ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the legal information sources and services in law libraries in federal universities in the South-South, Nigeria. It was guided by eleven objectives, from which eleven research questions and null hypotheses were developed. The design of the study was descriptive survey. The study was carried out in South-South zone of Nigeria. The population of the study was 3564 persons consisting of 133 lecturers, 3431 students and 20 librarians. The sample for the study was 713 persons comprising 133 lecturers, 560 students and 20 librarians. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique precisely purposive-proportionate-disproportionate stratified-cluster sampling techniques. A 149-item structured questionnaire titled Legal Information Sources and Services Evaluation Questionnaire (LISSEQ), and a 59-item structured observation checklist titled Online Public Access Catalogue and Observation Checklist (OPACOC) was used for collection of data. Three experts validated the instruments. A coefficient index of 0 .81 and 0 .78 was obtained for LISSEQ and OPACAOC using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Statistics, after a pilot survey was conducted with 30 respondents at the faculty of law library, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in Anambra State. The researcher, through the help of four (4) research assistants administered 713 copies of the questionnaire to the respondents, 704 copies were retrieved, giving rate of 98.7%. The data collected were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and real limit of numbers for answering research question while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study discovered types of legal sources available in law libraries, these include complete set of laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), State laws, Law reports, Government publications, law textbooks, journals etc ,The findings of the study revealed legal information services available in law libraries, such include general reference services, Current Awareness Services (CAS), photocopying services, routing of current periodicals, legal research services etc ,The study also found legal information services that were effective to include, current awareness services, selective Dissemination of information, Routing of current periodicals, indexing and abstracting, photocopying services. It was found that legal information sources in the law libraries were current and were adequate. It was recommended that the federal government and other educational stake holders should provide adequate funds; government should make their reports and publications available to law libraries, as well as encourage local publishers to publish law books to reduce cost of acquisition of foreign books; the library management of the various universities should see to it that inter-library loan services are encouraged among law libraries.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Declaration ii
Dedication iii
Certification iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables viii
Abstract xi
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 11
1.3
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 12
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS 14
1.5
HYPOTHESES 15
1.6
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
16
1.7
SCOPE OF THE STUDY 17
CHAPTER
2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK 19
2.1.1 Law
Libraries 19
2.1.2 Legal
Information Sources 22
2.1.3 Library
and Information Services 23
2.1.4 Types Of
Legal Information Sources 25
2.1.5 Types Of
Services In Law Libraries 28
2.1.6 Acquisition
Of Legal Information Sources In Law Libraries 34
2.1.7 The Need
for Evaluation of Library Collection 39
2.1.8 Criteria
For Evaluating Legal Information Sources 45
2.1.9 Problems
Associated With The Acquisition Of Legal Information
Sources And Services In
Law Libraries in Universities 49
2.1.10 Strategies
to Enhance Legal Information Sources and Services in
Law Libraries 52
2.2 THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK 56
2.3 REVIEW
OF EMPIRICAL STUDIES 57
2.4 RESEARCH
GAP 63
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 DESIGN
OF THE STUDY 65
3.2 AREA OF
THE STUDY 66
3.3 POPULATION
OF THE STUDY 67
3.4 SAMPLE
AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES 67
3.5 INSTRUMENT
FOR DATA COLLECTION 69
3.6 VALIDATION
OF THE INSTRUMENT 70
3.7 RELIABILITY
OF THE INSTRUMENT 71
3.8 METHOD
OF DATA COLLECTION 72
3.9 METHOD
OF DATA ANALYSIS 72
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 RESULTS
76
4.2 FINDINGS
OF THE STUDY 99
4.3 DISCUSSION
OF THE FINDINGS 103
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 SUMMARY
OF THE STUDY 115
5.2 CONCLUSION
118
5.3 IMPLICATIONS
OF THE FINDINGS 120
5.4 RECOMMENDATIONS
123
5.5 LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY 124
5.5 SUGGESTIONS
FOR FURTHER STUDIES 124
REFERENCES
126
APPENDICES
139
LIST
OF TABLES
Table
1: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
the
Types of Legal Information Sources in Law Libraries in Federal
Universities
in South-South, Nigeria. 76
Table
2: Average Frequency and
Percentage of the Booklist in the Libraries in
the Law
Libraries in Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. 77
Table
3: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Types of Legal Information
Sources
in Law Libraries in Federal Universities in South-South,
Nigeria 79
Table
4: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on the
Types
of Services Being offered in the Law Libraries of the Federal
Universities in South-South,
Nigeria.
