THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) ON COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

1.2.           Statement of the Problem

The application of modern information technologies to academic libraries' activities and services in Nigerian tertiary institutions seems inadequate probably due to a variety of factors, including human factors, fear, and the state of infrastructural development of the country. Not a few library practitioners also believe that there is hardly much benefits that can be derived from the use of IT applications thereby giving preferences for the manual library operations. Those who are aware of its benefits are afraid of being eliminated from their jobs; though knowing that its application to library routines such as administration, acquisitions, cataloguing and classification, circulation, information retrieval and serials control would facilitate effective and efficient job performance.

Users complain of inadequate information services. The dissatisfaction may be connected with ineffective collection management. Collection management is most effective when I.Ts are applied to the process. This research explores the extent to which I.Ts are available, how they are used, and how they affect collection management in Delta State University, Abraka.

However, while libraries and information centres have risen to the occasion and are trying to adapt and adopt IT for their operations, they are being affected by a number of external forces-social, economic, political, technological and internal variables for a change.

This study therefore investigates the impact of information technology on collection development and management at the Delta State University Abraka Main Library. Hence, the study is focused essentially on the Delta State University main Library.

1.3.           Research Questions

The study is set out to provide answers to the following research questions:

1. How adequate are IT facilities in the university library?

2. Where are IT used for collection development and management in the university library?

3. What effect do IT have on collection development and management in the university library?

4 What are the challenges facing the use of ICT in collection development

5. What can be done to harness ICTs for more effective collection development and management in the university library?

1.4.      Purpose of the Study

The main aim of this study is to investigates the impact of Information technology (IT) on collection development and management in the Delta State University, Abraka. Specifically, the study will:

1.         Determine how adequate are IT facilities in the university

2. Identify the aspects of collection development and management in the library where ITs are being used

3 Examine the impact IT have on collection development and management in the university.

4. Identify the challenges facing the use  of IT in collection development and  management

5. Find out what can be done to harness IT for more effective collection development and management in the university

1.5.      Significance of the Study

The study establishes an empirical basis for increased library effectiveness in academic library by applying IT which emphasize collection development and management. It will call attention to the fact that mere acquisition of or access to IT facilities does not guarantee effectiveness of collection development and management. It provides evidence for the management of the university and other stakeholders of the need to adopt a positive attitude and favourable policies and programmes to maximally harness the benefits of IT for collection development and management effectiveness.

1.6.      Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The purpose of this study is to investigates the impact of Information technology (IT) on collection development and management in the Delta State University, Abraka.

Geographically, this study will be carried out in the Delta State University Main Library, Abraka as the case may be.

1.7.      Operational Definitional of Terms

The following terms were generally define in this research work

Information technology (IT) is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise (Becker, 2013).

Collection Development: Library collection development is the process of meeting the information needs of the people (a service population) in a timely and economical manner using information resources locally held, as well as from other organizations (Chaudhry, 2012).

Library management is a sub-discipline of institutional management that focuses on specific issues faced by libraries and library management professionals. Library management encompasses normal management tasks as well as intellectual freedom, anti-censorship, and fundraising tasks. Issues faced in library management frequently overlap those faced in management of non-profit organizations (Cogswell, 2007)