The Roles of Libraries and Librarians in the Information Literacy Competence of Undergraduate Students in Selected Universities in Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to examine the role of libraries and librarians in the information literacy competences of undergraduate students in selected universities in southwest, Nigeria. The survey method was employed for the study while questionnaire and interview were also used as research instruments. Out of 1,100 copies of questionnaire administered, 810 (73.6%) were returned and used for this study. Data collected are analyzed using descriptive statistics analysis. The findings revealed that only one out of the three universities studied has information literacy instruction as a credit course. The finding reveals further that emphasis is placed on library literacy and not on information literacy as a whole and that information literacy is not integrated fully into the school curriculum. The finding shows that university libraries and librarians are not taking active roles in the teaching of information literacy. Recommendations of the study include full integration of all aspects of information literacy into the curriculum with the collaboration of libraries and faculties. Also, information literacy should be taken as a credit earning course.