80
Table
5: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Types of Services
Being Rendered in the Law Libraries of the Federal
Universities
in
South-South, Nigeria. 81
Table
6: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
the
Adequacy of the Legal Information Sources in Law Libraries in
Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. 82
Table
7: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Adequacy of
the
Legal Information Sources in Law Libraries in Federal
Universities
in South-South, Nigeria. 83
Table
8: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students
on
the Effectiveness of the Legal Information Services in the Law
Libraries
of Federal Universities in South-South,
Nigeria. 84
Table
9: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Effectiveness of
the
Legal Information Services in the Law Libraries of Federal
Universities
in South-South, Nigeria 85
Table
10: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students
on
The Currency of Legal Information Sources in Law Libraries
of
Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria 86
Table
11: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Currency of the Legal
Information
Sources in the Law Libraries of Federal Universities
in
South-South, Nigeria 87
Table
12: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
the
Extent the Legal Information Sources are Meeting the Training
Needs
of the Law Students of Federal Universities in South-South,
Nigeria.
88
Table
13: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Extent the Legal
Information
Sources are Meeting the Training Needs of the Law
Students
of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria 89
Table
14: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
the
Extent the Legal Information Services are Meeting the Training
Needs
of the Law Students of Federal Universities in South-South,
Nigeria. 90
Table
15: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Extent the Legal
Information
Services are Meeting the Training Needs of the Law
Students
of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria 91
Table
16: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
The
Challenges in Acquisition of Legal Information Sources in the
Law
Libraries of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. 92
Table
17: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Challenges to the
Acquisition
of Legal Information Sources in the Law Libraries
of
Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria 93
Table
18: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on the
Challenges
in Acquisition of Legal Information Services in the
Law
Libraries of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria.
94
Table
19: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Challenges to the
Acquisition
of Legal Information Sources in the Law
Libraries of
Federal
Universities in South-South, Nigeria 95
Table
20: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
the
Strategies that could be put in Place to Enhance Legal Information
Services
in Law Libraries of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria 96
Table
21: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Strategies that could be
put
in place to Enhance Legal Information Services in Law Libraries of
Federal
Universities in South-South, Nigeria. 97
Table
22: The Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers, Librarians and Students on
The
Strategies that could be adopted to Enhance Legal Information
Services
in Law Libraries of Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria
98
Table
23: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
of the Mean Responses of Law
Lecturers,
Librarians and Students on the Strategies that can
Adopted
to Enhance Legal Information Services in Law Libraries
of
Federal Universities in South-South, Nigeria. 99
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The importance of law libraries to
the legal education/profession is ever crucial. Law libraries are primarily
tasked with providing legal information sources to judicial officers, legal
practitioners, law lecturers and students in academic institutions and other
law bodies. Hence the importance of law libraries could be said to be the
precursor to the survival of legal profession and education. Thus the law
library plays unique and integral role in shaping the quality of the legal
system at all levels by virtue of their unique collections and services. These
collections contained therein in the law libraries are referred to as the legal
information sources.
In order to appreciate the concept of
“legal information sources”, it will be worthwhile to understand what is meant
by the term information. Despite its usage and application in our daily lives,
it is a concept that is very difficult to define. This is because it means many
things to different people. Ikoja-Odongo and Mostert (2006), indicate that the
term information has been defined, understood and interpreted differently
across various disciplines, vocations and professions. This view has the
support of Olorunfemi (2009) who posits that people interpret the concept of
information differently.
Mohammed (2011) explains information
to mean ideas, skills and experience positively or negatively that enable us to
make decision or react to situations immediately or later at an appropriate
period of time. Kariki, in Olorunfemi
(2009) was of the view that information is ideas, facts and imaginative works
of the mind, data of value, and potentially useful for decision-making and
question answering which leads to a state of knowing.
