PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reflect on the experience of the Redeemer's University Library in Nigeria in its information literacy (IL) training programs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a brief literature review of current trends in IL training and challenges. A description of methods of training, schedules, content of IL, successes, and shortcomings are detailed. Information and data for the paper were collected from records kept by the IL librarian. The experiences of the authors and observation complemented the data.FindingsThe IL librarian's training programs have enabled a good number of students to attain IL. But much needs to be done by both librarians and faculty to attain the desired result of making every students information literate.Originality/valueThis paper provides information on Redeemer's University Library in Nigeria, and is useful for librarians in developing countries who may want to improve on their IL programs.

Several studies extended the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by examining the antecedents of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use; the present study looks at demographic aspect of external variables in virtual library use among undergraduate students. The purpose of this study is to identify the demographic factors sex, level of study, cumulative grade point average, and computer knowledge that act as external factors that are antecedents of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The university management makes a large investment in the provision of a virtual library; investigation of the virtual library acceptance by students is important. TAM and theory of reasoned action (TRA) are utilised to theoretically test a model for the extension and to predict virtual library acceptance and usage. In a survey study, data was collected by using a structured questionnaire given to 394 randomly selected participants in a private university. Data were analysed by Pearson product moment correlation, multiple and hierarchical regression. The result of the study is consistent with TAM factors examined for explaining virtual library usage. The extension model accounts for 2.5% variance in perceived usefulness, 2.1% in perceived ease of use, 11.7% -15.2% on intention to use and 7.2% on actual use of virtual library. Implications of the findings of the study on user's virtual library training are discussed.

Purpose -The paper aims to report the level of awareness, ownership and use of weblogs by librarians in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach -The study adopts a survey research approach using online survey software to elicit information on issues relating to librarians' awareness, knowledge, ownership and use of weblogs. Findings -Data analysis shows that librarians demonstrate remarkable level of awareness and knowledge about weblogs and their benefits to professional practice and services but they neither own nor use the technology.Research limitations/implications -The study was limited by a low response rate to the survey. Less than 7 per cent of the members of the online NLA forum used for the data collection responded. This implies that internet culture is still in its formative stage among librarians in Nigeria. Practical implications -The paper concludes by enunciating the need for awareness creation, training and re-training programmes for librarians to start creating and maintaining personal and institutional weblogs and other social networking media that could enhance professional practice and services. Social implications -The study promises to sensitize librarians and other information professionals in Nigeria and other developing countries to the social values of weblogs and similar technologies in terms of communication, networking, knowledge sharing and other usefulness. Originality/value -The paper contributes to empirical research on library use of Web 2.0 technologies in Nigeria and literature in the field of library and information science.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the survey on the use of online tools and techniques for cataloguing and classification in Nigerian libraries.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was designed to elicit information from librarians on pertinent areas relating to the use of online tools for processing library resources.FindingsThe results of the survey reveal a high level of awareness among librarians in Nigeria about the benefits that could be derived in the use of online tools for cataloguing and classification processes. The study further reveals the need for continuing education programmes for cataloguers for effective use of the tools. The study shows that the use of online tools has advantages over manual methods. Librarians perceived the method to be useful and easy to use. The paper reveals ICT infrastructural facilities as major constraints facing libraries in the use of online tools. One of the expectations at the onset of the follow‐up study was that most of the problems identified with the use of the online tools in the Redeemer's University library study would not be different from the challenges facing other libraries. The results of this study have proved this to be true.Practical implicationsThe conclusion rests on the need for an intensive continuing education programme to teach the skills required for online operations and the provision of web‐driven facilities in Nigerian libraries.Originality/valueThe paper provides information on libraries' awareness on the use of online methods for processing library resources, their efficiency and attitude of librarians to such tools. The paper shows that libraries in developing countries like Nigeria should intensify efforts to close the gap between them and those in the developed countries in terms of ICT literacy.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on research that examined the issues of e‐journal subscription, subscription models and the future of print version of journals in Nigerian universities.Design/methodology/approachA survey study was used to collect data from the selected 30 universities that covered the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The questionnaire contained questions that are pertinent to the issues being investigated. The 22 responses (73.3 percent) received were processed, analyzed and results presented.FindingsThe study reveals that Nigerian universities subscribe to e‐journals, i.e. full‐text journals. They employ acceptable models for subscriptions, however, they use consortium more than any other model. Most libraries want to retain print format.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the study is limited to 22 university libraries, it has applications to similar universities across Nigeria, be they public or private.Practical implicationsThis research provides information on the status of subscription to e‐journals in Nigerian libraries methods, and policy issues. The data and findings may help provide ways to manage e‐journals better in Nigerian libraries to serve user needs.Originality/valueAt the time of the completion of this study no such work had been done before in Nigeria.