Innovative information services delivered in Nigeria's polytechnic libraries: comparing the assessments of librarians, faculty and students

Abstract

The call for libraries to imbibe the culture of creativity and innovation in service delivery has been on the front burner especially in Nigerian academic libraries. The study investigates innovative information services available and delivered in ten selected polytechnic libraries in South-west Nigeria through the assessment by librarians, faculty members and students. Using a structured and validated questionnaire and descriptive survey research design, a population of 29675 comprising librarians who were totally enumerated as well as faculty and students who were stratified based on six states of south-west and a proportionate to size sample of 5% was drawn. A total 1,383 (85%) of the 1,630 questionnaires sent were successfully recovered and used for the study. The study revealed a moderate assessment of availability (mean= 2.52) and delivery (mean=2.67) of innovative information services by librarians. Faculty members also assessed the availability (mean= 2.81) and delivery (mean= 2.82) of innovative services as also moderate, while the students evaluated the information services available (mean=2.49) and delivered (mean=2.43) as low. The assessments indicated that innovative information services were not really available and delivered; the services made available and delivered failed to satisfy user’s needs. The study recommends that Innovative services should emanate out the needs to satisfy users; Institutional facilities and library infrastructure should be improved. Investment in staff development, especially for the librarians should be instituted while staff, including the faculty should attend trainings, conferences and workshop to re-skill and re-tool adequately.