Mohammed further maintained that in
whichever way one looks at information, it is presumed that information is
organised data, that have potential effect either positively or negatively depending
on the way it is managed by an individual, vocation, profession, etc. All
professions, vocations, individuals require information for sustenance.
Olorunfemi (2009) avers, for example, that judges, lawyers and law students
require information in their day-to-day activities. The author maintains that
they need information on how to determine the case (judge), argue or represent
a client before the law court (lawyers), and how to pass the law examination
(law students).
Information
is a very important instrument required for day-to-day activities of people in
the legal profession. Legal is used here to refer to things that relate to law.
All professions, vocations have channels or means of eliciting authoritative
information for use. These authoritative means or channels are referred to as
source. Hornby (2017) defines source as the person, place or thing from which
something (information, goods, etc) comes or is acquired. According to
Davarayan and Pulikuuthiel (2011), a source which transmits or embodies
information is known as information source.
Legal information source comprises of
law reports, federal legislations, state laws, foreign law publications, digest
treaties, law journals, textbooks, law dictionaries, commonwealth publications,
standard documents, government publications, precedent books, electronic legal
databases etc. Ejimofor (2001) refers to legal information sources as an
embodying, inter-related or structured data used for the practice, teaching and
study of law as well as for the conduct of legal research. Serema and Mooko
(2002) define legal information sources as materials consulted for aid or for
information on a topic, theme, an event, a date, a number, a place or even a
word. Legal information is a valuable resource needed in the society of legal
practitioners, including the law students that are learning how to become
lawyers, Olorunfemi (2004). Legal information sources are classified into
primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include all legislative
enactments of all legislative houses whether of federal, state or local
governments.
Moys (2013) however, classified legal
information sources into primary and secondary sources. In attempt to explain
legal information sources, Moys (2013) classified legal information sources
into primary and secondary sources. The author posits that what constitute
primary and secondary sources with regards to arrangement of legal information
sources varies from one jurisdiction to another. Primary legal information
sources refers to legislations or laws that are enacted by the law making
body(ies) that have the constitutional powers to make laws Anaeme (2011).
Secondary legal information sources
on the other hand are not the actual law but interpretation of the law or
commentary on the law which include law textbooks such as books on labour law,
constitutional law, land law, environmental law, oil and gas, evidence etc.
Secondary sources are not direct sources of law rather they only help to
explain primary sources of law. When there is conflict between primary and
secondary sources the former prevails. These legal information sources are acquired
by law libraries.
Law
library like other special libraries are repositories of legal information
sources which have grown over the years, aimed at providing information
services to the legal profession both at study and practice level. Law
libraries are designed to assist law students, lawyers, judges and those who
want to be abreast with the law. Law library is a repository of knowledge, information
and wisdom which have accumulated for years. To carry out successful research,
academics consult and obtain information from legal information sources in
their libraries. Osula (2001) sees the use of the library facilities and
materials as the key to research studies. It is in view of this, that Iwhiwhu
and Idiedo (2013) affirm that without adequate use of library resources,
teaching, learning and research in the university become a problem. It is in
realisation of the importance of law libraries to students and faculty members
that Ejimofor (2009) explains that lawyers and law students place much value on
their libraries for they regard them as their “plant” or tools of trade. Ukpanah
and Afolabi (2011) stressing on the importance of law libraries to lawyers and
law students, assert that the vast information resources in whatever form in
law libraries are of vital importance in tackling the challenges and problems
of legal studies and law development, hence the increase in investment by
universities and other tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria for the
provision of information resources.
The value of information so provided
is usually based on the quality of available and accessible information sources
which have to be accurate, current and complete in order to satisfy user’s
inquiry. In support of this claim, Ukpanah and Afolabi (2011) aver that library
does not just make information available, that such information must be
relevant to meet the needs of the users. Ademola in Iwhiwhu and Idedo (2013)
remark that law students and legal professionals make great use of law
textbooks hence, the Nigerian Council of Legal Education requires that every
university law library in their collections should have relevant, current and
adequate law books and periodicals in their collection as prerequisite for
accreditation. Igbeka (1995) affirms that information centres or libraries are
the best agents to provide legal information sources and services.
