Library Science

This study discussed issues relevant to the peer review in the science social system. A background discussion was used to identify the significant clamor of biases in peer review. This was identified as the basis of most author and reviewers conflicts during peer review, however, exposition on the purpose of blinding during peer review was provided. This is to avoid decisions based on sentiment as result of connections between reviewer(s) and author(s).

The basic function of the academic library is to assist and support the study and teaching that goes on in the academic institution. The developing countries need to provide various services in the college libraries in order to sustain the development. The major aim of comparative research is to identify similarities and differences between social entities. Comparative research seeks to compare and contrast nations, cultures, societies, and institutions. The data was collected from Patna College, Patna and Science College, Patna. Both the libraries have shortage of professional manpower, physical space & amenities. Even though Patna College, Patna has its own library building, space is not sufficient for the users. There is no provision of separate library building in Science College, Patna. Both the libraries should provide ergonomic reading area for their users. The budget of both the libraries is not adequate. From the above survey it also found that, with the limited resources available, both the libraries are providing traditional service to the good extent, but lacking in use of information and communication technologies, only circulation and catalogue are automated. There are no e-resources like e-books, e-journals, online databases available to the users of these libraries.

This study explored implications of self-publishing activities to the process of acquisition in Nigerian university libraries. Survey method was employed using questionnaire as an instrument for data collection. A random sampling technique was adopted; seven respondents (Collection Development Librarians) were drawn from each of the six geo-political zones of the federation. The collected data was analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics which involved tables and simple percentages. The study showed that absence of multi-dimensional approach to marketing and promotion, poor editorial and operational errors and informal payment process accounted for low patronage of self-published materials by Nigerian university libraries. Therefore, there is need for further training in self-publishing for Author-Publishers, while CDLs should create the needed synergy by engaging the faculty and forming a consortium for acquisition of self-published books

The study aims to investigate projects submitted by graduating students to the College of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria using citation analysis. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. A total of 406 copies of undergraduate projects submitted between 2015 –2017 to the College of Engineering of the institution were retrieved. Data were extracted manually from the title pages and reference lists of each of the project examined and analyzed. The findings show that from 12,741 citations made in all the projects submitted for the 7 programmes run in the College of Engineering, information materials mostly cited by students is journals followed by books and seminar/conference proceeding. The average number of citation per project is 31.38. The students cited more of recent materials, and more of foreign authors compared to that of Nigerians authors. The research provides an opportunity for the library in building their collection towards the area that will meet the needs of engineering students since the analysis shows the preferred formats of resources accessed by the students in their discipline. It was recommended that the supervisor should put more efforts in guiding the students attached to them on how to reference and carry out proper citations of materials consulted.

Knowledge Management is now becoming popular in Education field due to need to disclose the intellectual power available in institution for sharing experiences. It has great potential and should have equal and even greater significance for education sector. Knowledge builds on knowledge and past events helps in generating new knowledge. The main source of generation of knowledge is human efforts which are developed through conducting good educational activities, research activities and generating innovative concepts in the area of interest. All knowledge generating organizations like industries, R and D centers, and higher education academics from colleges to universities are in search of new concepts in their subject of interest and also contribute to knowledge through various means. They are considered as “Knowledge Houses” where knowledge flows from teachers to students and new knowledge is created. Though developed countries has already started knowledge management practices in educational and research institutes still many developing countries yet to start practicing this. In this paper the author discussed the present status of knowledge management in education sector in India, Initiatives taken by various government bodies, importance of knowledge management in education sector especially traditional colleges and universities, strategies used to capture students, teachers and processes knowledge and suggested knowledge management process for higher educational institute in India.

