Deploying innovative strategies to library and information services in response to Covid-19 pandemic in universities

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: This paper examined the innovative strategies deployed by academic libraries swift measures to cushion the effects on users during COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to identify innovative library services embraced by university libraries in foremost university libraries in the world. Design/methodology/approach: Using the purposive sampling method, libraries of ten foremost universities in the world were chosen for this study. The library websites of the selected universities were visited and explored to obtain explicit information in their response to the pandemic. Data was analysed qualitatively using content analysis. Findings: Findings revealed that, academic libraries of foremost institutions in the world responded to the pandemic through a modification of physical access to library services with little or no physical contact. Also, the study found that, the services by academic libraries provided ranged from conversion of print resources to soft copies, deployment of personalized library services to provision of online library services and resources. Originality: This study provides insight into best practices taken by academic libraries of highly ranked universities in the world, in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of this study are that, it focused on only ten purposively selected universities, therefore generalization of result should be done with caution. Also, the study considered only academic libraries. Practical implications: The findings provide insight for library and information science (LIS) professionals on sensitive approaches to information service delivery beyond what suffice for day-to-day library services in times of disaster such as COVID-19 pandemic.

Information Overload and Students’ Attitude Towards Plagiarism in Three Theological Institutions in South-West Nigeria

Oladejo, Oluwatosin Olutayo, Alonge, Ayodele John, Oyewole, Olawale — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: This paper examines the relationship between information overload and students’ attitude towards plagiarism in three theological institutions in South-west, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a descriptive survey research design with a correlational approach, targeting undergraduate and postgraduate students in three theological institutions in the South-west region of Nigeria due to easy accessibility and convenience for data collection at the time of the study. A sample size of 355 participants was arrived at by adopting a two-stage random sampling technique. Data collection involved the use of a questionnaire, and the analysis involved simple descriptive measures such as mean, frequency counts, percentages and standard deviation for the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) for the hypothesis.

Findings: Results showed that the respondents experienced a high level of information overload. In addition, most respondents disagreed that copying the contents of a book or journal word for word is acceptable, depicting a negative attitude towards plagiarism.

Originality: The study provides original data on the relationship between information overload and students’ attitude towards plagiarism in three theological institutions in South-west, Nigeria.

COVENANT JOURNAL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Deploying innovative strategies to library and information services in response to Covid-19 pandemic in universities

Information Overload and Students’ Attitude Towards Plagiarism in Three Theological Institutions in South-West Nigeria