Assessment of the Management of Public Access Computers in Academic Libraries in Kaduna State, Nigeria BY ADAM, Usman Ahmed BSc. Lib &Info Tech. (Al-Azhar University, Cairo) MSc/EDUC/1604/11-12 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER DEGREE IN INFORMATION SCIENCE Department of Library and Information Science Faculty of education Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria September, 2015 I DECLARATION I declare that this thesis titled ―Assessment of the Management of Public Access Computers in Academic Libraries in Kaduna State, Nigeria.‖ was carried out by me in the Department of Library and Information Science. The information derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the text and a list of references provided. No part of this thesis was previously presented for another degree or diploma at this or any other institution. Usman Ahmed Adam ------------------------------- ------------------- Signature Date II CERTIFICATION This is to certify that this thesis entitled ―Assessment of the Management of Public Access Computers in Academic Libraries in Kaduna State, Nigeria.‖ by Usman Ahmed Adam meets the regulations governing the award of the degree of Masters in Information Science (MSc.) of Ahmadu Bello University, and is approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation. Prof. Umar Ibrahim Signature ------------------------------------ Chairman: Supervisory Committee Date ------------------------------------ Dr. Ezra Gbaje Signature ------------------------------------ Member: Supervisory Committee Date ------------------------------------ Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa Signature ------------------------------------ Head of Department Date ------------------------------------ Prof. A. Z. Hassan Signature ------------------------------------ Dean Postgraduate School Date ------------------------------------ III DEDICATION This research work is dedicated to Allah the Almighty for His divine knowledge and understanding, to my mother Hajiya Hashiya Ahmad for her support, encouragement and prayers, my late father Alhaji Ahmad Adam and my beloved Family. IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I wish to express my gratitude to Allah the Almighty who gave me the opportunity, courage and wisdom to successfully complete this programme. My profound gratitude and appreciation goes to my first supervisor Professor Umar Ibrahim who has been like a father to me. He took his time to guide me through every step of the work despite his tight teaching and administrative schedules. My second supervisor Dr. Ezra Gbaje has been a mentor to me. He guided, advised and encouraged me through every step of the work. My gratitude equally goes to Prof. Tijani Abubakar Dean Faculty of Education and Dr. Abdulahi Ibrahim the Head of Department Library and information Science for my academic success. My sincere gratitude goes to all my lecturers Prof. Zakari Mohammed, Dr. A. K. Momoh, Mrs. M. F. Mohammed, Dr. Baba S. Adiku, Dr. Abu Yusuf, Dr. Babangida Dangani, Mal. M.M. Hayatu, Dr. Lawal Umar, Dr. H. M Daudu (Mrs.), Mal. Aliyu Abdulkadir for their support, contribution and encouragement towards the successful completion of this study. I appreciate the management and staff of Kaduna State University for their support and prayers especially Mal. Shehu Suleiman, Jafar Muhammad Sani for taking time to go through the work. Mal. Mansur Nalado, Dauda Abdullahi, Jafar Sani, Abubkar Mustapha Jumare, Josua S. Magwai, Aminu Shuaibu, Muhammad Umar, Esther Gani (Mrs), Sunday Yarima, Salisu Tanko, AbubakarA bdurkareem, Diana Sayi, Aliyu M. Lawa, Dahiru Lawal, Ismail Adamu, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, Usman Mustapha, Sahabi M. Kabir, Rose Kpolas, Allahmagani Khali (Mrs.), Musa Ahmad, Rabi Bello, Rukayya Abdullahi, Zainab Sani, Mohmmad Umar, Suzan Doglas Zaki, Aliyu S. Muktar, Abduhadi Tanko, Lawal Bature, Miss Asabe Sarki and all other KASU library staff for their understanding, motivation, supportive prayers and encouragement. I am indeed grateful to have you as my colleagues in office. V I will like to acknowledge my indebtedness to my course mates both of MSc and MLS especially Aminu Musa Umar for immense contributions at every stage of this thesis. Abubakar Muhammed Kareto, Abdurrashid Abubakar, Hamza Ukashat, Aliyu Garba Karaye, Idris Dauda, Shuaibu Danbaba, Hafiz Umar and all postgraduate students of the department of library and information science, ABU, Zaria. You are highly appreciated. I also wish to express my deep gratitude to all well-wishers within the faculty and beyond for their moral support. This work might not be complete without registering my deep appreciation and gratitude to my mother Hajiya Hashiya Ahmad, my late father Alhaji Ahmad Adam, my