Digitization of Information Resources in Public Libraries and Museums in South-East, Nigeria: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

This study examines the problems and prospects of digitization of information resources in public libraries and museums in South-East, Nigeria. Two research questions were formulated to guide the study and a survey research design was also used for the study. The population of the study consists of all the staff and users of public libraries and museums in South-East, Nigeria. A total sample size of 317 was selected using a simple random sampling technique. The researcher constructed two sets of questionnaire entitled “Problems and Prospects of Digitization of Information Resources in Public Libraries and Museums Questionnaire (PPDIRPLMQ) for data collection. The instrument for data collection was trial-tested for reliability. A total 317 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents and 293 were returned and found usable by the researcher. This gave a response rate of 92%. The data collected were analyzed using Mean (X) Standard Deviations and percentages to answer the research questions. Based on the data collected and analysed, the major findings of the study revealed some of the barriers to the digitization of information resources in public libraries and museums and also proffered some strategies in surmounting these challenges.

Keywords: Digitization, Information resources, Public libraries, Museums