The ultimate aim of an information
provider such as a law library is to satisfy users’ information needs by
providing them with the right information at the right time and through the
right means. This, according to Ainoko (2011), is done through series of
library activities and services which
include routing of periodicals, current awareness services (CAS), compilation
of bibliographies, indexing and abstracting services, selective dissemination
of information, noter-up services, reprographic services, etc. The quality of
services offered to users is related to the adequacy and currency of legal
information sources held in law libraries. These services have not been
effectively achieved due to challenges affecting law libraries. (Haruna, 2006)
Challenges,
according to Sinclair (2012), are something new and difficult which require
great effort and determination to overcome. In a study conducted by Udoh (2003)
on the availability of textbooks in academic libraries throughout the country
cited in Ukpanah and Afolabi (2011) revealed insufficient textbooks in academic
libraries throughout the country. This statement was affirmed by Jegede (1992)
that discussion on scarcity of books which goes unabated is a problem that has
assumed many dimensions and its negative effect on studying; learning and
professional practice is unfathomable.
Lamenting
on the deplorable state of the law libraries, Bello in Haruna (2006), remarks
that for a long time the stocks of these libraries had not been replenished
due, essentially, to lack of funds. It is against this background that Haruna
(2006) opines that the economic recession in the country, with its attendant
problems of hyper-inflation and foreign exchange rate, seems to have limited
the ability of individual lawyers and law libraries to acquire needed
information materials for utilization. The study further maintains that the
consequences of this ugly situation could be grave for professionalism
effectiveness of legal practitioners as it could hinder effective information
transfer and in effect slow down the pace of work.
Stressing
on the problem affecting law libraries, Enem (2014) records that dearth of
information resources has affected effective legal practice and further
compounded by lack of professionalism in running some law libraries, and due to
the fact that non-professionals are often entrusted with the management of some
law libraries, collections of such libraries are often lopsided. Greater
percentage of law books/journals needed to promote teaching, learning and
research in our institutions of higher learning are foreign prints which are
imported from Europe and United States of America. Ogunrombi and Bello (1997)
affirm that these materials are in short supply in Nigeria and due to their
prohibitive prices, many libraries cannot afford them. This has affected many
libraries in acquisition of legal materials.
The
current trend in information provision in law libraries in the world today is
through the application of information technologies for the provision and
expansion of scope of information available to clienteles not minding their
locations. Uzoigwe (2004) asserts that while libraries in developed nations
have embraced information communication technology in providing library
services to their clientele, it is disheartening to note that libraries in
Nigeria are still at the crawling stage. The author argued that this could be
attributed to dwindling funding of our libraries. In order to overcome these problems
militating against smooth running of our law libraries, it will be necessary to
reach out for strategies that could be used to enhance acquisition of legal
information sources in our law libraries.
Writing
on the strategies to be adopted to improve acquisition of legal information
sources, Fakandu and Bayero (2014) opine that efforts should be made by the
university authorities to consistently stock the law library with adequate,
current, relevant and up-to-date information resources. To achieve this clarion
call, Onwudinjo, Nwosu and Ugwu (2014) posit that the law libraries should be
adequately funded to enable them purchase the recommended core and other
relevant materials, if the vision and mission of establishing faculties of law
libraries should be achieved.
Stressing
on what to be done to improve services in law libraries, Enem (2014) depicts
that recruitment of more experienced, qualified and dedicated staff is
necessary for efficiency and productivity. It is against this backdrop that
Haruna (2006) affirms that a library may have books and other information
materials or even the infrastructure, but if the expertise is not there to
unravel the intricacies that ever do often occur in a search for legal
information then the claim to usefulness and dispensation of justice will be
bizarre and false. The author further recommended that more librarians with
background in law and librarianship should be employed for quality services. In
a bid to offer efficient services to students and their teachers, Olorunfemi
(2015) opine that information and communications technology should be provided
in all the faculties of law in the country for them to have access to the
latest information in the legal profession which will assist students in
conducting effective legal research.
