 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 deeds Performed with ICT The study ascertained through observation in the Serials units of the canvass universities functions performed with ICT facilities. The result of the Observation checklist is presented in display board 1. It shows that all serials functions in OAU are performed with ICT facilities UNAAB and UI realize 75 portion of their serials functions performed with ICT. Half of the functions (50 share) are performed with ICT in UNILAG, UNIBEN, UNICAL, MOUAU and FUTO.UNIUYO a nd UNN perform only processing and general services serials functions with ICT respectively while none of the functions is performed with ICT at UNIPORT. Considering the 50 share bench mark for acceptability, only UNIUYO, UNIPORT and UNN do not perform serials functions with ICT. Other libraries do. mesa 1 Observation Checklist on the Various Serials Functions Performed with ICT facilities S/NUniversitiesSerials FunctionsTotalpercent AcquisitionProcessingPublic 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 semipublic services functions with ICT facilities respectively. A 36. 36 percent of the libraries perform acquisition and processing functions with ICT facilities. Hence serials public services and preservations are the major serials functions performed with ICT in the libraries canvass considering the 50 percent bench mark.Serials Public Services Performed with ICT Again, an observation was made 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 theatrical role 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 canvass librar ies used ICT facilities to access serials and article titles respectively. ICT facilities were used to access abstract baron 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 forcible serials while 36. 5 percent used ICT to consider full text of serials. Using a 50 percent benchmark 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 entrance money to abstractsAccess to IndexesAccess to Serials titleAccess to article titlesLocation of physiological serialsRetrieval of Serials titlesRetrieval of full text Serials 1FUTOxxxx000457. 14 MOUAUxxxx0xx685. 75 3UNN000000000 4UNIUYO00x0000114. 29 5UNICAL00xx0xx457. 14 6UNIPORT 000000000 7UNIBEN00xx000228. 57 8UNILAG x0xx00x457. 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 apply 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 made 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 ICT Facil ities Use in Serial Unit.S /NUniversitiesICT FACILITIESTotalpercent PCCPSFaxCD-RCDWCDCDELANWIntOP 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= printing auto S= Scanner CD-R = compact disc read-only memory CDW= CD Writer D= Diskette E= E- light LAN=Local Area Network Int= net income OP= OPAC.X= ICT Used 0 = ICT Not 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 private computers and compact disc read-only memory respectively. Printers, diskettes, LAN and OPAC were each used by (27. 27 percent). The net profit (18. 18 percent) and scanner, fax machine, CD economiser and CD record 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 personal 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 ICT 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 hit ICT facilities in its serials unit. There was also low property of ICT facilities use in the Serials units of UNILAG (35. 71 percent) MOUAU (35. 1 percent) and UNICAL (28, 57 percent) despite 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 available in the Serials units of the respective university libraries.Table 4 crosscut 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 Discussion of FindingsFrom the findings, it is unornamented 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). 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 serials software which pull up stakes 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 apply library software and those with such were yet 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 do any of its functions with ICT shows that there is a great divergence 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. Furthermore, 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 bring in their change serials holdings being domicile in personal computers or that they possess the Union List of Serials on compact disc read-only memory 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 mold on retrieval of full text serials. The responses on ICT facilities use in serials operations still con watertights 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 outside personal computers and photocopiers (Table 3). The close to 50 percent average score for compact disc read-only memory implies that its use for serials function is becoming prominent.Such is expected since some libraries like MOUAU and UNAAB have the Essential Electronic Agricultural depository library (TEEAL) because are providing access to serials and article titles using CD-ROM facilities. Again, since the use of cyberspace and OPAC has low response, there is the determination 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 cyberspace 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 close 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 thes e 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 plus response on the application of the Internet shows that the studied libraries were not utilizing the free 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 Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) Health International Network Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE), EBSCOhost, Commonwealth University Documents Online (CUDOS), CAB Abstract etc. If the scenario is not changed, serials users lead bypass the library for pick information providers, thus confirming the conception of Morino (1998) that if libraries do not rise up to the challenges of the technological changes, they leave alone never once more 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 in the main access to and retrieval of serials and articles titles. Though a fewer of the libraries use Internet, LAN and OPAC, photocopiers, personal computer, and CD-ROM are the most com monly used ICT facilities 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 sponsor agencies in the area of ICT hardware and software for serials functions ReferencesAgbaje, A. A. (2002). broad 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). Strengthening information provision in Nigerian university librarie s The digital option. study presented at the 41st Annual National meeting & AGM of the Nigerian Library Association at Tarker Foundation, Markurdi, 7-12 September. Aina, L. O. (2004). deal with the challenges of library and information delivery services The need for institutionalized professional development.Nigerian Library Association company Proceedings, p. 4 Ajayi G. O. (2005). E-government in Nigerias e-strategy. Paper presented at fifth Annual African Computing and Telecommunications Submit, Abuja, Nigeria. Akinyotu, A. (1977). Library automation A state of the art review. Paper presented at the workshop 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). Adoption of information and intercourse 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 reso urces in Imo State academic library services. Coal City Libraries 5&6 34-41. Anunobi, C. V. , & Nwakwuo, O. (2008). The state of ICT in southeastern Nigeria. Samaru ledger of Information studies 8 (1) 35-43 Alabi, G. A. (1993). Information technology Whither Nigerian libraries and support centres. Leading Libraries & Information Centres 1 (2) 27-35. American Library Association (1983). The ALA glossary of library and information science. lolly 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 twenty-first -23rd July. ( www. INASP. info/ISP/ICT-workshop2004 ) Islam, S. , & Islam, N. (2007). Use of ICT in libraries An empirical study of selected libraries in Bangladesh. Library Philosophy and Practice. Available http//unllib. unl. edu/LPP/shariful. htm Mullis, A. (1992 ). Serials. In. Michael, 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, Classification 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 Libra rianship and Information 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 the public services and preservation functions. This is because in Nigeria, many of the libraries studied do not have library software delinquent to the expensive 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 profit 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 Nigeria. 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 coverwork-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 society It is cash in ones chips that by using ICT in libraries, there impart be some impact to the society.For example it ordain change the way of acceptance books, the way of storing selective information of customers, etc that will be discussed below. Advantages 1. It will be hurrying to store information of customers. By using ICT, the process of storing customer s data will be faster because it only needs us to type which is significanly faster quite an 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 jeopardy of lost data will be very low compared to when using compose 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 modify / change the data stored. When using computer, we can modify data very easily. This will help the librarians greatly so their line of descent 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 precious 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 enable them to score high in their report and only giving them a future career prospe ct. 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 raise 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 upon the computers hardwares, or the computers will be abandoned with no users using them. 3. The cost of implementing the ICT system is not cheap. It commonly 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 significant 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 strung-out of individuals.