Knowledge and Use of Web 2.0 by Librarians in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Web 2.0 is a new concept that represents change in the ways that the Web can be used to search for, contribute to and share information. Web 2.0 is facilitated by such Web tools and services as Chats, Blogs, Wikis, RSS feeds and social network sites. Web 2.0 also provides opportunities and challenges for libraries and librarians in their mission to provide information services to their clienteles, and many librarians in developed countries and some in developing ones are already harnessing its potentials for library and information service delivery. This paper surveys the knowledge and use of Web 2.0 by librarians in Anambra State, in South-East Nigeria. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 57 librarians, representing 78.1 per cent of the librarians who were sampled. Findings show low knowledge and use of Web 2.0 tools by the librarians, which could be attributed partly to the absence or inadequate Internet connectivity in most of the libraries and library schools from where the librarians were sampled. The findings highlight the need for these institutions to address the current inadequate Internet connectivity situation, as well as the for librarians themselves to explore and use Web-based innovations for information service delivery and management in their constituencies. They should also lobby and spearhead efforts to develop and improve the Internet connectivity facilities in their work places.