Repositioning academic libraries for the achievement of National Integration (Ni) for Development (Dv) in 21^st century in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated repositioning academic libraries in Rivers State. Some of  the positions raised to further strengthen National integration are inter-faculty quiz, creating television rooms, creation of makerspaces, organizing seminars etc. The major hindrance for smoother sailing to achieving national integration by academic libraries is „this is how we used to do it syndrome‟. Moving away from this syndrome – stay quiet and read, no brainstorming activities, read books all day, etc. will  reposition our academic libraries for the achievement of National Integration (NI) and Development (DV)in 21^st century. It was undertaken as a correlational  research with population of 3,035 students from Uniport, RSU and IAUE. The  sample size was 150 students drawn from the population using simple random  sampling techniques to give every members of the population equal opportunity to be selected. The instrument tagged Repositioning Academic library and National  Integration Questionnaire (RALNIQ) and Users‟ Development Questionnaire (UDQ) and oral interview were used to elicit information from the respondents. Instrument was validated by three experts in the Department of Library and Information Science and Measurement and Evaluation. Reliability was done by test retest method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient ® which yielded an index of 0.78. Both the research questions and hypotheses were answered and tested respectively by Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient ®. The findings revealed among others that there is a significant relationship between ALU, NI and development in 21st century. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the principles of  national integration which helps to house all races and nations, be applied for Users‟ Development in 21^st Century.

Keywords: Repositioning, academic, libraries, National, integration, development, 21^st century.