INFLUENCE OF UTILISATION OF NEW MEDIA ON INFORMATION SERVICE DELIVERY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the influence of utilisation of new media on information service delivery in university libraries in Taraba State, Nigeria. Two research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted correlational survey research design and the population comprised twenty four (24) librarians and sixteen (16) library officers, totaling forty (40) library personnel delivering various information services in Federal University, Wukari, Kwararrafa University, Wukari and Taraba State University, Jalingo. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics to answer the two research questions, while, inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test the formulated null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the study revealed that new media were underutilised in the studied university libraries, because, only World Wide Web, Search engines, Instant Messaging / Email, Facebook, Whatsapp and Short Message Service (SMS) were used for information service delivery. Furthermore, the null hypothesis tested revealed that there was positive relationship between utilisation of new media and information service delivery. The study recommended provision of digital devices such as smart phones, ipads, laptops and other facilities; increase use of new media and Internet bandwidth by providing more funds to the university libraries as this would go a long way in enhancing the use of new media for information service delivery in university libraries in Taraba State, Nigeria.