Lecture 1

History and Functions of Library

 Brief History of Library.

 Library and Education.
 Functions of Library in Educational Institution.

Introduction

The word “Library” is derived from the Latin word “Liber”, meaning “book”. The Library is
primarily set up to acquire, organize, store and make accessible to users within the quickest
possible time all forms of information and information materials which they require.

Systematic acquisition, organization and dissemination of books not mere label, distinguish a
library from either a reading room or a bookshop. The specific purpose of any library is to
acquire, organize, preserve, and make recorded human knowledge available and accessible.

Definition of a Library

A Library is concerned with collection, processing, storage and dissemination of recorded

information for the purpose of reading, study and consultation.

Brief History of Library

The need for human being to transmit their thoughts and vision in an external medium to others
and preservation of culture which established libraries brought about WRITING. Writing could
be said to have started around 7000 years ago.

Various forms of writing materials: Cuneiform (clay tablets), papyrus, parchment or vellum,
stone, animal bones, tortoise shell, paper, and now digital equipment are forms of writing
materials.

History of library is categorized into three (3) eras, namely:

i. Ancient Era
ii. Medieval Era
iii. Modern Era

Ancient Era
Libraries have been in existence as far back as 6000 years. The beginning can be traced to the
Sumerians (an ancient Mesopotamian civilization). The Sumerians developed cuneiform to
record the activities of government, temple and business. The documents were used by the
community leaders who were the only literate members of the society. It was discovered that the
Babylonians waged war against the Sumerians, the Assyrians later conquered the Babylonians,
and still the trend continued thus influencing the spread of libraries among nations. Libraries
were later found in Egypt. Among the great noticeable libraries then are Aristotle Library in
Greece, Ulpian Library in Rome, and Alexandria Library in Egypt.

Medieval Era (5th – 15th Century)

Private libraries dominated the library scene. Christianity played a dominant role during this
era; hence libraries were usually in monasteries and cathedrals. To keep knowledge of the
scriptures alive, the priests, monks and bishops established libraries to keep and copy existing
documents. Also, Muslims were not left behind during the era.

Modern Era (Mid 14th – Part of 16th Century)

During this era, things were becoming more civilized. More private libraries and other libraries
were springing up. These two notable inventions in Europe also brought changes to the medium
and forms of writing:

i. Paper was invented in AD105 by Tsai Lun (a Chinese)

ii. Printing machine was invented by Johannes Gutenberg (a German Printer)

It was in this era that books were first arranged on the shelves at Vatican Library in Rome.

Library and Education

Education is a process of learning; and the art of acquiring knowledge and skills. It also involves
the process of teaching, training and learning especially in schools or colleges to improve
knowledge and develop skills. It starts from the cradle to the grave.

Types of Education

i. Formal, e.g. Schools with organized curriculum

ii. Non-formal, e.g. Vocational training
iii. Informal, e.g. Indigenous education

Education was pioneered in Nigeria by the Missionaries. During this period, the missionaries are
the group that dominated the educational system because they are the first set of people to be
literate. The period between 1940 and 1970 witnessed rapid educational development at all
levels where mass education programmes were embarked upon. More primary, secondary and
tertiary institutions with libraries were established.
Functions of Library

i. Libraries provide people with access to the information they need to work, play, learn and
govern.
 ii. Libraries serve as a relaxation center through the provision of newspapers, magazines,
and novels.

iii. It provides a place where researchers consult materials for research purposes.

iv. It provides an avenue where people can study for educational purposes.

v. Libraries preserve a valuable record of culture of a group of people that can be passed
down to succeeding generations.

vi. It creates an avenue for entertainments/ recreation.

Lecture 2

TYPES OF LIBRARIES

 Academic library
 Public Library
 National Library
 School Library
 Special/Research
 Private Library

1. Academic Library
Academic libraries are libraries of tertiary institutions like universities, polytechnics, colleges of
education and so on. Academic libraries are primarily established to provide literature support to
the programmes of their parent institutions. These libraries provides support for teaching and
research at the institutions.

University Library

University Library is a library established on university campuses to provide resources and

research support for students and faculty of the universities. Some university libraries, especially
those at public universities, are accessible to members of the general public in whole or in part.
However, students and staff are expected to register in order to enjoy the services and resources
of the university library.

2. Public Libraries
Public libraries are owned by State or Local Governments to cater for the information, education,
cultural, vocational and recreational needs of the public. They are funded with tax payer’s money
for the free and unrestricted provision of information materials to the general public.

