CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Libraries are mainly entrusted with a host of predetermined tasks like acquiring, organizing, preserving, retrieving and disseminating information to the user. From ancient times to the present Internet age, the primary objective of library has always been this (Gopinath, etal.2001). However, towards the beginning of the 21st century world over, there has been a phenomenal paradigm shift in the rendering of library and information services. The implication of the influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in every sphere of human development is visible and its impact on library and information services cannot be overemphasized. Available literature (Sridhar, 1999; Igun, 2006) as well as observations across the world attests to this assertion. In today’s world, library and information services delivery are being transformed from their manual operations to new ways with the use of technology. The new technology and communication tools are employed in rendering services to the patrons through appropriate channels for access to information with cluster of technologies referred to as the internet. The technology called the internet has the ability to compliment, reinforce, and enhance educational accomplishments for the benefits of all. (Esew and Ikyembe 2013).
The resultant effect of this development has been the emergence of electronic services in libraries which has become the basis for digital libraries (Youngok, 2006). Library services are assuming a different dimension in philosophy, model and information delivery. The trend worldwide has proved that information provision and delivery had shifted from the traditional models to electronic and web-based formats. Traditional collections are giving way to if not total but at least hybrid collections. This change in structure is not without its attendant challenges as electronic and digital libraries come along with their peculiar characteristics despite sharing the same purpose of preserving, organizing and distributing information resources as in the case of traditional libraries (youngok, 2006). In a similar vein, Mwamba (2002), noted that in the case of Nigeria, there is a shift in focus of operation from library-centred to information-centred; from the library as an institution to the library as an information provider, and to the librarian as a skilled information specialist functioning in all-related information environment, which require the use of new method known as automation of library functions for the enhancement of information access and delivery not physically contained within the four walls of the library but from library networking for information provision to area networking for all types of information resources provided. It is a known fact that the mental, social and economic development of the individual depends on the individual’s access to information through reading which enhances productive approach to improving one’s knowledge and understanding.
The 21st century is not without changes that are meant to put libraries and its offerings on a new pedestal. In his opinion, Hayes (1998) noted that libraries must ‘’move from resource centred, institutionalized and physically bound to network based’’. Becoming a network based library however, has a lot of technological implications; the single prominent factor being information technology (Sridar 1989, 1995.1997, and 1999). Furthermore, literature affirmed that the change in the nature and roles of libraries vis-à-vis the digital environment has equally brought about the need for development and acquisition of new skills and competencies (Yongok 2006).