INFLUENCE OF INSECURITY ON ICT-BASED LIBRARY SERVICE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the impact of insecurity on ICT-based library services in tertiary institutions in Adamawa State. Four objectives guided the study. The study answered four research questions and tested two null hypotheses. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire administered to 37 library staff members selected from four tertiary institutions through stratified random sampling. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to analyze the data, while regression analysis was used to test the null hypotheses. The findings include the following: Physical threats, viruses, and cybercrime had mean ratings between 3.54 and 3.65, indicating a 'Very High Security Threat. 'Ransom and malware threats had mean ratings of 2.63 and 2.75, indicating a 'High Security Threat.'; The overall impact of insecurity on ICTbased library services in tertiary institutions was rated at a high extent (mean = 3.00, SD = 0.88);There was a positive moderate relationship between insecurity and the reliability of ICT-based library services (correlation coefficient r = 0.63), and a significant relationship was found between insecurity and reliability; There was a positive high relationship between insecurity and confidence in ICT-based services (correlation coefficient r = 0.69), and this relationship was found to be significant in Adamawa State libraries; and The study recommended that library staff increase efforts to protect against security threats, especially those from human sources such as strangers using the libraries, by enhancing security vigilance.