A Theoretical Approach to the Adoption of Electronic Resource Management Systems (ERMS) in Nigerian University Libraries

This chapter discusses a theoretical approach to the adoption of electronic resource management systems in Nigeria university libraries. The nature of electronic resources calls for a special way of managing it thereby the invention and adoption of electronic resource management systems (ERMS). However, observation revealed that Nigerian libraries have yet to largely adopt it. It is therefore necessary to theoretically outline the factors promoting adoption of new technologies, in order for Nigerian libraries to take a cue. This chapter proposes a theoretical approach to the adoption of ERMS in Nigerian libraries.

The Technology Shift for MOOC-Based Libraries

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have evolved in past decade and become one of the prominent parts of the higher education system. The MOOCs provided a promising platform to aspirants who wanted to study further to either enhance their educational status or learn new technologies. With the evolution of MOOC, many platforms started to offer such courses, and many of them are not free as these courses need to register with some nominal fee. The role and need of libraries come at this point for MOOC courses as the courses are bundled with corresponding study material. The print library needs to assist e-library so that it may be compatible with the MOOCs and corresponding resources. The technological shift from print to e-library has a great impact on e-learning followed by MOOCs; however, the issue of MOOC libraries and resources is yet to be resolved to ensure the availability to all the users. The chapter deals with the need of library for MOOCs, its structure and technology shift from print library to e-library, along with the differentiation between e-learning and MOOCs.

Utilization of ICT-Based Resources and Services in Engineering College Libraries

Application of ICT in libraries has helped librarians and information specialists and researchers improve their information products and services through enhanced search outcomes in terms of specificities of documents retrieval, provision/dissemination, and use of requisite information retrieved or generated. The study shows the gender distribution of respondents' frequency of using ICT-based resources and services. It is evident that 57.43% male and 42.57% female respondents using ICT-based resources and services on a daily basis, and 54.67% male and 45.33% female respondents were using 2-3 times in a week.

User Satisfaction With Library Information Resources and Services

This chapter deals with the purpose of library resources and services stratification of users of Alagappa University. Users are the most vital component of libraries. Alagappa University Central Library provided the various types of services in RFID, Web OPAC, SMS and e-mail alerts, ETD, DLNET service, mobile-based digital services, etc. The study covers 76 scholars out of 82 questionnaires distributed. The questionnaires were distributed in 10 departments in the Faculty of Arts in Alagappa University. The statistical techniques used for the analysis of data are the frequency, cross tables, descriptive statistics. This chapter describes the use of resources and services, library services, services provided to the users, e-resources access at Alagappa University, scope and limitations of the study, and objectives for using the resources and services. Alagappa University research scholars mostly used the library resources and services.

Relevance of Web 2.0 for Library Services in Digital Era

This chapter is on relevance of Web 2.0 for library services in digital era. Web 2.0 tools play crucial role in effective service delivery of librarians. The study covers awareness, utilization, benefits, and challenges that affect the use of Web 2.0 by librarians for effective service delivery. The concepts generally implied that Web 2.0 can be used by librarians as information acquisition tools to gather information from sources outside libraries (e.g., blogs and wikis), information dissemination tools (such as RSS feeds), information organization tools that facilitate storage and subsequent retrieval of information (social bookmarking and tagging), and information sharing tools that facilitate the bilateral flow of information between libraries and patrons (social networking and media sharing sites). This chapter examines the concept of digital libraries and highlights the major features of a digital library and how it can be used. The potentials of digital library are very crucial as means of access to knowledge and information that will facilitate development.

Academic and Research Libraries' Portals

This chapter presents a synthesis of the literature on academic library portals. Library portals remain a component of the modern academic library. Portal features differ, but typically contain a single authentication process and access to metadata as well as some services (Laouar, Hacken, & Miles, 2009). The authors examined 87 papers in their review. This examination revealed six themes including: developing library portals, utilizing assessment strategies, collaborating on portal projects, incorporating personalization and customization features, conducting environmental scans, and creating instructional portals. The authors assigned themes to the papers based on the primary focus of the material. The findings revealed various issues with the development of academic library portals. The content of academic library portals continues to evolve as their importance to the user increases. Ultimately, an examination of the literature illustrated academic libraries' efforts to remain relevant through the availability of new resources and services on their portals.

Challenges and Opportunities in Building a Successful Digital Library in Developing Countries

The present research work describes the use of the electronic resources by the teaching community at Mekelle University, Ethiopia. The survey was conducted by using questionnaires to collect the data. The questionnaires were administrated to total 1516 on duty teaching faculties of seven colleges. Including the College of Natural and Computational Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Health Science, the College of Law and Governance, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Language and Social Sciences, College Dry Land Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as nine regular institutes including; the Ethiopian Institute of Technology, the Mekelle Institute of Technology, the Institute of Paleo Environment and Heritage Conservation, the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, the Institute of Geo-Information and Earth Observation Sciences, the Institute of Environment and Gender Development Studies, the Institute of Population Studies, the Institute for Climate and Society, and the Institute for Water and Environment at Mekelle University. The survey also examines the purpose of use, frequency, difficulties, and availability of electronic information resources subscribed by the Mekelle University Digital Library. Finally, the data was interpreted, concluded, and suggestions have been given for improvement of electronic information resources at library web portal.

Access to Research Online

The world is hungry for knowledge and quickly-producing researchers of varying caliber who are less dependent on the physical space than ever before. This presents a number of challenges to librarians, out of which issues related to technology stand out prominently. How can the library pave roads to curated digital content and make it easily accessible from any location? How does it remain relevant in the age of Google, sophisticated piracy and the open access movement? The chapter begins with an overview of IP-based and federated access technologies, touching on less-used methods as well. Personally-conducted interviews with library industry experts aim to determine current trends in order to provide a collective insight into future developments. These include the widespread migration towards cloud-based services, the global RA21 initiative, the open access movement, the need for better statistics, and new ways of content delivery, all of which affect libraries' demands for remote access in different ways.

Core Competencies and Innovation for Library and Information Science Professional in 21st Century Digital-Based Environments

Academic libraries and information technology centres are under serious threat due to the increasing pressure to achieve higher level of performance in a competitive global environment. Most of these challenges are as result of information communication technology (ICT) and digital revolution. This chapter discusses the impact of digital revolution on academic libraries and the need to acquire core competencies and new skills to effectively the 21st century academic libraries and information technology centres. Further, the author examines the sets of skills required by Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals to survive in the digital-based environments.

Usage of ICT Resources in Academic Libraries With Special Reference to Engineering Colleges

Academic libraries in India make use of ICT as tools to meet the information need of users who in this context are students and faculty staff. Academic libraries are established to support the objectives of their parent institutions which are to promote teaching, learning, and research. Therefore, academic libraries are expected to serve the students, lecturers, and other members of the academic community. To meet the information need of users, academic libraries provide various services such as user education (orientation/instruction services), inter-library loan/connection services, abstracting and indexing services, referral services, and circulation services. The finding of the respondents problems encountered while using ICT-based resources and services reveal the fact that, out of 732 respondents, 543 (74.18%) respondents stated too few computers with internet and 421 (57.51%) lack of subscription for more foreign journals for their main problems.