Library Concepts and Information Sources

Core Concepts

• This session covers libraries, data, information, information literacy, information characteristics and types, information sources, as well as library resource organization.
• Academic library information sources and collections are explored.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand library concepts and functions.
• Learn different sources of information.
• Learn the features of information.
• Identify the resources, facilities, and services at the University of Lagos Library.

Library Concept

• Libraries are organized collections for individual or group use.
• The New Encyclopedia Britannica (2004) defines a library as a collection of books for reading, study, or reference.
• Today, libraries have recorded information organized by purpose, for use, and for users to access.
• Library types vary according to the intended purpose, including public, academic, special, and school libraries.
• All libraries share basic functions, including selection, acquisition, organization, preservation, and information dissemination in both print and digital formats.
• Libraries acquire, organize, and preserve information resources for users.

Information Competence

• Data, information, characteristics of information, types of information, and sources of information are important concepts for information competence and library resource access.
• Data refers to facts used to describe or discuss an item or items.
• Data can be facts, figures, or instructions presented so they can be understood, interacted with, communicated by a human, or processed by a computer (Reitz, 2004).
• Information is defined as facts, news, opinions, messages, symbols, signals, and processed data that can improve a user’s knowledge (Popoola, 2006).
• Information is the building block for knowledge and wisdom.
• Information literacy is the ability to locate, retrieve, evaluate, and apply information by turning it into knowledge.
• Information literacy involves knowing when information is needed (American Library Association 1989).
• Information literacy emphasizes the skill of finding needed information by understanding library organization and resources.

Characteristics of Information

• Information is the building block of knowledge and wisdom, and must be high-quality.
• Good information helps the user make the right decisions.
• Availability/Accessibility is necessary, so information must be within reach of prospective and intended users.
• Fadehan (2010) states information accessibility is the ease of obtaining information.
• The University of Lagos Library provides information to the University of Lagos community and beyond.
• Resources at the University of Lagos Library can be accessed through the traditional catalogue and OPAC.
• Accuracy is key for information to be utilized appropriately.
• Reliability relates to the truthfulness of information.
• Fadehan (2010) stated that reliability is ensured by authoritativeness and dependability.
• Timeliness is critical to relevance, so information needs to be provided on time.
• Fadehan (2010) stated that the timeliness of an information source is an accessibility subset.
• Relevance is key to the intended purpose and suitability for users.

Types and Sources of Information

• Information can be oral, textual, numeric, bibliographic, graphical, or multimedia.
• Information is categorized as primary or secondary.
• Primary sources provide a firsthand account of an event directly.
• Primary sources vary by discipline like literature, history and science.
• Secondary sources analyze, critique, review, or explain primary sources.
• Secondary sources come from people not present when the event occurred, authored by scholars.
• The research topic determines whether primary source documents are essential.

Library Resources at the University of Lagos

• Being able to access information effectively and efficiently is essential.
• The University of Lagos Library offers print, non-print, and audio-visual resources.

Print Resources

• The University of Lagos Library includes general and special collections.
• Print resources include the Africana Collection, Reference Collection, Reserved Collection, Serials Collection, and Recent Accessions.

Africana Collections

• Africana collections have print materials published on Africa from African and non-African authors
• Africana collections are primarily research collections and are housed in the Gandhi Library at the University of Lagos Library in the Research and Bibliographic Department
• To access materials, users should consult the OPAC or the Card Catalogue to obtain bibliographic details, including the call number.
• Africana print collections use a closed access system, so staff retrieves materials for users.
• Special collections include materials from Mahatma Gandhi, D.O. Fagunwa, and Pa S.O. Solanke.
• The collection also has newspapers dating back to 1930, magazines, PhD theses, government papers, materials from non-governmental organizations, cartographic materials, and University of Lagos archives.
• A catalogue at the Gandhi library contains these materials' bibliographic details and are arranged systematically.
• Access is restricted to researchers and postgraduate students unless undergraduates have a letter from their department head, supervisor, or lecturer.
• Africana materials are non-loanable but can be consulted and photocopied within the department.

Reference Collections

• Reference collections are consulted when users need specific information.
• Reference sources can be print or electronic.
• Reference materials contain facts and rarely opinions.
• Materials usually have entries arranged alphabetically.
• Reference collections include dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographies, indexes, abstracts, sources of facts, geographical and bibliographical sources, books of quotation, handbooks, and manuals.

