Library Services Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Study of Remotely Exploitable Electronic Academic Databases in Selected University Libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

The study adopted a research design of the qualitative type to investigate library services amid the COVID-19 Pandemic using remotely exploitable electronic academic databases in two Nigerian foremost university libraries, as case studies. An Interview guide was used to elicit data from E-Librarians of the two Federal University libraries randomly selected for the study. The interview guide contains seventeen questions that seek to proffer answers to the main objective of the study. Response retrieved were analyzed using thematic analysis to extract codes, identify patterns, and create themes relevant to the study’s objective. The study revealed that both libraries have a functional E-library and subscribes to key databases. The study also revealed that both libraries’ websites are connected to open source databases remotely accessible to library users. The study reinforces the need to embrace the change in the global architecture of library services in the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic and make their E-resources remotely accessible to users. The study recommended that library managers should adopt best practices in providing users with remote access to their E-resources. Also, the study underscores the need for library managers to reappraise their memorandum of understanding with E-databases aggregator, allowing their E-resources to be remotely accessible to library users’ thereby limiting users contact with their physical library environment amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.