University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal) Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln 6-2012 Connectivity and Accessibility in Nigerian University Libraries: A Survey of Access, Usage, and Problems in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka E.D. Chigbu University of Nigeria - Nsukka C.L. Dim University of Nigeria - Nsukka Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Chigbu, E.D. and Dim, C.L., "Connectivity and Accessibility in Nigerian University Libraries: A Survey of Access, Usage, and Problems in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka" (2012). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 767. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/767 http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/ Library Philosophy and Practice 2012 ISSN 1522-0222 Connectivity and Accessibility in Nigerian University Libraries: A Survey of Access, Usage, and Problems in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka E.D. Chigbu Principal Librarian Nnamdi Azikiwe Library University of Nigeria, Nsukka C.L. Dim Librarian II Nnamdi Azikiwe Library University of Nigeria, Nsukka Introduction The Internet is a connection of computers around the world to share data and information. It started life in America in the 1960s. It was later popularized by the United States National Science Foundation (NSFNET), the first nationwide educational network linking universities and academic research establishments. In the 1990s the CERN laboratories of Switzerland and the European laboratory for practical physics jointly developed the most rapidly growing part of the Internet. This is known as World Wide Web (WWW). This allows graphics and even video to be moved across telephone lines, bringing about more possibilities to the Internet. The Internet brought about a free flow of information all over the globe. One could possibly get access to any kind of information on almost everything. There are educational services too. Universities are offering courses over the network. The world is now said to be a global village. In the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, because of the necessity of maintaining its relevance in the technology driven world, the administration established the institute of Management Information System (MIS) which mounted information Technology infrastructure and introduced a capacity building programme for the University. This opened the door for aggressive acquisition of computer literacy skills by staff and students of the university. The institute took a bolder step to internalize Internet services by laying optical cables all around the institution to boost wireless Internet reception and services in the University. By so doing Internet access is available to all faculties and departments, staff quarters and student hostels. This set the stage for the utilization of the global information superhighway by faculty and staff. This paper seek to survey the extent of Internet connectivity and usage by staff and students of this institution, vis a vis private connectivities available in and around the university campuses. The paper will also unravel what the subscribers do with the Internet access, and how it contribute to their academic activities. The study also seeks to find out the problems that may be hindering effective performance. It will also find out what the future holds for this paradigm shift. Research Questions 1. To what extent are members of faculty and staff in University of Nigeria, Nsukka connected to access the Internet? 2. How accessible is the Internet to members of faculty and staff in University of Nigeria, Nsukka? 3. What do Internet subscribers in University of Nigeria, Nsukka do with it? 4. What problems do members of faculty and staff in University of Nigeria, Nsukka encounter in using the Internet? 5. What is the prospect for continuous Internet access to faculty and staff in University of Nigeria, Nsukka? Literature Review Huchison and Sayer (2000) defined the Internet as the “worldwide publicly accessible network of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packed switching using the standard Internet protocol (IP)”. This network consist of millions of smaller domestic, academic, business and government networks which together carry various information and services such as electronic mail, online chat, file transfer and the interlink web pages and other documents of the world wide web. (Capron and Johnson, 2004). In agreement with Capron and Johnson Ayo (2001) noted that the Internet span the globe, connecting governments military, educational and commercial institutions and private individuals. He also added that this has reduced the whole world to a global village. The Internet is very useful by allowing users to access vast quantities of information and communication with every one around the world (Eyitayo, 2008). She adds that this has become the most popular way of locating and retrieving information. Because of its connection with information communication retrieval and conservation the Internet became a very useful tool in libraries. Eyitayo (2008) observed that it provides facilities and capabilities to browse through a list of subject headings to get an idea of what is available in other places through the network. Internet connectivity helps reference librarians to answer questions even on areas they do not have prior knowledge. Such information is usually very current and up to date. Igun (2005) has observed that academic institutions cannot do without Internet services especially in this era of information globalization, explosion and superhighway. Internet connectivity enhances teaching, studying, research, publishing and communication (Adomi, Omodeko and Otolo, 2004). Commenting on the importance of the Internet facility Ojo-Igbinoba (1997) as cited by Owolabi (2007) stated that Internet has become the market place for learning and online education. Stressing this point Ojedokun (2001) pointed out that Internet has broken down barriers of communication and information access from anywhere in the world. He maintained that the Internet allows users to have access to up- to-date research publications in the net. Researchers also use the Internet to visit the web sites of libraries to get current information in their various areas of research endevour. They gladly pay token for these services. Directly, the Internet helps libraries to source information easily in the areas of Acquisition, organization and dissemination of information. It also helps libraries on inter-library resource sharing. It provides links to remote information and resources around the world (Ibegwam, 2002). Such knowledge gained will be used in answering frequently asked questions by library users. The Internet also permits libraries to access bibliographic records of millions of books as well as the details of collections of academic works in libraries around the world. Connectivity to the Internet enables librarians to communicate with professional colleagues around the world, and to know what is where from Internet sites. There are many constraints that led to the poor Internet development in Africa. One of this is the initial capital outlay to install Internet facilities (Olabude, 2007). This is because almost all the African countries are experiencing huge debts and foreign exchange required to purchase the facilities are lacking. Many Sub-Saharan African Countries do not have National Policies for Information Technology (IT). As such there are no coordinated and enduring information communication technology development road maps to follow. In addition there is no efficient telecommunication and power supply base to serve as spring board for the development of Internet services in Africa. Hence, Internet services are not well developed in Africa. Where they are available the expensive nature of the services is another huge factor. Another problem that frustrate Internet services is that there are few reliable Internet Service Provider’s (ISP). The ones that are available suffer low bandwidth. This makes the Internet slow and frustrating. Many African libraries and individuals information sciences professionals lack IT skills and full potential for the development and utilization of Internet facilities and services. Access to the Internet in Nigeria is rather slow and connectivity is low. James Emejo (2009) has reported that about 70 percent of Nigeria’s Internet capacity has been disrupted following a reported damage of one of the landing cables of SAT3 submarine system. This incident has according to him caused “temporary setback” to the nation’s data market. This is the cause of the network outage being experienced by large number of Internet subscribers in the country (Emejo, 2009). Access to the Internet may be slow, but awareness of its importance is growing steadily. A study carried out by Ollor-Obari in 1999 at Enugu revealed only 20% awareness and usability of the Internet amongst the sampled population. In her study of students’ use of library in distance learning Mabawonku (2004) found that part time students were making use of electronic information through the Internet. In his study of students access, usage and awareness of electronic information resources in 2004, at the University College Hospital Ibadan Akande found out that 74.3% of his population were aware whereas only 25.7% were not (Akande, 2004). These revelations are pointing to a steady growth of awareness and usability of