Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Winter 2-10-2020
Document Type
Article
Citation
The authors are professional librarians currently working in Academic libraries in Benue state, Nigeria.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the influence of Copyright Act, 2004 on the provision of information resources in academic law libraries in North Central Nigeria. Three (3) objectives with corresponding resaerch questions guided the study while hypothesis was formulated. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study surveyed 303 respondents (comprising 13 staff (Law library staff} and 290 law students{500 level undergraduate law students). The sample was drawn across five(5) law libraries in universities in North Centra, Nigeria. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection for the study. Descriptive statistical tools such as tables, frequencies and percentages were employed for data presentation and analysis, while chi-square statistic was used for the test of hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that selected law libraries in universities in North Central Nigeria are aware of the provisions of the Copyright Act, 2004. Findings also revealed that the copyright Act 2004 has significant perceived influence on the provision of information services in selected academic law libraries in universities in North Central, Nigeria. However, findings indicated that, there is partial observance and enforcement of the provisions of the Act in the law libraries. This largely is as a result of some of the challenges identified during the cause of the study. These challenges as indicated by the study include: lack of proper organization of right owners in various aspects of intellectual property industry, lack of legal education on implication of intellectual property, lack of professional specialization in the practice of intellectual property, globalization and technology, dynamic nature of intellectual property, poor judicial sympathy and difficulty in negotiating licensing agreement for online databases. The study finally, made recommendations based on the findings.