3. National Library
The national library is library established by the government of a country to serve as the
repository of information. It is the apex library in a country. For example, the National Library of
Nigeria with its headquarters in Abuja has branches across the federation. It is not restricted to a
particular subject area, and its collection is general in nature and covers all fields of knowledge.

Functions of the National Library

i. Acquiring all publications made in the country on any subject by citizen or foreigners,
and all publications made about the country overseas.
ii. Serves as a depository for all publications and thus receives legal deposits on behalf of
the government.
iii. Responsible for the issuance of International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN).
iv. Compiling and publishing a comprehensive national bibliography.
v. Helps the country to know how many authors, title of books that are available in the
country.
4. The School Library
The School Library is set up in nursery, primary and secondary schools to cater for the teaching
and learning interest of pupils, students and their teachers. The school Library is run by a
professionally qualified school Librarian or teacher Librarian.

5. Special Library/ Research Library

Special library is also referred to as research library. The special library services the interest of
research institutions and people working in an organization with specify subject interest which is
usually narrow in scope. e.g IITA Library, NISER Library and CBN Library .

6. Private Library
These are libraries owned by individuals / groups / organizations who have decided to build their
personal / private collection for their information needs e.gObafemiAwolowo Library,Ikenne and
OlusegunObasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta both in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Note:The libraries are headed by a Librarian who has a professional qualification in the field of
Library and Information Science. Moreover, library heads are called by different terms such as
Library Director, Library Manager, Chief Librarian, Director of Library Services, College
Librarian, and Polytechnic Librarian depending on the type of library. However, the university
library is headed by a University Librarian.
Lecture 3

LIBRARY MATERIALS AND SERVICES (REFERENCE)

 Types of library materials

 Uses of library resources including e-learning, e-resources, e.t.c.
  Reference services

Library Materials

Library materials or resources are all kinds of human intellectual product that contain
information in print and non-print forms which are carefully selected, acquired, organized and
made accessible to users for the effective running of the library.

Types of Library Materials

Library materials can be grouped intotwo, namely: print materials and non-print materials.

Print materials: are those that have information printed on papers.

Print materials can be categorized into three (3), namely: books, reference materials and serials.

1. Books (fiction and non-fiction) are set of printed pages that are fastened together inside a
cover which can be turned and read page by page. Books can be divided into fiction and
non-fiction.

i. Fiction books are story books based on imaginary characters and events, and are
not based on people and facts. They are books on imaginary ideas or events.

ii. Non-fiction books: They contain information on subjects and disciplines. Such as
textbooks on various discipline i.e. writing that is about real people, places, things
and events.

2. Reference materials are specific kinds of publication that are planned and written to be
consulted for specific information. Examples are:encyclopaedia, dictionary, directory,
yearbook, biography, handbook, almanac, gazetteer, indexes and abstract e.t.c.

Characteristics of reference materials

i. The materials are meant for consultation mainly in the library.

ii. The materials are very expensive.
iii. The reference materials are not expected to be read from cover to cover.
iv. They are housed separately within the library.
v. The arrangement in most cases is alphabetical while for historical works, they are
arranged chronologically based on time of occurrence.
vi. They are rare books that must be handled with care.

3. Serials are publications that are issued out at regular or irregular intervals which are
intended to be continued indefinitely. They are acquired through subscriptions; they give
 first hand information and are more current than published books. Examples are; journals,
magazines, reports, newspapers, minutes of meeting among others.

Non-print materials: these are information materials that are not in printed form. They can be
divided into four (4), namely:

i. Audio materials: These are library materials that can be appreciated through the
auditory senses, such as phonodiscs, radiotapes or audiotapes and audio cassettes.

ii. Visual materials: These can only be appreciated through the visual senses, such as
maps, posters, photographs, charts, diagrams, microfiche, globese.t.c.

iii. Audio-visual materials: These are materials that can be appreciated through the
auditory and visual senses such as, sound film, television, videotapes, video
cassettes and video discs.

iv. Electronic resources: are the library resources that are being used electronically
with the aid of computers and other telecommunication system. Examples are
CD-ROM, Internet, OPACS, electronics books and electronic journals.

