Digitisation of Information Resources in Academic Libraries in Bayelsa State: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

The paper investigated the digitisation of information resources in academic libraries in Bayelsa State. The study was carried out in the libraries of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Federal University Otuoke (FUO), University of Africa Toru-Orua (UOA) and Bayelsa Medical University Yenagoa (BMU), all in Bayelsa State. The population and sample of this study comprised 40 academic librarians in the libraries of the above-mentioned institutions. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Five objectives and five research questions were set for the study; a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. To analyse the data, the following descriptive statistical measures were employed: frequency table, simple percentage and a 4-point Likert-type scale. A criterion mean of 2.5 and above was accepted as a positive response; 2.4 and below was rejected. This paper establishes that there are challenges militating against the digitisation of information materials in academic libraries, such as poor funding of digitisation projects, inadequate staff capacity to manage the process of digitisation, intellectual property rights, infrastructure to support the digitisation process, and users’ dependence solely on traditional library resources, among others. Prospects to address these challenges include increased funding of the library budget, staff skill development in the management of digital libraries, copyright that should exclude digitisation practices by librarians, inclusion of digitisation sections when planning for library buildings, and library user education that should include skills needed for the use of digital libraries, among others. The study concluded that digitisation will enable university libraries to preserve endangered library resources, improve the efficiency of information search mechanisms and enhance access to library resources.