wife Fatima Nuhu Danraka my lovely daughter Habiba Usman Ahmad, my beloved son Habib Usman Ahmad, my brothers Eng. Mohammad Sani Ahmad, late Alhaji Habibu Ahmad, Yusuf Ahmad, Umar Ahmad, Haruna Ahmad, my sisters Habiba Ahmad, Saadatu Ahmad, Maryam Ahmad and Khadija Ahmad. Finally, I thank all those I could not mention by name because of limited space. Please accept my sincere gratitude. VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page - - - - - - - - i Declaration - - - - - - - - ii Certification - - - - - - - - iii Dedication - - - - - - - - iv Acknowledgements - - - - - - - v Table of Contents - - - - - - - vi List of Tables - - - - - - - - xi List of Abbreviations - - - - - - xiii Abstract - - - - - - - - xv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study - - - - 1 Provision of PACs in Library - - - - 4 Managing PACs - - - - 6 1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - 7 1.3 Research Question - - - - - 8 1.4 Objectives of the Study - - - - - 9 1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - 9 1.6 Assumptions of the Study - - - - - 10 1.7 Scope of the Study - - - - - 10 1.8 Operational Definition of Terms - - - - 11 References - - - - - - - 12 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 15 2.2 The Concept of PACs- - - - - - 15 2.3 Emergence of PACs in Academic Libraries - - 17 VII 2.4 Types of Hardware and Software configured on PACs - 20 2.5 Uses of PACs in Academic Libraries - - - 21 2.6 Management of PACs in Academic Libraries - - 23 2.7 Skills and Competencies Necessary for Managing PACs - 25 The Summary of the Reviews - - - - 29 References - - - - - - - 31 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 35 3.2 Research Method Adopted for the Study - - - 35 3.3 Population of the Study - - - - - 36 3.4 Sample and Sampling Techniques - - - - 38 3.5 Instrument for Data Collection - - - - 38 3.5.1 Interview - - - - - - - 38 3.5.2 Observation - - - - - - - 39 3.6 Validation of the Instrument - - - - 39 3.7 Pilot Test - - - - - - - 40 3.8 Procedure for Collection - - - - 41 3.9 Procedure for Data Analysis - - - - 41 References - - - - - - - 42 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 44 4.2 Response Rate - - - - - - 44 4.3 Data Analysis and Discussion - - - - 47 4.3.1 Considerations in acquiring PACs - - - - 47 4.3.2 Purposes of providing PACs - - - - - 49 4.3.3 Types Hardware and software configured onPACs - - 52 4.3.4 Strategies deployed in maintaining PACs - - - 58 VIII 4.3.5 Level of Skills and Competences of Staff Managing PACs - 60 References - - - - - - - 71 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 5.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 72 5.2 Summary of the Study - - - - - 72 5.3 Summary of Findings - - - - 73 5.4 Conclusion - - - - - - - 74 5.5 Recommendations - - - - - - 75 5.5 Suggestion for Further Study - - - - 76 References - - - - - - - 77 Appendices - - - - - - - 84 IX List of Tables Table 3.1: Population of the Study Table 4.1: Response Rate Table 4.2: Distributions of Respondents by Designation according to their Units Table 4.3: Problems Encountered In the Management of PACs Table 4.4: Available PACsin Academic Libraries in Kaduna State Table 4.5: Other Computer Peripherals on PACs Table 4.6: Types of Educational Software Installed on PACs Table 4.7: Strategies deployed in Managing PACs Table 4.8: Educational Qualifications of Staff Managing PACs Table 4.9: Additional IT Qualifications of Staff Managing PACs Table 4.10: Years of Working on PACs or IT Related Table 4.11: Areas of Skillfulness of Staff Managing PACs X List of Figures Figure 4.1 Number of Maintenance Strategies deployed Figure 4.2 Years of Working on PACs or IT Related Areas XI List of Abbreviations ABU: - Ahmadu Bello University NDA: - Nigerian Defence Academy KASU: - Kaduna State university FCE: - Federal College of Education CE: - College of Education IKL: - Isah Kaita Library AYAL: - Ambassodeor Yahaya Aliyu Library PACs: - Public Access Computers LIS: - Library Integrated System OPAC: - Online Public Access Catalogue ALA: - American Libraries Association ICT: - Information and Communication Technology IT: - Information Technology LAN: - Local Area Network MSC: - Masters of Science NUC: - National University Commission PC: - Personal Computer TETFUND: - Tertiary Education Trust Fund UNESCO: - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization US: - United State RAM: - Random Access Memory CPU: - Central Processing Unit CD: - Compact Disk WAN: - Wide Area Network XII Abstract The study investigated the management of Public Access Computers (PACs) in academic libraries in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The Objectives of this study include among others identifying strategies deployed in managing Public Access Computers