Reference Services

i. Current Awareness Service (CAS): this service makes available knowledge of what is
being done in specific fields of endeavour through documents (such as notes, abstracts,
clippings, email, Selective Dissemination of Information, and Database records) or orally
(such as face-to-face or telephone conversations). In order to keep library users, informed
about the latest additions, the following are displayed on regular basis :

 List of journals received – Daily;

 Recent additions of Books – Fortnightly;

 Announcement of information on national / international Conferences etc..;

 Newspaper Clippings, news : items of interest

ii. Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI): SDI is a personal Current Awareness

Service. It refers to a technique for directing new items of information, from whatever
source, to those individuals whose current interests in a particular subject are high, and
who may be able to take advantage of such information. It is based on a user interest
profile. It is rendered to the user through preferred medium which could be by emails,
phone calls, fax, and social media. This type of service is very common in special/
research libraries.
 iii. Library publication: It is usual for a library to issue out publication that will guide users
in the use of library facilities and resources e.g. library guide. This publication provides
detailed and accurate information about the library.

iv. Translation services: This is a service rendered to users who need translation of
information materials in a language he or she desires other than the original language in
which the materials were written. It is important to provide readers with the materials
requested in the language that readers can comprehend.

v. Referral services: This is a service in which a reader might be directed to another person,
sections in library or other library as an alternative source of information.

vi. Carrel services: It is when smaller rooms or cubicles that cannot take more than a person
are being provided in the library for researchers to keep them away from distractions. It
encourages independent study.

Lecture 4

UNDERSTANDING LIBRARY CATALOGUE AND CLASSIFICATION

 Definition of library catalogue.

 Forms of library catalogue (card, OPAC etc.)

 Classification Scheme.

Introduction

In the past lectures, we have learnt among other things what a library is; that there are different
types of libraries, which include the academic library, the special library, the private library, the
National library and the Public Library.

We learnt that whatever type of library we are referring to, it is a room or building or institution
where books and non-books (audio-visual) materials are carefully selected and acquired for the
purpose of study, research and recreation organized in such a way by professionals and non-
professionals so as to facilitate easy retrieval.

As the library materials are being organized by professionals and non-professionals to facilitate
easy retrieval, a record is being created which the users would consult to find out whether the
material they need is in the library, and if it is, how and where to locate the material, and this
record is called the Library Catalogue.

The Library Catalogue

The library catalogue is a register of all bibliographic items found in a particular library or group
of libraries. It is a comprehensive list of books, journals and non-book materials in a library
collection usually arranged by author / title or by subjects in alphabetical order.

Forms of Catalogue
i. Card Catalogue
ii. Book Catalogue
iii. Automated /On-line Catalogue (OPAC)

Card Catalogue:This is the most common type of catalogue found in the libraries, with the
entries for all materials in the library printed, typed or handwritten on cards (usually size 5*3
inches) and filed in trays or drawers which are housed in the card drawers by means of locking
rods.

The following items of information are recorded in almost any type of catalogue: Author of
document, Title of document, Edition, Place of publication, Publisher and Year of publication,
Pagination, Series statement, Notes, ISBN, Binding and Price, and the subject of the document.
The card catalogue was a familiar sight to library users for generations, but it is now being
effectively replaced by the online public access catalogue (OPAC).

Book Catalogue: In this catalogue, instead of each card having bibliographic information of a
book, several books can have their information on just one page of the book. This is the oldest
type of catalogue. It is used in small libraries.

Automated/On-line Catalogue: This is popularly known as Online Public Access Catalogue

(OPAC). It is the most recent form of catalogue. This is facilitated by the present state of
technology. This system allows the user to interact with the catalogue in an on-line mode thereby
accessing the library collection with the aid of a computer.

Objectives of Library Catalogue

The library catalogue serves as a guide to the book collection. This is a chief means of
discovering and locating materials in the library. Through the catalogues, one can know whether
the library has in its collections a particular book specified by its author and title, subject and
editor of a particular work.

Classification

Classification is simply the arrangement of books and non-book materials according to the areas
of knowledge. Since it is convenient and important that all books on a subject be kept together,
libraries have classification schemes as tools for achieving this goal.

There are many classification schemes; however, the most commonly used schemes are the
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and the Library of Congress (LC) classification schemes.
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Scheme: The scheme divides the whole of human
knowledge into ten main classes which are represented by Arabic numerals sequentially from
000-999 and each class is further sub-divided into divisions and sub-divisions. DDC is used
mainly by Research Libraries, Public Libraries, School Libraries and some others.

Library of Congress (LC) Classification Scheme: This classification scheme uses letters of the
alphabets combined with Arabic numerals. It groups the whole field of knowledge into 21 main
classes which are represented by capital letters A-Z singly used. Main classes are represented by
two capital letters while topics under the classes and divisions are developed by the use of Arabic
numerals sequentially from 1- 9999. LC is used mainly in Academic Libraries such as
University, Polytechnic and Colleges of Education libraries.

