NOUN Journal of Library & Information Technology (NJLIT)

This study examined information literacy and lifelong learning support in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) environment, with particular focus on the NOUN Benin Study Centre Library. A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was adopted for the study. The population consisted of 1,800 registered library users at the NOUN Benin Study Centre, while data were collected from 81 respondents using a structured questionnaire distributed through online platforms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that the library significantly enhances students' information literacy through targeted initiatives through orientation programs, user education for effective searching, access to electronic databases for research skills, and librarian assistance in evaluating and citing sources. The study also revealed that the library supports lifelong learning through the provision of diverse learning resources and opportunities for self-directed learning. However, challenges such as erratic power supply, poor internet connectivity, inadequate digital skills, and insufficient training opportunities were identified as major barriers affecting effective utilisation of library services. The study further revealed that regular information literacy workshops, improved digital infrastructure, online tutorials and stronger collaboration between librarians and lecturers would enhance students’ information literacy competencies and lifelong learning. The study concludes that the NOUN Benin Study Centre Library plays a significant role in promoting information literacy and lifelong learning within the ODL environment. The study recommends improved technological infrastructure, continuous digital literacy training, and enhanced instructional support services to strengthen students’ lifelong learning capabilities.

This study examined Green ICT practices for environmental sustainability among library staff in selected libraries within Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria, in the context of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). Four objectives guided the study: to examine the level of awareness, accessibility, utilization, and challenges associated with Green ICT practices among library staff. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 138 library staff members from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Kaduna Study Centre Library, the Kaduna State University (KASU) Library, the National Library of Nigeria, Kaduna Branch, and the Kaduna Polytechnic Library. A total enumeration technique was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Of the 138 questionnaires distributed, 124 were duly completed and returned, representing an 89.9% response rate. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, mean (x̄), and standard deviation (SD). The findings revealed a high level of awareness of Green ICT practices among library staff (x̄ = 3.53, SD = 1.34). However, the accessibility (x̄ = 2.85, SD = 1.39) and utilization (x̄ = 3.34, SD = 1.44) of Green ICT tools and practices were only moderate. The study further revealed that lack of training, inadequate ICT infrastructure, insufficient funding, and limited institutional awareness and support were the major challenges affecting the implementation of Green ICT practices (x̄ = 4.36, SD = 0.97). The study concludes that although library staff demonstrate a high level of awareness of Green ICT practices, the accessibility and utilization of these practices remain moderate due to infrastructural, financial, and capacity-related constraints. The study recommends increased investment in Green ICT infrastructure, regular staff training, improved accessibility to Green ICT facilities, and stronger institutional support to enhance the adoption of Green ICT practices and promote environmental sustainability in libraries.

The study investigated the digital preservation strategies for long-term accessibility of the collections in academic libraries in North-central, Nigeria. Three research objectives guided the study. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study was 400 librarians in university libraries in North-central, Nigeria. The sample size of the study stood at 136. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to stratify the university into Federal, State and Private universities. Questionnaire and observation checklist served as instruments for data collection. The data collected for this study was analysed with the use of descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistical tools in form of percentages, frequency, mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. The findings of the study revealed among others that storage media used to preserve digital collections in academic libraries in North-central, Nigeria was high with the highest mean score of 3.13 on the library use computers in the preservation of digital collections. In conclusion, the study shed light on the digital preservation strategies employed by university libraries in North-central, Nigeria, and offers valuable insights for ensuring long-term access to digital collections. The study made recommendation based on the findings which include: the management of university libraries in North-central, Nigeria should provide adequate digital collections such as e-newspapers, research data, e-seminar papers, e-theses and dissertations and e-magazines in order to enhance access to digital resources by users timely and remotely. This increases the library’s reach and supports research and learning, allocate adequate funding for digital preservation initiatives and provide regular monitoring and evaluation of digital preservation strategies necessary to ensure their effectiveness.

