Management of personal information by library and information science students for effective information retrieval in universities in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the management of personal information by Library and Information S science students for effective information retrieval in two universities in Rivers State. Six research questions guided the study and descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The sample size for of the study is 321 students of Department of Library and Information Science in the two selected universities in Rivers State. The instrument used for data collection is questionnaire. The data collected was organised, analysed and the results were presented in frequency, percentage and mean distribution tables. The findings revealed that, the types of personal information managed by the students are: information for assignment, information for research, information for term paper/seminar, lecture materials, entertainment information, religious information, and political information. The major methods of organising personal records/information are: subject by subject, labeling of the files, shelving the print information on my rack, creating individual folder for each information type, and creating directory for related folders. The major methods of preservation of personal information are dusting and cleaning of print information, digitalising of personal information, uploading of the files in online and cloud storage platform, binding related personal information together, covering the files with leather cover, and shelving the print personal information. The major challenges to the management of personal information are: inadequate skills, lack of awareness, lack of technology, erratic power supply, low Internet connectivity, lack of Internet access at home, and information overload. The study recommended among other things that students should endeavor to acquire adequate skills for managing their personal information, especially with emerging technologies.