Some other classification schemes

i. Elizabeth Moy’s Classification Scheme (Law)

ii. National Library of Medicine Classification Scheme (Medicine)
iii. Bliss Classification Scheme
iv. Universal Decimal Classification Scheme (UDC)

Lecture 5

COPYRIGHT LAW AND ITS IMPLICATION IN NIGERIA

Copyright is a measure to check unauthorized copying and proliferation of creative works of

authors or artists. In layman language, copyright can be said to be the right granted by law to the
original owner of a work. i.e an author, artist, musician etc.

Copyright is abused by any person, group of people, or organisation who reproduce original
works of others for commercial or personal gains without due permission of the copyright owner.

This is the symbol used in copyright notice:©

Nigerian Copyright Law

Copyright in Nigeria is a statutorily granted right. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria (1999) has copyright on its exclusive legislative list. The Nigerian Act governing
copyright is the ‘The Copyright Act, CAP C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN 2004)’.

This Act gives creators and their assignees exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute and make
most other use of the original works. The Legal body known as ‘Nigerian Copyright
Commission’ is responsible for all matters relating to copyright. Copyright duration is between
the periods of fifty to hundred years depending on the type of work.

Consequence of Breaking Copyright Law

While there are many consequences of breaking copyright laws, the most common include
monetary fines, loss of property, loss of freedom, or loss of employment. In some countries
copyright infringement (the use of copyrighted material without permission or the right of
ownership) could carry the penalty of criminal and civil punishment if the copyright owner
should choose to file a claim and take the guilty party to court.

How to Get a Copyright

i. File application for a copyright on a work with the appropriate agency.

ii. Obtain the appropriate application form for the particular work or intellectual property to
be copyrighted.

iii. Pay the associated fee and submit a copy or copies of the work to the copyright agency.

Note:

It is important to note that in many countries, all intellectual property is protected under
copyright law from the moment it is created. Filing for copyright protection provides proof of
ownership and the required paperwork needed in the event that someone tries to steal an
intellectual or creative work. Given the relatively small amount of work needed to apply for a
copyright, if one is genuinely concerned that someone might copy his work, it might be a good
idea to get a copyright.

Lecture 6

BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATIONS AND REFERENCING

Introduction

Citation is a reference or footnote to a document which contains sufficient information to

identify and locate the work to which it refers. It usually takes the form of a Bibliographic
reference.

Bibliographic reference is the information necessary to identify a document. It normally

includes: author; title; place of publication, publisher, and date (in the case of a book); or author;
title; name of journal; volume/edition, page number(s), and date (in the case of an article).

Bibliographic referencing can therefore be defined as a full listing of all materials consulted in
relation to a research, study or write-up, including any source material not directly cited in the
text, placed at the end of the document.

Reasons for Citing Sources

 i. Citing sources is the paramount way to use other authors’ works without violating
copyright law.
ii. Citations allow readers to locate and further explore the sources you consulted, show the
depth and scope of your research, and give credit to authors for their intellectual work.
iii. Citations provide viable evidence for your arguments and add integrity to your work by
showing that you have sought out and considered a variety of resources.
iv. Citing sources gives your research, articles, presentation, conference paper, theses, and
dissertations a global acceptability and recognition.

Styles of Citation

The following three major styles are used in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and some scientific
disciplines:

i. APA Style (American Psychological Association), from the American Psychological

Association, often preferred in the fields of Psychology, and many other Social Sciences.

ii. MLA Style (Modern Language Association), from the Modern Language Association of
America, often preferred in the fields of Literature, Arts, Humanities and some other
disciplines.

iii. Chicago Style, from the University of Chicago Press, often preferred in History and
many other disciplines. (“Turabian” style derives from this and is very similar to it in
many ways).

Difference between Bibliography and Reference

Bibliography: A bibliography is any list of resources or materials at the end of the text, whether
cited or not but consulted. It includes additional text you read but not directly used in the course
of writing the text, it serves as additional background reading.

Reference: References usually come at the end of a study or write-up and research work. It
usually contains only those works or resources cited within the text.

Practical Examples (APA Style):

i. Book.
Author(s) – surname, initials. (Year). Title of book (Italicised). Edition. Place of
publication: Publisher.
 Oriogu, C. D. (2012). Information seeking behavior in 21st Century. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
 Okiy, R.B., Oriogu, C.D. and Semonde, F.D. (2013). Peace and conflicts
resolution in Nigeria. 4th ed. Ibadan: Longman.
ii. Work in edited book.
 Where a work from an edited collection is cited, references to both the individual work
and to the collection as a whole should be given.
Author(s) – surname, initials. (Year). Title of chapter. In: Editor(s) – surname, initials,
ed(s). Title of book (Italicised). Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
Examples
 Oriogu, C. D. (2013). Gender and library work: the limitations of dual labour
market theory. In: Redclift, N. and Sinclair, M.T., (Eds). Working women:
international perspectives on labour and ideology. London: Routledge.
iii. Edited book
Editor(s) – surname, initials, ed(s). (Year). Title of book (Italicised). Edition. Place of
publication: Publisher, (and pages where available).
 Redclift, N. & Sinclair, M. T. (Eds.). (1991). Working women: international
perspectives on labour and ideology. London: Routledge.
iv. Works in Conference proceedings, meetings and symposium
Author(s) – surname, initials. (Year). Title of the paper. In Editors (eds.) Title of
conference, location, date held (italicized) (page). Place of publication: Publisher.
Example (Print)

