According to some publications, increasing number of people are turning to the internet as their preferred source of information. Transporting library services to the online environment is therefore essentially necessary as it assists online library patrons/researchers to obtain reliable information on the internet.
This study therefore seeks to determine the extent to which academic libraries in Nigeria provide online services to its patrons, highlighting the need for online information services and identifying the factors hindering provision of effective online services.
Sample data were consequently obtained from the library websites of ten Nigerian Universities through an online questionnaire designed using ‘survey monkey” – an intelligent survey software.
Having eulogized Nigeria’s improvement in the telecommunications industry within the past few years, the study however revealed that online information literacy instructions, online reference services, remote access to online catalogue, webblog and online document delivery were never provided by the sampling academic libraries.
Similarly, lack of web technological skilled librarian, lack of funds and lack of basic information infrastructure were identified as some of the factors militating against provision of online information services by these academic libraries
In conclusion, solutions such as retraining of library staff through workshops and conferences, the use of open source, open access databases and journals and free web based resources were suggested as ways to address some of the challenges enumerated above.
NAME: UKAH TOCHI .U
REG NO: MIM/EDUC/09791/2008-09
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