Types of Reference Collections

• Dictionaries provide information on words (spellings, meanings, pronunciation, usage, synonym, etymology and grammatical functions).
• Dictionaries can be general, specialized, or subject-specific
• Examples include Oxford English Dictionary, Chambers English Dictionary, Collin's Roget's International Thesaurus, Dictionary of American Slangs, Dictionary of the Yoruba Language, and Dictionary of Modern Politics.
• Dictionaries are arranged alphabetically and housed in the library's reference section on the ground floor’s left-hand side.
• Encyclopedias have background and current information on all topics, and knowledge fields.
• Encyclopedias can be general or subject-based (Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Americana, Encyclopedia of library and information science, Encyclopedia of linguistics and languages, Encyclopedia of philosophy).
• Encyclopedias are systematically arranged alphabetically and are in the reference section of the University of Lagos Library.
• Fact sources provide facts on current issues, including directories, handbooks, yearbooks, and almanacs.
• Fact sources are housed in the reference section of the library.
• Biographical sources provide information on individuals such as: birth date, education, place of birth, career achievements.
• Biographical sources are universal/current, national, and local such as International Who is Who, Webster's Biographical Dictionary and Who is Who, Africa Who is Who and Newswatch Who is Who.
• These resources are housed in the reference section and the Gandhi Library.
• Bibliographical sources list articles in periodicals, books, conference proceedings, technical reports, theses, and dissertations on a subject or by a given author.
• Bibliographical materials help the user get knowledge within a short time.
• National bibliographies have books from a specified national terrain such as the National Bibliography of Nigeria and the British National Bibliography.
• The Book Seller and the Publisher Trade List Annal cover the trade industry, while the Economic Development in Nigeria and the Bibliographic Guide to Technology are examples of subject-oriented bibliographies.
• Some are in the reference section, but older ones can be found in the Research and Bibliographic Department Library (Gandhi).
• Indexes are directional aids to published materials in serial form within a period of time.
• Indexes include detail on subjects and authors and indicate where items are located.
• Indexes are arranged alphabetically by author, title, and subject and may be published as part of a book or separately
• Indexes include book, collection, periodical, and newspaper types.
• Abstracts summarize publications or articles and provide bibliographic details to trace publications.
• Abstracts provide quick information to users who may not have access to the original document.
• There are indicative, informative, and evaluative abstracts like abstracts of English studies, Nigerian universities dissertation, science abstracts, and chemical abstracts.
• Older CAB abstracts are housed in Gandhi, while recent ones are in the reference section.
• Geographical sources provide information on places as well as physical features (mountains, valleys, rivers)
• Geographical sources include maps, atlases, gazetteers, and travel guides.
• Some of the older items are housed in the Gandhi library, while recent issues are in the reference section.
• Manuals are also ready reference instruments, providing instructions on how to do things when users have those queries.
• Books of Quotation provide quotations on sets of subject by certain authors.
• Handbooks are small ready reference sources of information on many subject issues, similar to a manual.

Reserved Collections

• Reserved collections are valuable resources in the library and cut across all disciplines.
• Reserved collections are rare materials and use a closed access system.
• At the University of Lagos Library, reserved collections are in the Reserved Section to the right on the ground floor.
• The section retrieves materials for users to consult within the reading room.
• Reserved collections are not placed on long loan, but users can access, use, and make photocopies.

Serials Collections

• Serials collections are ongoing publications issued in successive parts.
• Serials include newspapers, magazines, newsletters, journals, indexes, abstracts, reports, proceedings, and transactions of societies.
• Serials collections are known for their currency and information content.
• Serials holdings are recorded in a kardex and are maintained in a library which usually contains bibliographic information.
• Serials collections have an index to magazines for student term papers and class assignments.

Non-Print Resources

• Non-Print materials include electronic books, journals, images, texts/records, servers, CD-ROMS, floppy and flash disks, and hard disks.
• Students can access these resources virtually.
• Non-print resources allow multiple users simultaneously.
• The Automation Section, at the third floor of the library, manages these resources.
• Inquiries can be made at the Reader's Services point.
• The E-Library is at the third floor (undergraduate/postgraduate), and the MTN Connect Library at the AkintundeOjo building.
• The library provides wireless access to resources on personal electronic devices.

Audio-Visual Resources

• Audio Visual Aids mimic learning situations and give first-hand knowledge through the organs of hearing and seeing.
• Audio Aids: Radio, Tape-recorder, Gramophone, Audio cassette player -Available in the Music Library
• Visual Aids – Maps, Pictures, Text-books, Slide projector, Transparency, Print materials etc.- Available in Research and Bibliographic Department and Automation Section of the library.
• Audiovisual Aids LCD projector, Television, Computers, VCD player, Multimedia, Artefacts etc – Available at various sections and the Museum.