 Williams-Ilemobola, O. B. &Oluwatola, I. K. (2011). The impact of Newcastle

disease control on smallholder poultry production in Mauritius. In R. G. Alsers, P.
B. Spadbrow, & M. P. Young (Eds.), Village chickens, poverty alleviation and the
sustainable control of Newcastle disease: Proceedings of an international
conference held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 5-7 October 2005 (pp. 132-134).
Canberra, ACT: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Example (Online)
 Kift, S., & Nelson, K. (2005). Beyond curriculum reform: Embedding the
transition experience. In A. Brew & C. Asmar (Eds.), HERDSA 2005 Conference:
Higher Education in a Changing World: Research and Development in Higher
Education (pp. 225-235). Sydney, NSW: Higher Education Research and
Development Society of Australasia. Retrieved from
http://conference.herdsa.org.au/2005/pdf/refereed/paper_294.pdf
v. Academic Project/ Thesis/ Dissertation
Author – surname, initial. (Year). Title of thesis. Type of thesis. Institution, Location
Example
 Oriogu, C. D. (2018). An investigation into the mechanism of catalytic chain
transfer polymerization. (Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis). University of Ibadan,
Ibadan.
vi. Journal article
(Use for print journal and electronic reproductions of print)
 Author(s) – surname, initials. (Year). Title of article. Journal title (underlined/ italicized),
Volume (Issue number), Page number(s).
Examples
 Metcalfe, A., Diaz, V. & Wagoner, R. (2003). Academe, technology, society, and
the market: four frames of reference for copyright and fair use. International
Journal of Marketing, 3(2), 191-206.
 Adedokun, F.O., et al. (2012). Exotic plant species invade diversity hot spots: the
alien flora of northwestern Kenya.Nature, 23 (2), 169-176.

vii. Online journal article and other electronic resources

Last, F. M. (Year Published). Article title. Journal Name, Volume (Issue), pp. Page(s).
Retrieved Month Date, Year from URL.

Examples (with URL)

 Jacoby, W. G. (1994). Public attitudes toward government spending. American
Journal of Political Science, 38(2), 336-361. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from
http://www.jstor.org
Example (with Digital Object Identifier- DOI)
 Davis, E. (1932). New Chapters in American History. The Science News-
Letter, 22(605), 306-307. doi: 10.2307/3907973 .

Lecture 7
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Libraries 1

 Definition of ICT
 Components of ICT
 Computer
 Benefits of ICT in libraries

What is ICT?
ICT means Information and Communication Technology. ICT can be defined as the technologies
people use to share, distribute, and gather information and to communicate through computers
and computer networks.
It is an omnibus term that combines computer and telecommunication technology.It is the study
or business of developing and using technology to process information and aid communications.
Components of ICT

i. Computers
ii. Telecommunication technologies

Computer
Computer is a programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are: it
responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner and it can execute a
prerecorded list of instructions (a program).

Basically, according to Capron (2000), a computer is a machine that can be programmed to

accept data (input) and store it away (secondary storage device) for safekeeping or later for
reuse.

It can be divided into three parts: (1) hardware (2) software and (3) human ware. Without any of
these, the computer cannot perform its many operations. The equipment itself and the accessories
constitute the hardware – this is the physical part of the computer. The software is the set of
instructions that enable a computer performs all kinds of functions. Human beings that
manipulate both the hardware and software to serve the various purposes the computer do
constitute the human ware.

