CAN THE INTERNET BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR A LIBRARY? PREFERRED CHOICE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SEARCH TOOL IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

OMONIYI, Joseph Olusegun, PhD, ADEWARA, Janet Oluseyi, ABDULRAHEEM, Jamiu Wankasi

Abstract

This study is a response to the question about whether, or not, the Internet is a substitute for a Library. 1998 respondents from the Departments of English, Arabic and Library Science were selected from two Nigerian Universities. The researchers-designed questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents. Simple frequency counts, percentage distribution and t-test statistic were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that respondents had access to both the library and internet as information search tools; respondents possessed required skills to utilize the search tools; nevertheless, respondents faced more barriers using the internet than using the library. The study recommended that both the Internet and Library should be placed on equal pedestal as information search tools, and users should see the two tools as complementing each other; rather than perceiving and wont to use the Internet as a substitute for a Library, users with deficient skills to operate the computer should be made to undergo remedial or refresher training in the application of computer to information search processes.