PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the extent/level of internet access, and use by academic staff in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, as a teaching/research tool.Dsign/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection, with academic staff in the University of Calabar as respondents.FindingsThe findings of the survey show extensive internet use by the respondents, although with a low level of access to the internet (26.92 per cent), as most of the respondents have access to the internet through a commercial internet cybercafé off campus, while only 3.08 and 1.54 per cent could access the internet in their offices and university library, respectively. The basic reasons for internet access, and use by the respondents, are for communication through e‐mail (16.87 per cent), teaching (15.66 per cent), and research related activities (14.58 per cent). The findings also indicated that although there exists a high level of skills in internet access, and use by the respondents, there is a need to organize regular formal user training by the university library (university management), for all academic staff in the University of Calabar, as well as each Nigerian university.Originality/valueThe paper recommends the provision of equitable internet access not only in the University of Calabar, but all Nigerian universities. Most significantly the paper advocates a national policy of providing internet access for all academic staff in their offices in Nigerian universities, and effective electronic collection development to supplement traditional print resources in the university libraries towards enhanced electronic access, and use by academic staff.

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the trend of resource development at the University of Calabar Library, using gift items received from 2005 to 2009.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a descriptive research design based on survey. Relevant documents, including gift and donation files, acquisition records and library accession registers, were examined and analysed to provide answers to questions relating to study objectives.FindingsThe usefulness of gifts to university library resource development is underscored by the quality and currency of the 2,462 volumes of materials received during the study period. Furthermore, the impact that collaborative donor efforts could make towards supporting university library resource development in the information age is highlighted. Associated problems included deficiency in subject coverage, foreign language materials, irregular giving patterns as well as an increasing tendency towards electronic resources acquisition where manual procedures are available.Practical implicationsAcquisition librarians should intensify efforts at soliciting for and directing corporate giving endeavours towards providing for infrastructural support required for university library development in Nigeria. The deficiency in subject coverage highlighted in the study can be addressed if donor agencies are encouraged to adopt relevant library profiles or assign grants to core areas of university academic programs. There is also need for the inclusion or revision of gift statements in collection development policies.Originality/valueThe paper highlights strategies for tackling the challenges of resource acquisition.

Diabetes mellitus has become increasingly prevalent over the years. The chronic hyperglycaemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunctions, and failure of different organs suggesting that the most effective tool to prevent complications is the effective control of hyperglycaemia itself. The study is set to determine the effect of glycemic control on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), soluble thrombomodulin (STM) alongside fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among type 2 diabetic subjects. One hundred diabetic subjects accessing care at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar and 100 non –diabetics that served as controls were enrolled. Blood samples from participants were analyzed for FPG, HbA1c, PAI-1 and STM by standard methods. The result shows 74% of the diabetic to be females. Half of the diabetics were managed on only oral anti-diabetic drugs while the remaining half were either on insulin injection or a combination of oral and insulin injection.  Poor glycemic control was observed in 56% of the studied subjects. The mean age of 54.69 ± 9.94 years for the diabetics was comparable to the age-matched controls (p=.097). Diabetics showed significantly higher FPG, HbA1c, PAI-1and STM (P=0.001) compared to control values. Correlations between STM, PAI 1 and glycated hemoglobin (figures 2 p=0.001, p =0.001) and STM, PAI-1 and FPG revealed significantly robust association (p=0.001, p=0.001).  The study concludes that there is poor glycemic control among the treated diabetic subjects with PAI-1 and STM showing a very strong positive correlation with HbA1c than FPG.

ICT is transforming library practices and procedures the world over. The aim of this chapter is to address the access gap to ICT by highlighting the framework for effective development of relevant ICT policy in university libraries in Nigeria. The chapter explores variety of ICT infrastructure/services that are available in university libraries, sources of ICT funding, ICT policy priority areas, key ICT policy issues and strategies for formulating ICT policy. Questionnaire survey was used for the study. The findings of the study indicate that, there is a widespread use of Internet in the 14 surveyed university libraries; and only 5 of these libraries have computerized library services. NUC/ETF, library development fund (LDF) and university management are major ICT funding sources. ICT funding/budgeting, ICT infrastructure procurement/maintenance, ICT literacy/capacity building and ICT use are the highest ranked ICT policy priority areas in the surveyed libraries. And annual budgetary allocation to ICT in university libraries, training/capacity building for librarians, as well as, organization of ICT literacy programme for patrons are the highest ranked key ICT policy issues in university libraries. The chapter recommends that, each university should formulate relevant ICT policy for its library, besides the national ICT policy.

This study is an assessment of information brokerage in the University of Calabar Library in the discharge of its functions to aid teaching, learning and research from 2005 to 2010. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study and the total sampling procedure was used in selecting the seven divisional heads of the study. A checklist of University of Calabar Library Information Brokerage Delivery (IBD) Systems was prepared together with an interview schedule and used to elicit information from these librarians. The results showed that the University of Calabar Library has been engaging in information brokerage activities in the different units of the library through information merchandizing. It was discovered that patronage on brokerage activities and services were disproportionate among the units surveyed. The study showed that brokerage on publication services and system/technical services rated highest between the period covered by the study. The two brokerage delivery systems undertook 113 and 925 transactions and generated a substantial amount of income for the library. The study concludes that the University of Calabar Library is engaging enormously in information brokerage and thereby sustaining Entrepreneurship Education in library and Information Science in Nigeria. It is recommended that subject specialist librarianship be encouraged in academic libraries to facilitate the attainment of financial goals in the specialized services delivery in University Library as well as other tertiary institutions' libraries in Nigeria.