Digital transformation is reshaping higher education through the integration of emerging technologies into teaching and learning processes. In Library and Information Science (LIS) education, gamified learning management systems such as Moodle are increasingly recognised for enhancing student engagement and active learning. However, adoption in Nigeria remains constrained by inadequate infrastructure, limited digital competencies, and insufficient evidence on students’ readiness and intention to adopt such systems. This study examined the readiness, willingness, and intention of LIS students in Federal Universities in North Central Nigeria to adopt gamified Moodle and investigated the relationship between readiness and intention. A quantitative descriptive survey design was adopted with a population of 639 final-year LIS students. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample size of 246 was selected, while 152 valid responses were retrieved, representing a 61.8% response rate. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analysed with descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation in SPSS. Findings revealed high readiness and willingness to adopt gamified Moodle, alongside a strong intention to use the platform. Perceived usefulness emerged as a major determinant of adoption, while digital skills, infrastructure, and training significantly influenced behavioural intention. A strong positive relationship was found between readiness and intention (r = 0.620, p < 0.001). The study concludes that successful adoption depends on strengthened institutional support, improved digital infrastructure, and enhanced digital competencies, and recommends continuous capacity building and increased investment in digital infrastructure for sustainable integration in LIS education.

This study examined librarians’ adoption of emerging technologies in the Digital Library of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), within the broader context of increasing digital transformation in academic libraries. A descriptive survey design was employed, with data collected from a total population of 62 professional librarians using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The study investigated the level of adoption of emerging technologies and the challenges associated with their implementation. Findings revealed a moderate to high level of adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, cloud computing, institutional repositories, and integrated library management systems. Librarians demonstrated confidence in using digital tools and expressed strong support for technological innovation in library operations. These technologies have contributed to improved service delivery, enhanced access to information resources, and increased operational efficiency within the digital library. Despite these positive outcomes, the study identified several significant challenges hindering effective adoption. Key constraints include inadequate ICT infrastructure, insufficient funding, lack of adequate training, resistance to change among some staff, and concerns related to cybersecurity. These barriers limit the full integration and sustainability of emerging technologies in the NOUN Digital Library. The study concludes that while emerging technologies are progressively transforming digital librarianship in NOUN, addressing infrastructural, financial, and human capacity challenges is essential to maximize their potential and ensure sustainable digital library services.

This study examines the influence of career mobility and professional identity on job satisfaction among librarians in Nigerian universities, focusing on the North-East region. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a target population of 305 professional librarians in federal and state university libraries. The total enumeration sampling technique was employed, and data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistic (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistic(regression analysis) were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that career mobility, while recognized as crucial for professional growth, is hindered by insufficient support for advancement, limited professional development opportunities, and lack of clear career pathways. Professional identity was found to be positively related to job satisfaction, with librarians identifying strongly with their role and seeing their work as vital to institutional success. However, pride in being a librarian was generally low, and librarians expressed dissatisfaction with their work environment, particularly concerning salary, promotion opportunities, and job security. Statistical tests confirmed significant relationships between career mobility and job satisfaction (r = 0.427, p < 0.05), and professional identity and job satisfaction (r = 0.391, p < 0.05). The study recommends that Nigerian universities should strengthen career development through regular training, fair promotions, and mentorship while enhancing librarians' professional identity by recognizing their contributions, encouraging collaboration, and supporting the adoption of new technologies.

This study examined the cognitive factors influencing digital information evaluation competency among undergraduate students of Library and Information Science (LIS) at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The research employed a descriptive survey design with a population of 1,080 undergraduate LIS students. Through multistage sampling, 285 students were selected across all academic levels. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.87. The results revealed that the majority of respondents (58.2%) demonstrated moderate digital information evaluation competency (X̅= 3.32, SD = 0.68). Critical thinking skills showed a significant positive correlation with competency (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), as did cognitive load management (r = 0.52, p < 0.01) and metacognitive awareness (r = 0.69, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that these three cognitive factors collectively explained 56% of the variance in digital information evaluation competency (R² = 0.56, F(3, 269) = 59.87, p < 0.001). The study concludes that metacognitive awareness appears to be the strongest predictor of competency. These findings may have implications for curriculum design in LIS education and highlight the potential importance of integrating cognitive skills training into information literacy instruction. It is recommended that LIS Department should integrate metacognitive instruction across LIS curricula, model expert thinking processes, and invest in faculty development for effective information literacy pedagogy.

