Saleem (2013) noted Computer has brought in a new impact to the library and information usage. ICTs have enabled library staff to provide quality and valuable information service by giving more remote access to the internationally available information resources. Recently highly sophisticated information technology has facilitated the storage of huge amounts of data or information in a very small space. Jayaprakash & Balasubramani, (2011) stated the University Libraries must increase the numbers of computer to enable the users to maximize the usage of ICT-based resources and services. Information and communications technologies are being used by libraries for book and serial acquisitions, classification and cataloguing, reference service, money transition, user orientation service, interlibrary loan, circulation service, electronic contents, document delivery service, e-mail and chat assistance, web 2.0 interactive sharing, photocopies services and bibliographic service. These opportunities not only allow libraries to deliver fast information to users but also promoting remote libraries. (Adeleke & Olorunsola, 2010).
A comprehensive study by (Ibianye 2012), (Ghuloum &Ahmed, 2011) shows the cost of maintenances costs of digital library is much lower than that of a traditional library especially with regards to space. Traditional libraries are expensive to maintain. Automated libraries on the other have minimum maintenance; the importance of ICTs is characterized by information services format change, contents and way of producing it, method of production and delivery of information products. The onset of internet has made changed on library profession role from intermediary to facilitator, modern tools for broadcasting information and change from physical to virtual services environment and disappearance of some conventional information services and emergence of modern and innovational web based. (Krubu &Osawaru, 2011).
A study by Okonand &Iogbodo (2014) observed that ICTs had benefited university libraries in the following ways;
i. Creation of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) which is the computerized form of the library catalogue .OPAC is easy to use, save space.
ii. Networking: this involves linking ICT enables libraries to network. Networking can either be local (LAN) or wide (WAN). This will enable libraries to access information.
iii. Resource Sharing: ICT has enhanced the creation of a central union catalogue which allows libraries to share their resources with other libraries.
iv. Institutional Repositories: This involves compilation of publications from scholars within the institution. These are academic theses, dissertations, conference CVs and any other publication. ICT has enabled other libraries to access the information.
v. Library Electronic Security system: ICT has enhanced library security through the use of Radio Frequency Identification Detector (RFID).
vi. Creation of a virtual library: ICT has promoted the establishment of a virtual library. A virtual is a library that exists without any physical space or location.
Parvez (2011) noted that owed to the automation, circulation is one of the most affected areas of library operations, it has help saved a lot of time for both users and library staff. Dzandu & Boateng (2014) noted that with the inception of web OPAC, users can now search information from anywhere at any time; users can also easily do the reservation of library sources and this has reduced the theft of library resources with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system. In the confirmation he pointed the respondents revealed OPAC has made library resources accessible from different angles. Additionally automation has enables easy access of information among the users, searching for materials within the library and from remote locations. Awoyemi (2012) in his study revealed that, the filling of slips for borrowed books were outdated; books are scanned during lending. (Boateng, 2014).
Osawaru & Krubu (2011) opines that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has brought exceptional change and transformation to university library and information services, digital library information systems (LIS) can be provided more efficiently and effectively by using ICTs, as they offer convenient time, place, cost effective, quicker and most-up-to-date dissemination and end users involvement .The impact of ICT on information characterized services by changes in format, contents and production method and delivery of information products. However with the emergence of internet information and knowledge has changed the role of library and information science professionals from intermediary to facilitator, by providing new tools for distribution of information. (Mishra, 2014)
Mutula (2012) presented the experiences and the lessons learned from the University of Botswana (UB) library automation project. He found that the automation has impacted many project hence increasing access to diversity of electronic resources, improved image of librarians, invention of new services, converting the library into a social learning environment, access to local content made possible through digitization, new skills acquisitions, remote access to library electronic resources from different sites.
2.7 Availability of ICTs Ttechnologies in the University Libraries
According to Akpan &Enyene (2014) the availability and utilization of ICT facilities is essentially to fast track the processes and to ensure that information resources consume the least period of time in library. It also provides effectiveness and efficiency in retrieval for the library clients. Anuobi & Edoka (2010) in their study of ICT availability for library operations in Imo State of Nigeria observed that only two of the academic libraries in the state show evidence of automation of library operations.
This supports Ajayi & Ekundayo (2009)’s observation that availability of ICT facilities has been a major problem facing many African countries with a ratio of 1:150 students against 1:15 students in developed countries, and there by hindered the availability of Local Area Networks which is an important requirement for resource sharing of among library users. Olatokun (2007) in his study asserted that the nature of ICT facilities affects its availability; user friendly, type of ICT facilities improves availability and increases its effective use.
Syed & Esmail(2013) in their study on assessment of the availability of ICT infrastructure has facilitate access e-resources among the engineering college libraries of North Maharashtra. They found that the libraries chosen to participate were having comp
uters with DVD/CD ROM reader and writer facilities. They also have library software, networking and Internet facilities for accessing e-resources Sivakumaren (2011) examined the ICT infrastructure facilities available, ICT based software implemented, and the e-resources available in the government and deemed university. Virtual libraries make it possible for automated books and journals to be available to an unlimited audience at the same period, anytime and at anyplace. This advancement requires that all operations of the library be computerized. Such activities include selection and acquisition, cataloguing and classification. This joined access system is essential for libraries to provide maximum library and information services to its users (Etebu, 2010).
Bappah,(2010) acknowledges that ICTs involves processing, maintenance of information, in all forms of computer, which include communication, networking and mobile technologies which can transfer information. Communication technologies include all media for audio transmissions, video, data or multimedia such as cable, satellite, fiber optics, wireless (radio, infra-red, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi). Networking technologies includes personal area networks (PAN), campus area network (CAN), intranets, extranets, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan area network (MANs) and the internet. A computer technology includes all removable media such as optical discs, disks, flash memories, multimedia projectors, interactive electronic boards, and continuously emerging state-of-the-art PCs. According to him, a mobile technology comprises of mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), palmtops, etc.
Furthermore, Krubu and Osawaru’s (2011) findings identified ICT resources and the use of the resources available at John Harris and Benson Idahosa University libraries were search engine, internet, CD-ROM, Online database, and World Wide Web. These resources were used for acquiring, storing, processing, retrieving, and disseminating information. ICT has enable university libraries in Nigerian to use the internet for search engines such as Yahoo, Google, e-mail etc. to access on-line digital resources such as Amazon, Wikipedia etc. Similarly Abubakar, (2010) in a study on availability and use of ICT in six Nigerian university library schools; notably identified that availability of computers, internet, CD-ROMS, e-mail, microfilm, microfiche, videotapes, and slide projectors as resources available and that they use the resources notably for education and training.