Components of a Computer

i. Input devices – translate data/ information which are recognized by human beings into a
form that can be processed by a computer. Examples: mouse, keyboard, scanner such as
Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Bar Code Readers (BCR) – the zebra stripped
marks used as serial numbers of items can be read by a computer through the BCR,
Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)- when pencil marks are converted into digital format
by the scanner.

ii. Central Processing Unit – the heart of the computer consisting of the RAM,
Arithmetic /Logic Unit (ALU) and the Control Unit. The ALU processes all arithmetic
operation and logical comparison of data held in computer’s immediate access store. The
Control Unit controls the ALU, immediate memory, input and output devices through a
master program called the Operating System (OS).

iii. Output devices – translate processed data into a form that human beings can interpret.
Examples are: Visual Display Unit (VDU) also known as screen or monitor, printers,
plotter, loudspeakers, etc.

iv. Secondary storage – also called external or ancillary stores. The Random Access
Memory (RAM) is the primary storage of the computer. The size of the RAM is usually
small, thus the need for secondary storage such as magnetic tapes, magnetic disks e.g.
the Digital Video/Versatile Disk (DVD), CD- ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory)
and floppy disk (diskette). Today, there are various secondary storage devices with
varying storage capacities and degree of portability, e.g. Flash disk, external memory
disk, memory cards and so on.

Some benefits of ICT in Library.

Librarians use ICTs to perform functions like:

i. Organization of information for use (cataloguing and classification, serials management).

ii. Acquisition and collection management.

iii. Circulation management (user registration, loans).

iv. Resource sharing / consortium building e.g Online Computer Library Catalog (OCLC).

v. Indexing and abstracting in order to improve information services to library users.

vi. Computer – processed information enhances certain library services and functions such
as Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI).

Lecture 8

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Libraries 2

 Computer

 Telecommunication Technology

 Definition of Terms

Information: This is processed data that is timely and accurate which is capable of dispelling
the ignorant state of an individual and necessary for decision making.

Communication: This can be defined as the transfer of information (message) from source to
receiver through a medium. Such as mouth, telephone lines, internet, radio and television.

Technology: This can be defined as the use of scientific tools (machines) to assist human being
in their day to day activities. Technology can be described as the act of replacing manual efforts
with equipments and machines.

Computers: This is an electronic device which accepts data, processes it and releases the results
in a useful form under the instruction of some stored programs.

Telecommunication System: Basically, telecommunication system has to do with the

electronic transmission of data of all kinds (text, graphics, sounds and video) over a variety of
different communication channels such as public telephone lines, private cables, microwave or
the satellite.

Information and Communication Technology: Information and Communication Technology

also known as ICT is the use of computers and other related technologies in processing
information and aiding communication.
Modulator/ Demodulator (Modem): this is a device commonly used in local and international
networks. It allows a computer to communicate with another over a standard telephone line by
converting the digital data from a computer into analogue signals and vice versa. It is actually a
piece of hardware that is plugged into the computer and telephone. Most computers usually have
a modem. These days, telephone line or SIM cards are built into the modem to enable computer-
telephone-computer communication over a network.

Note: Modulatormodulates digital signals to analogue signal while Demodulator demodulates

analogue to digital signals.

Internet

The Internet is the interconnectivity of computer systems over a network to communicate and
share resources. It is a collection of vast information sources of interlinked computer networks.

The World Wide Web (www or 3W) usually called the Web is the most important facility on
the Internet. It consists of a series of various computers that are linked to the Internet through the
use of Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Websites can be created on the Internet and they can
be accessed through a Browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera,
etc.). Each website has its Uniform Resource Locator (URL) otherwise known as the website
address. With a computer and an ISP (Internet Service Provider), the Internet can be accessed
and with a browser explored.

Web Addresses

This is another interesting aspect of the ICT that have impacted greatly on scholarship. The web
address is known as the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which is a specific character string
that constitutes a reference to a resource on the World Wide Web. It is divided into four (4)
major parts:

(1)Type of connection (2) domain name of computer (3) directory (4) file name

Example: http://www.uat.edu.ng/registry/admissionlist2013.html

In the above example, “http://” is the type of connection, “www.uat.edu.ng” is the domain
name, “registry” is the folder, and “admissionlist2013.html” is the file name.

Internet Search Engines and Search Strategies

The vast and diverse landscape of the Internet can be explored effectively through the use of
Internet search tools. Through the search tools information on the Internet can be found. There
are three categories of search tools, namely:
 i. Search engines
ii. Directory search.
iii. Meta engine

Search engines – they are specialized programmes that assist users to locate information on the
web. They enable a user to find the contents of millions of web pages simultaneously once the
appropriate search terms or key words are used. The results of a search on the search engine
called “Hits” could be up to several millions since it retrieves all the documents that match the
subject term or keywords typed into the space (Search box) provided on the search engine. Many
search engines use Basic search and Advanced search tools. Popular search engines include;
Google, Infoseek, Lycos, Ask.com, Yahoo, Bing, Answers.com, etc.

Directory Search Engine – also known as index search is the search programme that produces
a directory or list of categories of topics such as finance, health, news, universities, etc. It is a
compilation of human-reviewed websites, which are arranged in topical classes. It assists in
browsing many sites on a topic. The directories could be general but are usually arranged by
subject groups. E.g. BOTW, YAHOO, DMOZ, etc.