This research work investigated the relationship between awareness and usage patterns of electronic information resources among undergraduate students of Ekiti State University, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population was made up of undergraduate students in the faculties of the social sciences and engineering in Ekiti state university, Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaire designed to elicit response from respondents and analysed using descriptive statistics method of frequency count and percentages. However, out of four hundred (400) copies of questionnaire administered to the students three hundred and fifty (350) were returned which represents 87.5% response rate for the study. Findings revealed that there is low awareness of some e-resources such as CD-ROM databases and OPAC among the respondents which could possibly influence their usage of e-resources. The study concluded that e-resources are widely used in the surveyed university, and that awareness about e-resources could possibly lead to increased usage. Good internet connectivity will go a long way to further encourage users to use the e-resources for which the university library has subscribed. However, it was recommended that subscriptions to e-resources should reflect the priorities and preferences of users as well as increasing the level of awareness of the availability of new e-resources and additions of new databases for users of the library among other recommendations.

The focus of this research work was to investigate the influence of awareness and technological issues on the sustenance of institutional repositories (IRs) in three state universities in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population was made up of librarians and lecturers from Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, and Osun State University Osogbo. Data were collected using questionnaire designed to elicit response from respondents and analysed using descriptive statistics method of frequency counts and percentages. However, out of three hundred (300) copies of questionnaire administered to the respondents two hundred and forty three (243) were returned which represents 81% response rate for the study. Findings revealed that there is generally low level of awareness of the existence of institutional repositories among the respondents which could possibly inhibit its sustenance in the long run. In addition, technological challenges such as poor ICTs facilities and telecommunication infrastructure among other issues are factors militating against the sustenance of institutional repositories in Nigeria. However, the study concluded that university management and library stakeholders should mount awareness programmes and advocacy emphasising the benefits of IRs. It was recommended that for universities in Nigeria to keep pace with their counterparts across the globe, there is need to improve on the resources allocation to libraries by the university management to fast track IRs implementation and sustenance among other recommendations.

The study investigates the effect of Staff Socio-Mobility skills on Library Staff Productivity in seven Academic Libraries in South West, Nigeria. The focus of the study is to identify socio-mobility skills of staff, determine the effect of staff socio-mobility skills on staff productivity in these libraries. The sample population consisted of 150 librarians, and a descriptive survey was adopted for the study with the questionnaire used as the main instrument of data collection. However, a total number of 113 copies of the questionnaire were returned, thus giving a response rate of 75%. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that library resources management has positive effect on their productivity. Librarians at Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAB) have higher productivity than those in each of the other academic libraries. In order to determine the effect of socio-mobility skills on library staff productivity, an hypothesis was formulated and tested and it shows there is no significant effect of staff socio-mobility skills on staff productivity in the selected academic libraries. The study concluded that library staff should be encouraged to attend seminars, trainings, and workshops in order to improve their socio-mobility skills, and librarians should ensure they publish regularly in learned journals to enhance their productivity.

This study developed a new framework for evaluating the impact of an article/author/journal. The importance of research evaluation is identified. The inadequacies of the methodologies presently used to evaluate impact of published research are also identified. A normalized impact factor which is a citation based metric tool is developed. The frequencies of citation of a reference within an article were used to determine the imaginary and the real impacts of the cited reference. The development of the normalized impact factor is based on the opinion that not all citations made in an article should count in the computation of the impact of a publication.

Indigenous knowledge is otherwise known as African science and knowledge. It was conceived, born, processed, disseminated but preserved through natural inheritance from succeeding generations without written document. This study was done to discover the various indigenous knowledge jobs available, the employment status, the challenges they encounter and suggest what government can do to help. Out of four hundred and fifty (450) copies of questionnaire that were distributed, four hundred and eighteen (418) copies (92.9%) were returned with usable responses, while thirty two (32) copies (7.1%) were not returned. Descriptive statistical method was applied for the study, Questionnaire, and observations were the research instruments used for data gathering. Data were analysed using the use of frequency counts and percentages method. Findings revealed that indigenous knowledge is the pivot of Nigerian economy. If indigenous knowledge is better funded by the three tiers of Nigerian government, it is capable of reducing unemployment syndrome that besieged the country. The various levels of government should intensify efforts to improve the adult literacy programme, public orientation and enlightenment, accreditation of indigenous knowledge practitioners, grant interest free loans and establish more indigenous knowledge skill acquisition centres nationwide.