Information Seeking Behavior and Challenges in Digital Libraries

387 Pages·2016·14.138 MB·English

by  Adeyinka Tella (editor)

Information Seeking
Behavior and Challenges
in Digital Libraries
Adeyinka Tella
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
A volume in the Advances in Library and
Information Science (ALIS) Book Series
Published in the United States of America by
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ISBN: 978-1-5225-0296-8
eISBN: 978-1-5225-0297-5

This book is published in the IGI Global book series Advances in Library and Information Science (ALIS) (ISSN: 2326-
4136; eISSN: 2326-4144)
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Advances in Library and
Information Science (ALIS)
Book Series
ISSN: 2326-4136
EISSN: 2326-4144
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The Advances in Library and Information Science (ALIS) Book Series is comprised of high qual-
ity, research-oriented publications on the continuing developments and trends affecting the public,
school, and academic fields, as well as specialized libraries and librarians globally. These discussions
on professional and organizational considerations in library and information resource development and
management assist in showcasing the latest methodologies and tools in the field.
The ALIS Book Series aims to expand the body of library science literature by covering a wide
range of topics affecting the profession and field at large. The series also seeks to provide readers with
an essential resource for uncovering the latest research in library and information science management,
development, and technologies.
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Titles in this Series
For a list of additional titles in this series, please visit: www.igi-global.com
Technology-Centered Academic Library Partnerships and Collaborations
Brian Doherty (New College of Florida, USA)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2016 • 309pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781522503231) • US $165.00 (our price)
Space and Organizational Considerations in Academic Library Partnerships and Collaborations
Brian Doherty (New College of Florida, USA)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2016 • 366pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781522503262) • US $200.00 (our price)
Special Library Administration, Standardization and Technological Integration
Joseph M. Yap (De La Salle University, Philippines) Martin Julius V. Perez (Department of Foreign Affairs,
Philippines) Maria Cecilia I. Ayson (Filipinas Heritage Library, Philippines) and Gladys Joy E. Entico (EastWest
Bank, Philippines)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2016 • 373pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781466695429) • US $185.00 (our price)
Handbook of Research on Disaster Management and Contingency Planning in Modern Libraries
Emy Nelson Decker (Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library, USA) and Jennifer A. Townes (At-
lanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library, USA)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2016 • 676pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781466686243) • US $345.00 (our price)
Handbook of Research on Inventive Digital Tools for Collection Management and Development in Modern Libraries
S. Thanuskodi (Alagappa University, India)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2015 • 422pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781466681781) • US $295.00 (our price)
Innovative Solutions for Building Community in Academic Libraries
Sheila Bonnand (Montana State University, USA) and Mary Anne Hansen (Montana State University, USA)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2015 • 376pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781466683921) • US $200.00 (our price)
Integrating Video Game Research and Practice in Library and Information Science
Jacob A. Ratliff (Independent Researcher, USA)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2015 • 300pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781466681750) • US $185.00 (our price)
Social Media Strategies for Dynamic Library Service Development
Adeyinka Tella (University of Ilorin, Nigeria)
Information Science Reference • copyright 2015 • 388pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781466674158) • US $245.00 (our price)
701 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA 17033
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Editorial Advisory Board
S.Mutula,University of Kwazulu-Nata, South Africa
MaryK.Bolin,University of Nebraska Lincoln, USA
M.Tiamiyu,University of Ibadan, Nigeria
H.Kemoni,The Technical University of Kenya, Kenya
JaphetOtike,Moi University, Kenya
Ondari-Okenwa,University of Fort-Hare, South Africa
S.O.Popoola,University of Ibadan, Nigeria
S.Akande,Abadina Resource Centre, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
A.Bayagas,University of Zululand, South Africa
H.I.Rozan,Universiti Sains, Malaysia
C.Stillwell,University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
P.Warnings,University of Hong-Kong, Hong-Kong
M.O.Yusuf,University of Ilorin, Nigeria
R.O.Akanmidu,University of Pretoria, South Africa
PritiJain,University of Botswana, Botswana
N.Mnajama,University of Botswana, Botswana
List of Reviewers
TomKwanya,University of Kwazulu-Natal
AkakandelwaAkakandelwa,University of Zambia
E.O.Akinboro,University of Ilorin
S.Thanuskodi,Alagapa University, India
ZeinabZaremohzzabieh,University of Putra, Malaysia
PedroPina,ESTGOH, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal
JusangBolong,University of Putra, Malaysia
OlaronkeO.Fagbola,National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria
YusufFelicia,Landmark University, Nigeria
Adigun,GaniyuOjo,Ladoke Akintola University, Nigeria

Table of Contents
Foreword.............................................................................................................................................xvi
Preface.................................................................................................................................................xix
Chapter 1
InformationSeekingBehaviourinDigitalLibraryContexts..................................................................1
Tom Kwanya, The Technical University of Kenya, Kenya
Chapter 2
Information-SeekingBehaviourofUsersintheDigitalLibraries’EnvironmentinSub-Saharan
Africa....................................................................................................................................................26
E.M. Ondari-Okemwa, University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Chapter 3
LegalConsiderationsofProvidingInformationinSupportofDistanceLearningbyDigital
LibrariesinUniversitiesinKenya........................................................................................................57
Japhet Otike, Moi University, Kenya
Chapter 4
CopyrightIssuesintheContextoftheDigitalLibrary........................................................................70
Pedro Pina, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal
Chapter 5
ResearchingInformationSeekinginDigitalLibrariesthroughInformation-SeekingModels............84
Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Seyedali Ahrari, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Bahaman Abu Samah, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Jusang Bolong, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Chapter 6
DigitalLibrariesandCopyrightIssues...............................................................................................108
Adeyinka Tella, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Saheed Oyeniran, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Olubukola James Ojo, University of Ilorin, Nigeria