Meta Search Engines- they are programmes that automatically submit your search request to
several search engines simultaneously. They receive the results, eliminate duplicates, orders the
list and provide the edited list to you. e.g. Dogpile, Metacrawler, Metasearch, PolyMeta,
Mamma, Yippy, Pandia.

Search Strategies

The following steps should be taken while using an Internet search engine:

i. Prepare – analyze your query, identify key concepts (key words) and any otheruseful
information e.g. “Labour laws in Nigeria”. How would you analyze this into its concepts
for effective search? The keywords here are: Labour (labor); Laws (regulations, rules,
legal, statutes, …); Nigeria

ii. Select Boolean operators to connect search terms. E.g. AND, OR, NOT

iii. Identify phrases e.g. “to err is human”. This kind of phrase cannot be broken into
keywords and reorganized to get results e. g. “human errors”

iv. Organize complex search statements using parenthesis.

v. Refine your search in case you are not satisfied with the result of the first try.

vi. Meta search to safe time.

Evaluating Your Search Results

Not every result of search is authentic – therefore, always check for the following:

i. Authority – who writes the article or owns the material?

ii. Currency – when last was the page updated?
iii. Accuracy – is the information reliable and error –free?
iv. Objectivity – is it free of bias and sentiments?
v. Coverage – what is the scope of the resources?

Application of ICT in Library

i. Library Automation: This is the computerization of library activities. It is the
application of ICT in library. Areas of automation are Reference management software
such as Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote, Connotea, etc; Library management software, also
called Integrated Library Systems (ILS) e.g.: GLAS, ALICE for Windows, INMAGIC
DB TEXTWORK, TINLIB, KOHA, etc.

ii. CD – ROM technology This perform the same function as external search service only
that it is less complicated because it does not require communication links. The databases
are stored in a digital optical medium called Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-
ROM). They have a high storage capacity of typical CD-ROM can store the equivalent of
250,000 pages of text. The CD-ROM can be used to store a variety of things including
music, directories, books, periodicals, computer applications, etc. internet connectivity is
not needed here.
iii. Internet applications: E – Mails , Mailing lists e.g. listserves

iv. OPAC- Online Public Access Catalogue This is an example of locally stored databases.
Many libraries now have their catalogues online as OPAC through which users within
and outside an institution can access the library catalogue without entering the library.
This can be accessed through title, author or subject.
v. Blogging: a blog is a user-oriented website where entries are made in journal style and
displayed in a reverse chronological order (the most recent post appears first).Blogs have
developed from simply online journals to sophisticated content management systems that
can be used as a platform for learning.Library and information professionals may enjoy
the benefits of blogs for a variety of purposes. Those include publication records, annual
progress report of the library, messages to the new college and university students, and
many other messages, purposes, and audience. E.g. www.abuaderesources.blogspot.com
vi. Social media (Tweeter, Facebook , YouTube, ResearchGate, MyScienceWork)
vii. Google scholar,OpenCourseWare resources, E-learning
viii. Digital Libraries:Digital library or an electronic library is a library in which
collections are stored in electronic mediaformats (as opposed to print, microform, or
other media) and accessible via computers. The electronic content may be stored locally,
or accessed remotely via computer network. It is a large collection of information sources
in various media—coupled with the advantages of digital technologies. In fact, the
resources of a digital library or e-library are largely databases in various media and
formats. These may include: journal databases, e-books, institutional repositories,
pictures, and lots of other materials. Some databases in academic and professional arenas
are:

AGRICOLA (agriculture & related sciences); NTIS (engineering, science & social
sciences);
MEDLINE; EBSCO-HOST; Science Direct; CINAHL (Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied
Health); Communication & Mass Media Complete; Directory of Open Access Journals;
DynaMed; JSTOR; LexisNexis Academic; Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA).
Lecture 9

STUDY SKILLS

 Introduction
 Methods of study skills
 Study Skills to Accelerate Your Learning

Study skills are approaches applied to learning which could be any skill that boosts a person's
ability to study and pass exams. They could include time management and motivational
techniques.

Methods of study skills

 Methods based on memorization

 Methods based on communication skills e.g. reading and listening
 Methods based on signals
 Methods based on condensing information, summarizing and the use of keywords
 Methods based on visual imagery
 Methods based on acronyms and mnemonics
 Methods based on time management, organization and lifestyle changes

Methods based on memorization e.g. rehearsal and cram learning

One of the most basic approaches to learning any information is simply to repeat it by cramming.
Typically this will include reading over notes or textbook and re-writing notes.
Methods based on communication skills e.g. reading and listening

The weakness with rote learning is that it implies a passive reading or listening style. Educators
such as John Dewey have argued that students need to learn critical thinking - questioning and
weighing up evidence as they learn. This can be done during lectures or when reading books.
There are a variety of studies from different colleges world-wide that show peer-communication
can help increase better study habits tremendously.

