AVAILABILITY AND EXTENT OF APPLICATION OF AUTOMATION FACILITIES FOR REFERENCE SERVICES IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Technologies in libraries are tools for improving and enhancing the efficiency of library services and resources. As new technologies evolve, library services are expected to change accordingly through acquisition and deployments for more efficient performance of tasks and activities including reference services. The paper examined the Availability and extent of application of library automation facilities for reference services in Federal university libraries in South-East Nigeria. A descriptive study design was adopted. A sample size of 137 librarians was used. A structured observation checklist and questionnaire were used for data collection. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze research question one, while mean scores were used for research question two. ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses, and Scheffe post-hoc test was conducted to identify the source of observed significant differences. The findings revealed that seven automation facilities were available in the libraries, whereas Electronic Resource Management System, Discovery Systems, and Bibliography databases were not available in majority of the libraries. The extent of application of automation to reference services were low in almost all areas including: email referencing services, mobile phone call reference services, AI chatbots in library websites, information literacy training / tutorials among others. Significant difference was observed in the extent of application of automation for reference services based on the generation of institutions, particularly between first and third generation, and second and third generation universities. 1^st and 2^nd generation of institutional libraries has higher application of automation facilities for reference services than the 3^rd generation. The study recommends that library automation facilities should be adequately provided by library management and librarians should increase the deployment of available reference tools for efficient reference service delivery in academic libraries in South East, Nigeria.