Libraries
are known to be inadequately funded, under staffed and yet are expected to meet
the users’ needs in this era of globalisation and information explosions (Nwalo
and Ogunniyi 2012). It is on this note that Ejedafiru (2010) states that “since
no library can effectively satisfy its users
from the resources within its walls; that we are living in a time where
a library’s worth is increasingly being measured by the services it offers in
terms of helping clients to access universal information rather than its
respective collection”. The only option to libraries not being able to provide
all the needed resources by users is through library networking.
Library
networking is a situation where two or more libraries are engaged in exchange
of information through common communication channels usually for purpose of
accomplishing shared objectives (Okeagu and Okeagu, 2008).
The
increasing amount of investment that universities have been committing to the
provision of legal information sources means that universities would be keenly
interested in studies that would evaluate the adequacy and currency legal
information sources in the law libraries whether they are meeting the
information training needs of the law students and the academic lawyers or law
lecturers. In a supportive opinion John-Okeke and Ali (2013) are of the opinion
that law libraries spend a considerable amount of money for purchasing and
supporting online databases, electronic collections, and web-site discovery
tools and also spend a considerable amount of staff time building and
maintaining subject guides and online learning objects to provide their users
with multiple information access points.
It
is on this note that Musell (2012) states that given ever narrowing budgetary
constraints, it is important for libraries to evaluate which resources are used
and how well they are used to better information decision regarding resources
allocation. To evaluate, according to Hornby (2017), means to draw a conclusion
from examining or assessing something.
Evaluation of library collection is the assessment of the extent to
which a collection meets the library’s objective. Evaluation is usually carried
out to determine whether the collection is actually meeting its objectives, how
well it is serving its users, in which way it is efficient and what remains to
be done to develop the collections.
However,
Broadus and Fowowe in Ukpanah and Afolabi (2011) are of the view that an
evaluation of the availability and utilization of textbooks is a component of
the planning process that provides academic libraries with feedback to
improve total effectiveness in response to the needs and wants of their target
users. Evaluation is not only concerned with the appraisal of collections but
also with the improvements.
Expressing
the need for evaluating library collections, Lumande and Ojedokun (2005) are of
the view that collection effectiveness is measured by the extent to which
library collections can facilitate activities and how well students can rely on
them for projects and assignments. The essence of library evaluation is to
ensure that the library is not moribund but dynamic, a core characteristic or
requirement for accreditation.
Writing
on the importance of library evaluation, Ifidon (1999) avers that the aims of
library collection evaluation are meant to determine the scope/depth,
usefulness of the collection and to assess the adequacy of the collection and
thereby highlighting and suggesting ways to rectify issues discovered. It is on
account of this that, Ogunsola and Omoike (2011) highlight that law libraries
should evaluate their performances periodically in the light of users’ needs in
order to take necessary corrective measures and ensure that the needs of the
users groups are met adequately by the services rendered. There is no doubt
that through evaluation, the weakness of a library collections are identified
and then strengthened. The hallmark of this study is to evaluate the adequacy
and currency of legal information sources held in the libraries studied and the
types of services being offered to the users.
Apart
from this, bearing in mind the importance of legal information sources to the
faculty members and students, are the
legal materials held in the law libraries studied up-to-date or
obsolete, the usefulness of information sources in meeting the training needs
of the users, challenges and strategies for enhancing acquisition of legal
information sources. These are regarded as important components of a
comprehensive collection development programme. It is through this that the
strengths and weaknesses of the law libraries would be determined; this will be
a good platform for the law librarians to take necessary action in acquisition
of legal materials.
Law
Libraries are integral parts of the university libraries. Anyaogu and Mabawonku
(2014) aver that globally, universities are recognized as centres of production
of knowledge, accumulation and knowledge transfer through research and
scholarship. Nirman (2007) posited that the mission of higher education is to
advance knowledge, create knowledge, disseminate knowledge through research and
provide service to the community. Ochia and Nedosa in Anyaogu and Mabawonku
(2014) contended that in universities all over the world, recognition and
advancement of individual academic staff, and students’ performance depend
largely on the quantity and quality of information bearing materials held in
university libraries.
