Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

 

Date of this Version

Summer 2-5-2018

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which funding, communication and marketing predict library service delivery to Persons With Hearing Impairment, PWHI, in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. Two states were randomly selected from each of North-Central, North-West, South-South and South-West geo-political zones. They are the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Niger State, Kaduna State, Kebbi State, Edo State, Delta State, Oyo State and Ondo State respectively. FCT was considered a state in the study because, it has a standard facility for the research. One school of the deaf with standard library was randomly selected from each of the eight states. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, being the only higher institution for special students in Nigeria, and also to select one public library from each of the eight states. Moreover, random sampling technique was used to select one academic library from each of the eight states. Finally, purposive sampling technique was used to select one each of central market, church, mosque in the states capital so as to interview the public PWHI. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to select 687 respondents comprising 218 senior class two students, 148 NCE III students of FCE (Special) Oyo, who made use of PWHI resources in the college library, 8 school of the deaf librarians, 13 FCE (Special) librarians, 97 academic librarians, 48 public librarians and 168 pubic PWHI. Three instruments were used: Library Service Delivery to Students with Hearing Impairment Questionnaire (x=0.84) (Students), Library Service Delivery to People with Hearing Impairment Questionnaire (x=0.81) (librarians) and Interview Checklist (x=0.69) (Public PWHI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation and multiple regression.

Funding, (r=0.231), and marketing (r=0.141) had a significant positive correlation with service delivery to PWHI. Only communication had a significant negative correlation (r=-0.034). Library funding in respect of information resources acquisition for PWHI was inadequate (=1.64), high level of communication barrier was found between the PWHI and the library (=3.45), poor marketing of library to PWHI existed (=1.55) and service delivery to PWHI was generally on the average (=2.61). It could be recommended based of these findings that deaf experts/interpreters should be employed in all Nigerian libraries, library staff should be regularly trained on how to serve PWHI, advocacy towards the use of Library by PWHI should be enhanced, librarians should regularly market their services to PWHI and modern PWHI communication equipments should be provided in all categories of libraries.

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