Digital information resource collaboration among academic libraries of federal universities in northwest Nigeria: challenges

Abstract

This study examined the challenges to digital information resource collaboration among academic libraries in federal universities in Northwest Nigeria through a survey. One first generation university was selected (Ahmadu Bello University), and two second generation universities (Usmanu Danfodiyyo University, Sokoto and Bayero University Kano) for the study.
Quantitative methodology and survey design was used to collect primary data from the respondents in the university libraries studied. Data was collected from a total population of 67 respondents using self-develop questionnaire and analysed using frequency count and percentage.The study revealed that challenges to digital information resources collaboration among academic libraries in universities in Northwest Nigeria are funding, lack of will by the academic libraries to explore digital information resource collaboration as option to address shortage of information resources for library users, absence of implementable digital information resource collaboration policy among the academic libraries and non-cooperative attitude of academic libraries. The following recommendations were made: that academic libraries management in universities in Northwest Nigeria should initiate quick process to forming a common implementable digital information resources collaboration policy that will promote understanding and cooperation; there is need for digital information resources collaboration in science, soft and hard skill, health, research, education, technology and there is need to foster professional network and funding for sustainable digital information resources collaboration project among academic libraries in universities in Northwest Nigeria