Effects of Computer File Management Competence and Use on Information Service Delivery by Librarians in University Libraries in South-East Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

This study determined the effect of Computer File Management Competence and Use on Service Delivery by Liberians in University Libraries in South East Zone of Nigeria. The study was guided by two objectives, one research question and one null-hypothesis which was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population was all the 189 Liberians working in government owned University Libraries in South East Zone of Nigeria. This includes nine (9) University Libraries as follows: the Anambra State University Uli (ASU), Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Ebonyi State University Abakiliki (ESUA), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and Imo State University Owerri (IMSU). Others were Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Nnamdi Azikwe University Awka, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUA). Since the population of the librarians in these Universities was manageable (189), there was no sampling. The research instrument adopted was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using: frequency counts, percentage, means, standard deviation, for research question and ANOVA. The following findings were made: the librarian’s competence in File Management as well as its use has a significant effect on their service delivery. However, it was recommended among others that the University Library Managements in the South- East zone of Nigeria should continue to update the File Management competence of the librarians by exposing them to more lectures, Seminars and workshops that will lay more emphasis on File Management competence and how to apply this competence to library functions like cataloguing and classification, serials management, collection management, circulation management, referencing, indexing and abstracting in order to improve information services to library users. The study concludes that Librarian’s competence in File Management has a significant effect on their service delivery.