Attitudes of Librarians in Selected Nigerian Universities toward the Use of ICT

Authors

Paul Adesola Adekunle, National Open University, NigeriaFollow
Rosnold Ogie Omoba, Redeemers University Library, Ogun State, NigeriaFollow
Adeyinka Tella, University of BotswanaFollow

Date of this Version

December 2007

Abstract

This study uses a descriptive survey to study the attitude of selected librarians in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, toward information communication technology (ICT). The population includes 41 librarians in four institutions. Data were collected using an instrument adapted from the Igberia and Chakrabarti (1990) Computer Anxiety and Attitude Towards Microcomputer Utilization (CAATMU) scale, and the librarian attitude questionnaire developed by Ramzan (2004). Two research questions were developed to guide the study. The results show that librarians have a positive attitude toward ICT and that training and knowledge are the sine qua non for a positive attitude. The fear of ICT that some librarians in Africa demonstrate is widening the digital divide. Librarians in Africa are called upon to rise to the challenges posed by ICT and to help bridge the digital gap.