ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to investigate information Seeking and Use by The Physically Challenged: A Case Study of University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Four (4) research questions were raised, and the research questions sought to find out the information needs of the physically challenged students using the University Library Complex, the information available to the physically challenged, the extent the physically challenged access and use the information at the University Library Complex and what are the challenges they face. The research adopted a survey research design; the instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire; a probability sampling technique was used; and data collected from the respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, tables, frequencies, and percentages. The study revealed that the majority of the respondents seek information for their educational needs, they seek information through the guidance of the teacher/librarian, they acquired and used information resources for the acquisition of new knowledge, they considered the inability to access buildings where they would access information as the major challenge they are faced with. In line with the study's findings, it was recommended thatthe physically challenged students of Ahmadu Bello University should endeavour to seek and use the information for their other information needs, not just for their educational needs. They should leverage the library, librarians, friends, family, assistive technologies, and the many formats of information resources as the channel through which they seek and utilize information.
TABLE OF CONTENT
DECLARATION 2
CERTIFICATION 3
DEDICATION 4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 5
ABSTRACT 6
TABLE OF CONTENT 7
LIST OF TABLES 10
ABBREVIATIONS 11
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study 12
1.2 Statement of the Problems 14
1.3 Research Question 15
1.4 Objectives of Study 16
1.5 Significance of Study 16
1.6 Scope of Study 16
1.7 Limitation of Study 17
REFERENCES 18
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction 19
2.2 Concept of Information Needs and Information Seeking. 19
2.2.1 Information Needs of the physically challenged students. 21
2.2.2 Information Seeking and strategies for meeting information Needs. 22
2.2.3. Information utilization and Purposes 23
2.2.4 Theoretical Framework 24
2.2.4.1 Benefits Of Applying the Social Model to the Study 28
2.2.4.2 Challenges Associated with Physical Disabilities That Social Model Addresses 28
2.2.5 Empirical Review of Previous Studies on information seeking and use by people with special needs in other Contexts 32
2.6. Summary of the Review 34
REFERENCES 35
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 37
3.2 Research Design 38
3.3 Population of Study 38
3.4 Sample and Sampling Technique 39
3.5 Instrument of Data Collection 39
3.6 Procedure for Data Collection 40
3.7 Procedure for Data Analysis 40
REFERENCES 41
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.0 Introduction 42
4.1 Response Rate 42
4.2 Descriptive Analysis 42
REFERENCES 51
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.0 Introduction 52
5.1 Summary of Study 52
5.2 Summary of the Major Findings 53
5.3 Conclusion 54
5.4 Recommendations 54
5.5 Suggestion for Further Studies 55
BIBLIOGRAPHY 57
APPENDIX 1 61
APPENDIX 2 61
APPENDIX 3 65
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4. 1 Age Demographics of Respondents 44
Table 4. 2 Gender Demographics of Respondents 44
Table 4. 3 Level Distribution of Respondent 44
Table 4. 4 Category of Physical Challenge 45
Table 4. 5 Information Needs of the Physically Challenged Students 45
Table 4. 6 Methods of Information Seeking of the Physically Challenged Students 46
Table 4. 7 Strategies for meeting information needs of the physically challenged 47
Table 4. 8 Information use and Purposes 48
Table 4. 9 Challenges faced by the physically challenged using information resources 49
Table 4. 10 Suggested Solutions to the challenges faced by the physically challenged using information resources. 50
ABBREVIATIONS
ABU – Ahmadu Bello University
BLIS – Bachelor of Library and Information Science
WHO – World Health Organization
VI – Visual Impairment
SI – Speech Impairment
HI – Hearing Impairment
OI – Orthopedically Impairment
MC – Mental Challenged
PWDs – Persons With Disabilities
ICTs – Information Communication Technologies
UPIAS – Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation ()
ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
CD – Compact Disk
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Information seeking through different sources by various groups are essential activity noted by authors in social and allied sciences to satisfy a noted gap in information needs.Libraries worldwide have also been noted to provide information resources and services in various formats to meet users' information needs. Academic libraries have been established to provide unrestricted access to information resources free of charge to all the residents of academic communities. Akanwa (2013), cited by Emenalor (2019), defined a library as a place or organization that provides information resources, services and recreational outlets for the generality of its citizenry, such as the young, old, literate and non-literate. Unlike other types of libraries, the public library is not restricted to any group of users, and the collections are developed to reflect the diversity of their clientele. Its services, resources and facilities should suit the local needs of its communities and users.
According to Oketunji and Oketunji (2016), Information need originates from the desire to know or clear the uncertainty, which becomes a motivation that propels the problem into need. Put differently; information need arises when the state of possessed knowledge is less than that needed to deal with some issues. LISWiki (2015) observed that an Information need is a gap in a person's knowledge. When a person identifies such a gap, it may be expressed as a question or a search query. To Tubachi (2018), information is a basic need of human beings. He further posited that people from all walks of life need information. Information is needed for socioeconomic development, and People need information for decision-making.
World Book Encyclopaedia (2004) defined physically challenged in society as people born with disabilities or those who develop them later in life. There are, however, many types of challenges or disabilities, both physical and mental, and they vary significantly in causes, degrees and treatments. Common disabilities include blindness, deafness, deformity, loss of limbs, mental illness, mental retardation, and muscular, nervous and sensory disorders. Okoli (2010) observed the horrors of architectural buildings, which have discouraged many challenged persons from having an education. Okoye (2010), in a study conducted in a Nigerian university, affirmed that many challenged students rely on their roommates, friends, and relations for their activities with insufficient institutional support mechanisms.
