DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS' ANXIETY LEVEL IN THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN EKITI AND ONDO STATES

Abstract

This paper made a demographic comparative analysis of LIS professionals' anxiety level in the use of ICTs in Nigeria using the Tech Anxiety Rating Scale. The descriptive study used a questionnaire for data collection. The study elicited data from 102 librarians in 12 public tertiary institutions in Ekiti and Ondo States. The study found that demography caused a moderate level of anxiety in the use of ICT among LIS professionals, and that the level of LIS professionals' anxiety about the use of ICTs in performing library operations in tertiary institution libraries is high. Strategies for reducing ICT anxiety among LIS professionals included regular ICT training and adaptation of computer experience. The hypotheses tested revealed that there is no significant difference between the level of ICT anxiety among male and female LIS professionals, and between the levels of ICT anxiety among experienced and inexperienced LIS professionals in higher institution libraries in Ekiti and Ondo States. Hypotheses tested also revealed a significant difference between the levels of ICT anxiety among old and young LIS professionals, and between the levels of ICT anxiety among married and unmarried LIS professionals in higher institution libraries in Ekiti and Ondo States. It was therefore recommended that demographic variables should be incorporated into the process of introducing ICTs in libraries.