Interrogating the Role of Libraries in the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic: The Nigerian Perspective

Authors

  • Ganiyu Ojo Adigun Olusegun Oke Library/LODLC E-Library, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State
  • Omorodion Okuonghae Head E-Library Services, Samuel Adegboyega Univeristy, Ogwa, Edo State.
  • Philomina Abieyuwa Mamudu Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, Ibadan
  • Idris Suleiman Ibrahim Babangida Library, Adamawa University of Technology, Yola.
  • Ramatu Abdulrasheed Haliru Arewa House Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Keywords:

Coronavirus, Libraries, Global Pandemic, COVID-19, Library Services, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the role of libraries in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Six research objectives were raised to guide the conduct of the study. The survey type of the descriptive research design was employed. The population of the study comprised of 139 selected librarians in Nigeria. The complete enumerative sampling technique was adopted to study the entire 139 librarians. The instrument for data collection was an online survey questionnaire designed by the researchers using SurveyMonkey and administered to the respondents via the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) WhatsApp group and the NLA Google group. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that among the services delivered by Nigerian libraries amidst the global pandemic are COVID-19 awareness and sensitization creation, provision of digital contents to patron, organizing online streaming programs and connecting patrons/citizens to accurate and reliable data on COVID-19 cases around the world. The study further revealed that these services are delivered frequently despite the low level of Nigerian libraries’ preparedness for global pandemic. The study concluded that, Nigerian libraries, through their services, are potent weapon for promoting positive change, development, orientation and re-orientation in the society. By creating COVID-19 awareness/sensitization (especially in rural areas), libraries are able to contribute significantly in the fight against pandemic.

URL: http://ijkcdt.net/xml/26786/26786.pdf

Author Biography

Omorodion Okuonghae, Head E-Library Services, Samuel Adegboyega Univeristy, Ogwa, Edo State.

Okuonghae Omorodion is currently the System Librarian and Head, E-Library Services at Samuel Adegboyega University Library, Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria. He holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Library and Information Science from Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State. He holds the prize (2013) for being the overall best graduating student in Library and Information Science. Omorodion is highly passionate about Librarianship, Emerging technologies in libraries, information science and scholarly communication. He has considerable number of publications in both reputable local and International journals. He is a member of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) and a certified librarian of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN).

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Published

2020-12-31

How to Cite

Adigun, G. O., Okuonghae, O., Mamudu, P. A., Suleiman, I., & Haliru, R. A. (2020). Interrogating the Role of Libraries in the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic: The Nigerian Perspective. International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology, 10(4). Retrieved from https://ijkcdt.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijkcdt/article/view/335

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2020)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology

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