Emphasizing
the importance of law libraries to students, Osho (2008) opines that no law
faculty can teach all the laws in the classroom, for this purpose, students
should thoroughly acquaint themselves with the law library, that the law is
only partial in your lecturers’ brains, the whole law is in the law reports,
journals and texts which are in abundance in the library. It is as a result of
this that, Aname (2010) posits that the law library information content is the
engine that runs the legal machine, vibrates and propels the legal system and
energises the legal profession. This goes to show that there is nexus between
law libraries and legal profession/practice.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
The
indispensability of law library to the effective practice of laws, teaching and
learning has been universally acknowledged (Haruna, 2000). The author
reiterates that lawyers and law libraries are like Siamese twins that are
inseparable. Scholars such as (Dada 1985, Elias 1956, Ekundayo 1992, Jegede
1994, Oni, 1983 and Williams, 1982) have described law as essentially a
library-based subject. The reports of these researchers have strongly held the
view that law libraries are not only essential but also crucial to the legal
profession. This implies that the performance of law students in examinations
and outside schools may be directly proportional to the information sources
available and accessible to the students in the university.
Again
to the law lecturers, it is absolutely an impossible task for them to perform
their duty of lecturing students without having access to well-stocked law
library. The dynamic nature of legal profession and as a course is such that
law lecturers must avail themselves the opportunities of using well-stocked
resourceful library, in order to refresh, and get abreast with modern trends in
their areas of teaching. This is they do by consulting the various law reports
that are published weekly and monthly. These publications will provide law
lecturers in-depth idea of various reviews and judicial precedents that churned
is out constantly from various decisions and pronouncements of courts of
superior records. Any lecturer who does not avail himself or herself the
opportunity of reading these legal resources in law library stands the risk of
impacting poor and out-dated knowledge to students.
The
primary objective of the collections of any Faculty law library is directed
towards serving the research, learning and teaching needs of the faculty. For a
Faculty of law library that intends to be relevant to achieve this, its
collections must be adequate both in quality and quantity. The quantity should
be such that the library users should not have to struggle before they can have
the books to use.
The quality of services offered to
users is related to the adequacy and currency of legal information sources held
in law libraries. These information sources and services need evaluation from
time to time. However, studies have shown that similar research had been
carried in South East Nigeria by Enem. But, so far no empirical studies to the
best of the knowledge of the researcher have been undertaken to identify the
sources and services in the South-South, Nigeria. The adequacy of sources,
effectiveness of legal information services rendered has not been determined.
The currency of sources are not empirically determined nor have there been any
studies to show, at least, again, empirically, that sources and services are
meeting the training needs of clients expected to be served. All these need a
detailed study to evaluate them in a critical empirical study.
All these are at the centre of
critical issue that this present study seeks to explore, hence the problem of
this study.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The
purpose of the study was to evaluate the legal information sources and services
in law libraries in federal universities in the South-South, Nigeria. The
specific objectives were to:
1. find
out the types of legal information sources available in the law libraries in
the federal universities in South-South, Nigeria,
2. investigate
the types of services that the law libraries offer to the clienteles in federal
universities in South-South, Nigeria,
3. ascertain
the adequacy of legal information sources of the law libraries in the federal
universities in South-South, Nigeria ,
4. determine
the effectiveness of legal information services offered in the law libraries in
the federal universities in South-South, Nigeria,
5. ascertain
the currency of legal information sources in the law libraries of the federal
universities in South-South, Nigeria,
6. examine
the extent to which legal information sources of the law libraries are meeting
the training needs of the users in federal universities in South-South, Nigeria,
7. examine
the extent to which legal information services of the law libraries are meeting
the training needs of the users in federal universities in South-South,
Nigeria,
8. identify
challenges associated with acquisition of legal information sources in law libraries
of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria and,
9. identify
challenges associated with the provision of legal information services in law
libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria,
10. Suggest
strategies for enhancing libraries acquisition of legal information sources in
law libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria and,
11. Suggest
strategies for enhancing libraries’ legal information services in law libraries
of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria.
