ICT and Transformation of Nigerian Libraries in Enhancing Educational Development in Academic Institions: Challenges and Solutions.

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of Information and Communication Technology in transforming Library services and enhancing educational development of higher education in Nigeria. The role of Information and Communication Technology over the manual traditional role of Library services in the 21^st Century has been analysed for which Librarians have been identified as being responsible for providing information resources for the development of education in Nigeria. The paper stresses the need to guide students in higher education on using ICT resources for knowledge advancement and National educational development through reading, learning, teaching and research. The paper identifies funding, inadequate material resources, poor and substandard infrastructure, absence of teaching and research facilities, inadequate training of staff, inadequate ICT facilities, low bandwidth, inadequate power supply, lack of review in the educational curriculum as some of the challenges. The paper concludes by recommending actions that need be taken for the survival of higher education in Nigeria. These include regular power supply, sending staff on training, adequate monitoring, provision of ICT infrastructure and resources, provision of sufficient funds, provision of bandwidth as well as regular review of the educational curriculum. With these the education sector can have effective performance as well as political stability that are essential for any meaningful Library services for higher education in Nigeria.