The study examined climate change knowledge and the adoption of green practices forsustainability among academic libraries in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Adopting adescriptive survey design of a correlational type, the study employed total enumerationsampling, yielding 165 valid responses from librarians across universities, polytechnics, andcolleges of education in the FCT. Data were collected through a structured questionnaireadministered both online (via Google Forms) and in person. Findings revealed that while e-resource adoption (86.1%), natural ventilation (81.8%), and energy-efficient lighting (71.5%)were widely implemented, capital-intensive measures such as rainwater harvesting (29.7%)and solar-powered devices (35.2%) remained largely unadopted. Library personneldemonstrated a high level of climate change knowledge (aggregate mean = 3.23 on a four-point scale), with the strongest scores in energy conservation (M = 3.44) and greenhouse gasawareness (M = 3.41), and comparatively lower scores in knowledge of environmental policies(M = 2.98). The primary barriers to green practice adoption were inadequate funding (M =3.44), unstable power supply (M = 3.41), and insufficient technology availability (M = 3.29).Pearson correlation analysis confirmed a statistically significant moderate positiverelationship between climate change knowledge and green practice adoption (r = .360, p =.002, r² = .130), indicating that knowledge accounts for approximately 13% of the variance ingreen practice adoption. The null hypothesis was rejected. These findings indicate the need fortargeted climate literacy programmes, formal sustainability policies, and institutional resourceallocation to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice in Nigerian academic libraries.

Abstract
This study examines information service provision and user satisfaction in selected medical libraries in Sokoto State. Specifically, the study made an effort to know the type of information needs of medical researchers, the frequency with which researchers seek for information and the challenges faced by the researchers using the library. The study adopted survey research approach and the data was collected using structured questionnaire that was administered to ninety seven (97) respondents from the three selected medical libraries in Sokoto State using simple random sampling. The Findings of the study revealed that majority of the researchers frequent used the library at least once a week majorly for research, and their information needs ranges from educational to occupational need. It also revealed that users are being served with information services such as lending, reference, photocopying while subscription to some related database services are not available to library patrons. However, majority of the library users show significant level of satisfaction rendered by the library. In addition, the findings of the study recommended that: the management of the selected medical libraries should ensure that they provide ICT related database services to users among others.

Abstract
Research productivity remains a major indicator of academic performance, professional relevance, and scholarly contribution within higher education institutions. Academic librarians, as members of the academic community, are increasingly expected to contribute to knowledge production through active participation in research and publication activities. However, research engagement among librarians is influenced not only by institutional factors but also by psychological and interpersonal competencies such as emotional intelligence. This study examined emotional intelligence as a determinant of research productivity among academic librarians in federal university libraries in North-Central Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey and correlational research design. The population comprised 130 academic librarians in federal university libraries within the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, while 119 valid responses were used for the analysis. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire designed to measure emotional intelligence competencies, particularly self-awareness, empathy, and social skills. Descriptive statistics comprising mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research objectives, while Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC) was employed to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and research productivity. The findings revealed that academic librarians possessed a high level of emotional intelligence and demonstrated a relatively high level of research productivity. The study further established that self-awareness, empathy, and social skills exerted positive influence on research productivity. In addition, a strong positive relationship was found between emotional intelligence and research productivity among academic librarians (r = 0.721, p < 0.05). The study concludes that emotional intelligence is a significant psychological factor that enhances librarians’ research engagement, collaboration, and scholarly productivity. The study recommends regular emotional intelligence development programmes, mentorship initiatives, and supportive institutional research policies aimed at improving research productivity among academic librarians.

