Librarians’ Knowledge and Use of Web Applications for Effective Services in Academic Libraries in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper aims at assessing what librarians in academic libraries in Anambra state know about web applications and how they utilise them Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study which involved 120 librarians and library staff in four academic libraries. Four research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The two instruments used were validated by two senior lecturers in the Department of Library and Information Science and one expert in measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the WAKT (Web Application Knowledge Test) was calculated using the Kudder-Richarchson K-20 formula with reliability coefficient of 0.98; while Cronbach Alpha was used to calculated the reliability coefficient of WAUQ (Web Applications Use Questionnaire) with coefficient 0.75, 0.82, 0.84 for section A, B, C respectively. Percentages, frequencies and mean ratings were used to answer the research questions. T-test was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The major findings of the study included among others, that librarians from state institutions understood more the meaning of web applications than their counterparts in federal institutions, while the librarians from federal institutions understood more of the use process of web applications. However, the aggregate average of all the librarians is above the pass mark of 50%, but the average use of web applications in rendering library services, online delivery of tutorials is low. No significant difference was found in the mean achievement scores of librarians in federal and state institutions on their level of knowledge of web applications. The study recommended that it should be made a point of duty to conduct orientations at least annually for librarians on how helpful web applications can support their duties and tasks, research and academic work.