Moreover, they suffer social discrimination and cultural bias in their search for improved skills and achievement. These harm their information-seeking behaviour. For their daily survival, physically challenged people needs to cover a wide variety of issues and concerns. A study done in 2001 by the World Bank revealed that significant needs centre around coping skills, physical and economic survival, and the ability to protect themselves from exploitation by caregivers and community members. Other needs concern health and legal issues, business skills, education, and the need to be cared for (World Bank, 2001). Although the information has not been explicitly mentioned as a need, access to information underpins the ability to empower themselves for survival.
Koren (1998), as cited by Oketunji and Oketunji (2016), noted that people (whatever their physical nature) need information for many reasons, and therefore, they are considered information seekers regardless of age. Oketunji and Oketunji (2016) proposed that information is needed in all stages of human development, but information seeking can often be expensive and time-consuming. They further posited that information seeking is the consequence of a felt information need by a user who may then demand formal and informal information sources or services to satisfy the need. Wilson (1999), as cited by Berget, and MacFarlane (2019), defined information seeking and searching as involving various activities, such as choice of sources, query formulation/revision, an inspection of results lists provided by the query, and choice of documents to inspect from that results lists. Other activities include browsing, monitoring the search process, accessing specific sources, keeping a record, and information use and sharing. Every activity has its distinct characteristic, and impairments will affect each activity in various ways. Likewise, to Karunarathna (2008), information-seeking deals with the psychological behaviour of the seeker. It involves the searching, locating, retrieving and using of the information. Crisp (2002) affirms that disability can lead to frustration in some cases and can adversely degenerate to a level that an individual may not be able to actualize his aspirations. Moreover, the physically challenged or disabled can seek information for social and personal development and thus place him/her in a position to function better in society. Also, the knowledge gained, coupled with information on assistive devices and the acquisition of such devices, gives the physically challenged an added advantage in overcoming the limitations of his disability.
Based on Singh (2015) and the WHO (2011) estimates, 15% of the world's population - approximately 1 billion persons- experiences some form of disability. People with disability are people with physical or mental conditions that limit their ability to function, move and act. People with disabilities also refer to people with physical and mental impairment, such as Visual Impairment (VI), Speech Impairment (SI), Hearing Impairment (HI), Orthopedically Impairment (OI), and Mental Challenged (MR). It can be an in-born disability, an acquired disability, or a developed disability. Nevertheless, their information, educational, and medical needs should not be neglected at any cost. Singh further surmised that differently-abled people, such as blind and visually impaired people, traditionally read Braille, Tape Audio-Books and large print books to get knowledge and overcome their information gap.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
Information is one of the fundamental human rights that permits self-development and active participation in a democratic society (Todaro,2001). Research shows that everyone, including the physically challenged, needs information for daily decision-making (Yoon & Kim, 2011). Most people with disability using the University Library complex at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria cannot easily access and use the information housed in the library. People with hearing impairments cannot access public information; newspapers, books, and educational materials offered in the library are inaccessible to persons with visual impairments (Mensah, 2008). As part of Sustainable Development Goal 4, which declares the need to ensure "inclusive and equitable education for all", unfortunately, most physically challenged persons using Ahmadu Bello University library complex resources at Zaria can not access information resources. According toAyoung, Baada, and Baayel (2021), the physical inaccessibility of library buildings is the biggest challenge to PWDs. Most libraries have been constructed in a manner that virtually prevents the physically disabled from gaining access. Even when they can get inside a library, interior planning grants them little to no freedom of movement.Given the growing trend of disability worldwide, some countries in West Africa have no exemption (Ghana) (National Health Policy, 2007; WHO, 2013).
Given the above, Ahmadu Bello University library complex Zaria will do well for PWDs if they embrace adaptive technologies. Several studies focus on access and use of resources by the physically challenged and emphasized more on library services for persons with visual impairment, physical barriers in the library-built environment, accessibility of online resources, and the impact of legislation on library service provision for the physically challenged. However, none of these studies looks at adaptive technologies and how they can help holistically meet the information needs of the physically challenged. Literature needs to be more present on the availability and use of adaptive technology by PWDs in libraries in Kashim Ibrahim Library Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. This study aimed to examine information-seeking and use by people with special needs in the Kashim Ibrahim Library Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria library.
1.3 Research Question
This study focuses on answering the following research questions:
1. What are the information needs of the physically challenged students using the University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria?
2. What information is available for the physically challenged using University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria?
3. To what extent do the physically challenged access and use the information at the University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria?
4. What are the challenges faced by the physically challenged using information resources at University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
This study focus on answering the following research objectives questions:
1. To identify the information needs of the physically challenged students using the University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
2. To identify information resources available for the physically challenged students at University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
3. To examine the extent of information used by the physically challenged students at the University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
4. Find out the challenges faced by the physically challenged students at University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The findings of this research will be vital to the students who are disabled or with a particular need for the Library and Information Sciences undergraduate level at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU.) Zaria. The findings and recommendations of this study would contribute to the existing knowledge of the said students and the whole students of A.B.U Zaria. Thus this research will significantly benefit the stakeholder, government, University management, host communities and Students.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on information seeking and use by people with special needs using the University library complex of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Other aspects should have been covered.
Undergraduate students with special needs of the Department of Library and Information Sciences, Faculty of Education in the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Their information-seeking pattern is rapidly changing from using the traditional library information system to the digital information system.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
The study limited investigations to information seeking and use by people with special needs using the University library complex of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Information behaviour study is broader in scope. However, the research topic in this study is limited to the physically challenged students at University Library Complex, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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