Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Article
Citation
Olaopa, Stephen Olufemi, ''Information Literacy Skills, Alternative Format Availability and Information Sources Utilization by Visually Impaired Secondary School Students in South-West, Nigeria'' (2017). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)
Abstract
Provision and utilization information resources of various types are important in every educational setting to sustain learning activities. The study investigated factors affecting information resources utilization such as information literacy skills and availability of alternative format by visually impaired students in South-West. Descriptive survey design was adopted and the study population consisted of 164 visually impaired students in eight secondary schools selected for the study. Total enumeration sampling technique was adopted for this study. The questionnaire tagged ‘Visually Impaired Persons Questionnaire (VIPQ) was the instrument used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics for the four research questions and five research hypotheses were tested using Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regressions, respectively. The questionnaire was pre-tested and reliability coefficient of 0.71, 0.75 and 0.81 was found for information literacy skills of the visually impaired, alternative formats availability and utilization of information resources, respectively. Braille books [84 (52.2%)] and large print books/serial [69 (43.3%)] were the readily available alternative format of information to students with visual impairment. Books [116 (73%)] and internet sources [62 (39.0%)] constitute the most frequently used information resources. The result showed relationship that information literacy skills of persons with visual impairment have significant relationship with information resources utilization in the selected libraries (r = 0.248**; p < 0.05); alternative format availability has relationship with the with information resources utilization (r = 0.068; p<0.01). The study recommended among others, provision of information resources in alternative formats for persons with visual impairment in school libraries coupled with incorporation of information literacy skills into their curriculum for the visually impaired students so as to ensure long-life learning and utilization of information resources.