Abstract
The rapid expansion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has transformed access to information, education, and public services, yet the digital divide continues to limit equitable participation in the digital society, particularly in developing countries. Public libraries have consequently evolved beyond their traditional role as repositories of information to become community-based digital learning centres that promote digital inclusion through access to technology, digital literacy, and lifelong learning opportunities. Despite this expanded mandate, there remains limited documentation of practical ICT and digital inclusion initiatives implemented by Nigerian public libraries. This paper addresses this gap by documenting the Kano State Library's experience in promoting digital inclusion between 2017 and 2023. The study adopted a qualitative practice-based case study design based on documentary evidences and reflective professional observation. Data were obtained from annual reports, departmental files, programme reports, administrative records, policy documents, committee reports, photographs, media publications, and other institutional records, complemented by the author's direct involvement in the planning, implementation, supervision, and evaluation of the initiatives. The data were analysed using reflective thematic presentation and interpreted through the lens of Digital Inclusion Theory. The findings indicate that the Kano State Library implemented a comprehensive digital inclusion strategy centred on four interrelated dimensions: expanding access to ICT infrastructure and Internet services, improving affordability through free digital services, strengthening users' digital competencies through structured ICT training programmes, and promoting meaningful use of digital technologies for education, online learning, computer-based test preparation, and community engagement. The paper concludes that public libraries possess significant potential to reduce digital exclusion when supported by sustained investment in ICT infrastructure, digital literacy programmes, strategic partnerships, and enabling government policies. The study contributes practical evidence on the evolving role of public libraries in advancing digital inclusion and provides lessons for policymakers, library administrators, and information professionals seeking to strengthen community-based digital services in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Nigerian polytechnic libraries face increasing pressure to preserve electronic records and improve administrative efficiency amid infrastructural and human capacity constraints. This study investigates the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) using PRISMA methodology in addressing these challenges. Guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, a qualitative systematic literature review was conducted on 18 studies published between 2019 and 2025. Findings reveal that AI applications, such as AI-RAMS for automated classification, NLP-powered metadata tagging, predictive preservation, robotic process automation (RPA), and AI chatbots, enhance retrieval speed, reduce errors, and strengthen record security. Despite these benefits, barriers including unstable infrastructure, low AI literacy, policy gaps, and ethical concerns persist. A context-sensitive implementation framework was proposed, emphasizing national policy development, capacity building, pilot projects, infrastructure modernization, and ethical oversight. The study provides practical guidance for Nigerian polytechnics to adopt AI-driven electronic records management, ensuring sustainable, efficient, and secure library operations.

Abstract
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) play a critical role in supporting vulnerable individuals, particularly in conflict-affected environments where access to healthcare and structured information systems is limited. In Maiduguri, Borno State, many female caregivers residing in micro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) settlements face significant challenges in accessing reliable information required for effective caregiving.
This study examined the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of caregivers in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised caregivers attending selected Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) sites within micro IDP settlements in Maiduguri. Over 1000 households were targeted, of which only lactating mothers visiting the OTP were purposively sampled for the study, thus comprising 185 caregivers. With the help of two research assistants, data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations. The findings revealed that caregivers primarily needed information on disease management (28.1%), medication use (20.5%), hygiene and sanitation (16.2%), nutrition and feeding (14.6%), and access to healthcare services (11.9%). Health professionals (78.0%), community members/peers (70.3%) and radio (64.9%) were the most available and frequently consulted information sources. The study further showed that caregivers' information-seeking behaviour was largely situational and driven by immediate caregiving needs rather than routine information seeking. The study concluded that caregivers in Maiduguri have predominantly health-related information needs and exhibit a situational, need-driven information-seeking behaviour. Their reliance on health professionals, community networks, and radio underscores the importance of accessible and trusted information sources in conflict-affected settings. The study recommends strengthening caregiver education programmes, community health information networks, and accessible health communication channels to improve information access and caregiving outcomes.