Methods based on signals e.g. flashcard training

Flash Cards are visual signals on cards. These have numerous uses in teaching and learning, but
can be used for revision. Students often make their own flash cards, or more detailed index
cards - cards designed for filing, often A5 size, on which short summaries are written.

Methods based on condensing information, summarizing and the use of keywords

Summary methods vary depending on the topic, but most involve condensing the large amount
of information from a course or book into shorter notes. Often these notes are then condensed
further into key facts.

Methods based on visual imagery

Some learners are thought to have a visual learning style, and will benefit greatly from taking
information from their studies which is often heavily verbal and using visual techniques to help
simplify and retain it in memory. Some memory techniques make use of visual memory, for
example a system of visualizing key information in real physical locations e.g. around a room.

Methods based on acronyms and mnemonics

A mnemonic is a method of organizing and memorizing information. Some use a simple phrase
or fact as a trigger for a longer list of information. For example, the points of the compass can be
recalled in the correct order with the phrase "Never Eat Shredded Wheat". Starting with North,
the first letter of each word relates to a compass point in clockwise order round a compass.

Methods based on time management, organization and lifestyle changes

Often, improvements to the effectiveness of study may be achieved through changes to things
unrelated to the study material itself, such as time-management, boosting motivation and
avoiding procrastination, and in improvements to sleep and diet.Time management in study
sessions aims to ensure that activities that achieve the greatest benefit are given the greatest
focus. A traffic lights system is a simple way of identifying the importance of information,
highlighting or underlining information in colours:
  Green: topics to be studied first; important and also simple
 Yellow: topics to be studied next; important but time-consuming
 Red: lowest priority; complex and not vital.

This reminds students to start with the things which will provide the quickest benefit, while 'red'
topics are only dealt with if time allows.

STUDY SKILLS TO ACCELERATE YOUR LEARNING

Here are the 5 study skills that are found to be the most effective:

Study Skill 1: Elaborative interrogation (Asking “Why”)

A great way to learn is to ask yourself questions. Little kids know things intuitively, as they run
around asking “Why, why, why?” A great deal of research has proven that the kids are on to
something. Getting students to answer questions, such as “Why is this fact true?” aids learning.

Study Skill 2: Self-Explanation

The idea behind self-explanation as a reading strategy is to pause from reading your textbook
periodically and explain to yourself what it means to you. You can do this after a section of text,
or when studying an example problem. When trying to self-explain, you may find that you need
to look back over parts of the text to fully understand what’s being said.

Study Skill 3: Practice testing

The main idea behind practice testing is that testing yourself improveslearning. Tests are not just
for evaluation anymore. Testing improves learning by exercising memory retrieval. When you
answer a test question, you have to actively search your long-term memory. Doing so creates
more and better pathways to the answer. This makes the answer easier to find the next time
around. Practice testing is easy to do. You can make flash cards or answer questions from your
textbook.

Study Skill 4: Distributed Practice

You will really do better to space your studying out over the time you have. Do a little at a time
over several study sessions. That’s the idea behind distributed practice. One reason distributed
practice aids learning is that you have to re-start your memory for the topic during each study
session. Once your memory for the topic is warmed up and moving, doing more is fairly easy.

Study Skill 5: Interleaved Practice

When studying subjects like math, you need to learn a few different kinds of formulas. For
example, you learn one equation to compute the area of a circle. You learn another to figure out
the perimeter. The idea behind interleaved practice is that you are better off mixing some area
problems with some perimeter problems when you study.

The reason this works is that you need to learn a bit more than/on how to apply each formula.
You also need to learn when to use one formula and when to use another. When you see a new
problem, you first have to figure out what kind of problem it is. By interleaving the problems
during your study sessions, you give yourself practice at telling the problems apart.

Notes:

These five study skills all appear to work quite well. The study skills are far more
complementary than competing. In any case, they can readily work together.

Bibliography/ References

Aina, L. O. (2004). Library and information science text for Africa. Ibadan:

http://www.quantum3.co.za/CI%20Glossary.htm

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

http://en.wikipedia.org/

Recommended textbooks:

A. Use of library: essential manual for beginners by A. B. Ahmed

B. Use of library: transition from traditional to modernity by Christopher O. Ukpebor