Information seeking behaviours of users in the enhancements of Information Communication Technology in the Nigerian University environment

Abstract

The exposure of users account for how they seek information and this is what has  prompted this study. This paper investigated the information seeking behaviours of  users in the enhancement of information communication technology in the Nigerian  university environment. The quantitative approach method was used and  questionnaire administered to two hundred (200) students randomly selected from  the four (4) Nigerian universities in the South-Western part of Nigeria. The data   gathered from the questionnaire was analysed using the frequency count, simple  percentage, t-test for independent sample mean and pearson moment correlation. The result reveals that male information seeking behaviours in the use of library has a greater significant influence than the female. Also, significant relationship exists in the usefulness and effectiveness of ICT by users in the academic library. More so, the result shows that postgraduate students were more frequent in the use of ICT  resources than the undergraduates. Furthermore, the result indicates that   information seeking behaviours is of great challenge when using ICT to get  materials in the library. Recommendations were then made that there is absolute   need to introduced digital catalogue to the academic libraries. When the libraries are automated, library users can have access to information sources available in that  library. There is also need to upgrade facilities in the academic library especially as regards electronic information infrastructure and resources to meet the needs and expectations of the new age users. Finally, courses on the use of internet and virtual libraries should be design in a way to instruct the students or library users on how to make use of the available technologies in accessing and meeting up with their   information needs through information communication technology (ICT).

Keywords: Information, Seeking, Behaviour, Users, Communication, Technology, Nigerian, University, Environment.