Perceived workability of digital libraries in Nigerian public universities: A focus group study

This study engaged the final-year students of the Library and Information Science (LIS) Department at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), in a focus group discussion to understand the workability of digital libraries in public universities in Nigeria. Four questions were raised and moderated for the participants. Data collected from the study participants were coded and summarised under four distinct themes using the NVivo software. The findings revealed that no functional digital library exists in any of the public universities in Nigeria. Additionally, it was revealed that soon-to-graduate students cannot spearhead the creation of digital libraries at the moment, despite having undertaken and passed with A grades the five courses on digital library systems, primarily due to a lack of hands-on desk experience. Concluding that the practicum-deficiency situation in the programme of the LIS school in MOUAU is likely to occur in other LIS schools in Nigeria since a singular national curriculum regulatory document served all the LIS schools in Nigeria during the period, the study recommended among other things that the Nigerian LIS educators should maximize the 30% CCMAS provision for LIS education to incorporate sufficient practical courses that will deepen students' practical application of the digital library system and services.