Chapter 7
AGlimpseoftheInformationSeekingBehaviourLiteratureontheWeb:ABibliometric
Approach.............................................................................................................................................127
Akakandelwa Akakandelwa, University of Zambia, Zambia
Chapter 8
IndexingandAbstractingasToolsforInformationRetrievalinDigitalLibraries:AReviewof
Literature.............................................................................................................................................156
Olaronke O. Fagbola, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Chapter 9
Demographics,Socio-EconomicandCognitiveSkillsasBarrierstoInformationSeekingina
DigitalLibraryEnvironment...............................................................................................................179
Felicia Yusuf, Landmark University, Nigeria
Sola Owolabi, Landmark University, Nigeria
Ayooluwa Aregbesola, Landmark University, Nigeria
Sunday Oguntayo, Landmark University, Nigeria
Foluke Okocha, Landmark University, Nigeria
Toluwani Eyiolorunse, Landmark University, Nigeria
Chapter 10
InformationSeekingBehaviourofTradeUnionists:AReviewofAssociatedChallengesinDigital
Era.......................................................................................................................................................203
Joel O. Afolayan, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Nigeria
Chapter 11
UsabilityofDigitalResources:AStudyofFrancisSulemanuIdachabaLibraryUniversityof
AgricultureMakurdi...........................................................................................................................224
Michael Terver Upev, University of Agriculture, Nigeria
Kwaghga Beetseh, University of Agriculture, Nigeria
Joy Asibi Idachaba, University of Agriculture, Nigeria
Chapter 12
InformationNeedandSeekingBehaviorofFarmersinLadubaCommunityofKwaraState,
Nigeria.................................................................................................................................................238
Femi Titus Akande, Librarian, Nigeria
Akinade Adebowale Adewojo, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Nigeria
Chapter 13
RoleofSocialNetworkingforInformationSeekinginaDigitalLibraryEnvironment.....................272
Ganiyu Ojo Adigun, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
Oluwole Akanmu Odunola, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
Adewale Joel Sobalaje, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria

Chapter 14
BarrierstoInformationSeekingintheDigitalLibraries....................................................................291
Ajayi Ayo Oluwaseun, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Chapter 15
DigitalLibrariesasInformationSuperhighway..................................................................................304
Prakash Dongardive, Makelle University, Ethiopia
Compilation of References...............................................................................................................316
About the Contributors....................................................................................................................350
Index...................................................................................................................................................356
Detailed Table of Contents
Foreword.............................................................................................................................................xvi
Preface.................................................................................................................................................xix
Chapter 1
InformationSeekingBehaviourinDigitalLibraryContexts..................................................................1
Tom Kwanya, The Technical University of Kenya, Kenya
Theenvironmentinwhichlibraryservicesarecurrentlyofferedhaschangeddrastically.Thevolumeof
informationhasgrownenormously;thevarietyofinformation,itssourcesandformatofpresentationhave
increased;thespeedofinformationflowhasincreased;timesandplacestoexperiencecommunication
mediahaveexpanded;thenumberofinformationperspectivesandpointsofviewhasexploded;and
thepeople’sinterestinandexpectationoftheavailabilityofinformationhavegrown.Theinformation
usershavealsochangedandnowexhibitremarkablyuniqueinformationseekingbehaviour.They
basicallywantsynthesisedinformationwiththeleasteffort.Theyareintoleranttoanyformsofdelay
andgetboredveryfast.Librariansmustunderstandtheemerginginformationseekingbehaviourand
theresultantexpectationstobeabletosatisfytheusers’informationneedsclosely.Astheydoso,they
mustacknowledgethattheuptakeoftraditionalserviceshasdroppeddrasticallyandthatitismuch
easiertofollowthelibraryusersintotheirdigitalechochambersthantrytoattractthembacktothe
conventionallibraryspaces.
Chapter 2
Information-SeekingBehaviourofUsersintheDigitalLibraries’EnvironmentinSub-Saharan
Africa....................................................................................................................................................26
E.M. Ondari-Okemwa, University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Thischapteraddressestheissueofinformation-seekingbehaviourofusersinthedigitallibraries’
environmentinsub-SaharanAfrica.Information-seekingbehaviourmaybeshapedbytheenvironment
inwhichusersseekinformation.Adigitallibraryisstillrelativelynewinsub-SaharanAfricaand
thereisnotmuchknownabouthowthedigitallibraryenvironmentmayshapetheinformation-seeking
behaviourand/orinformationneedsofusers.Thechapterexplorestheconceptofdigitallibrariesand
thenatureofthecollectionsandservicesofdigitallibrariesincomparisontotraditionallibraries.The
chapteralsodiscusseswhatalibraryis,theservicesprovidedbylibraries,andthedifferencesbetweena
traditionallibraryandadigitallibrary.Coveredinthechapteralsoisabriefhistoryofdigitallibraries.
Digitalliteracyasafactorwhichmayshapetheinformation-seekingbehaviorofusersinadigital
libraryenvironmentisalsodiscussedinthechapter.Informationliteracyhaschangeddrastically.The