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study provided answers to the
following research questions.
1. What
are the types of legal information sources available in law libraries in the
federal universities in South-South, Nigeria? s
2. What
are the types of services offered rendered in the law libraries of the federal
universities in South-South, Nigeria?
3. What
is the adequacy of the legal information sources in the law libraries of
federal universities in South-South, Nigeria in terms of quantity and quality?
4. What
is the effectiveness of legal information services rendered in the law
libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria?
5. What
is the currency of legal information sources in law libraries of federal
universities in South-South, Nigeria?
6. To
what extent are the legal information sources meeting the training needs of the
law students of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria?
7. To
what extent are the legal information services meeting the training needs of
the law students of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria?
8. What
are challenges in acquisition of legal information sources in the law libraries
of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria?
9. What
are the challenges in the provision legal information services in the law
libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria?
10. What
are the strategies that could be put in place to enhance acquisition of legal
information sources in law libraries of federal universities in South-South,
Nigeria?
11. What
are the strategies that could be put in place to enhance legal information
services in law libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria?
1.5
HYPOTHESES
The following null hypotheses derived
from the research questions guided the study and were tested at 0.05 level of
significance.
1. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the types of legal information sources
available in law libraries in the federal universities in South-South, Nigeria.
2. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the types of services being offered in
the law libraries of the federal universities in South-South, Nigeria
3. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the adequacy of the legal information
sources in the law libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria
4. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the effectiveness of legal information
services offered in the law libraries of federal universities in South-South,
Nigeria
5. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the currency of legal information
sources in law libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria
6. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the extent the legal information
sources meeting the training needs of the law students of federal universities
in South-South, Nigeria
7. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the extent the legal information
services meeting the training needs of the law students of federal universities
in South-South, Nigeria
8. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the challenges in acquisition of legal
information sources in the law libraries of federal universities in
South-South, Nigeria
9. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the challenges of legal information
services in the law libraries of federal universities in South-South, Nigeria
10. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the strategies that could be put in
place to enhance acquisition of legal information sources in law libraries of
federal universities in South-South, Nigeria
11. There
is no significant difference in the mean responses of law lecturers, students
and librarians among the universities on the strategies that could be put in
place to enhance legal information services in law libraries of federal
universities in South-South, Nigeria
1.6
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is expected that the findings of
this study would be useful to the following: law librarians, law lecturers,
students, scholars, library management. In addition to these, the findings
would reach potential beneficiaries through seminar presentations, conferences,
workshops, television and radio talk shows, articles in scholarly journals.
It
is also expected that the result of this study would make law librarians in the
faculties of law libraries in South-South, Nigeria, aware of their
responsibilities which include provision of legal information sources to law
lecturers and students. Librarians would realize where they need to re-adjust
and where to improve upon, especially getting re-skilled, and acquiring the
professional competencies required so that they situate themselves to become
and remain relevant in the information global age.
In addition to the above, the
findings of this study would be of benefit to the law lecturers as it would act
as a catalyst to the provision of facilities, acquisition of current legal
information sources, improved services that are appropriate to support
teaching, learning and research. Scholars would benefit from this through
current information research findings on law libraries emanating from
conferences, seminars, etc. Significant contribution would be made to
researchers on the body of literature which would serve as reference materials
for further research work. A researcher would find some aspect of the study
useful and relevant to the literature review when researching on similar study.
The result of this study would be
significant to university library management as documentary resource in
planning, organizing directing, and controlling their duties and other
technical aspects of managing a law library.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study covered evaluation of legal
information sources and services in law libraries in federal universities in
the South-South namely; University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt,
University of Uyo and University of Calabar. This study was limited to
evaluation of currency of legal information sources, adequacy, services,
challenges, and strategies to enhance acquisition of legal information sources
and effective services delivery in the law libraries of Federal Universities in
South-South, Nigeria.
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