ABSTRACT

 The objectiveof thestudy wastoassessthe application of ICTin the Technical ServicesSections of Polytechnic Libraries in Nigeria. Thus, the study tried to discover, among others, thetypes of ICTfacilities available in the Technical Services Sections of Nigerian PolytechnicLibraries, routine operations in Technical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries,where ICTs are applied, extent of the relevance of ICT in executing routine tasks in TechnicalServices Sections of Nigerian Polytechnics Libraries and effects of ICT application in stockmanagement in the Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries. To achieve the objectives of the study, eightresearch questions were formulated. The study adopted survey research method which allowedthe collection of data through questionnaire and use of sample. The data collected were analyzedusing descriptive statistics in form of frequency count and percentages. The data collected wereinterpreted and analyzed to arrive at thefindingsof the study.The study discoveredamongothers that, the types of ICTfacilities availablein Technical Services Sections of NigerianPolytechnic Libraries included computer, scanner/printer, Internet, website, local area network/Intranet, CD-ROM player and, telephone. However, from observation, it was found that some ofthese ICTdevices werenotallinstalledin theTechnical Services Sectionsof Polytechniclibraries but were available within the polytechnic. The data collected revealed that computerswere adequate as recorded in the responses of 69(56.6%) respondents, while Internet, librarywebsite and local area network, were not adequate from the responses of 66(54.1%),71(58.2%),and60(49.2%)respectively.ItassessedtheroutinejobsinTechnical ServicesSectionsofPolytechnic Libraries where ICT were applied. The data on this indicated that the main use ofcomputer in Technical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries is in cataloguing,duplicate verification, classification and classification verification. While the least use of ICT asdiscovered was in budget allocation to subject or items in the Technical Services Sections ofNigerian polytechnic libraries as recorded in responses of 3(2.5%), 6(4.9%), 6(4.9%), 0(0.0%),and 3(2.6%) respondents respectively. It concluded that ICT has revolutionalized library andinformation services. ICT has developed to such a stage that it has given access to information atfingertips. The study recommended that variety of ICT facilities should be made available inTechnical Services Sections of Nigerian Polytechnic Libraries to enable them catch up withadvances in technology, which can help to increase the opportunities available for competitionsby improving on information management capacity of the libraries. Internet and other socialnetworking platforms make it possible for more widespread sharing and collaborative use ofinformation. Textretrieval systems, documentmanagementsystems and a host of other ICTtoolsusedinknowledgemanagementhavecreatedopportunitiesforlibrariesandusersalike.