Divisions| Information and Communication Technology Division

Brief History of the Division

The Information & Communication Technology Division (ICTD) is one of the functional divisions of Kashim Ibrahim Library. The history of the Division can be traced to the library’s automation project of early 1980s, thereabout thirty-eight years after the opening of the Kashim Ibrahim Library as the main university library to the public in December 1976 by Sir Kashim Ibrahim the then Governor of defunct Northern Region was when the Division was created in 2012/2013 academic session. The Division has metamorphosed into seven servicing units from grants, sponsorships, interventions, numerous philanthropist contributions as well as benefited from corporate social responsibilities. These comprised the roles of Ford Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, National University Commission, World Bank, Education Tax Fund (now Tertiary Institution Trust Fund), MTN Nigeria and National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeria.

The seven functional Units of the Division comprise:

1. CD-ROM Database Search Unit,
2. Digitization Unit,
3. Internet Training/Electronic Classroom Unit,
4. Information Commons Unit,
5. The MTN Connect Unit,
6. The Postgraduate Electronic Library Unit, and
7. The Technical Service Unit.

These units were created to deliver the Virtual Library Project as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria on Library Automation in all academic libraries in 2003. The ICTD work in collaboration with other divisions in the main library, satellite libraries, faculties, departmental and centres libraries of the Ahmadu Bello University library complex system to further information found on the University library pages, electronic resources, online and off-line services and related links.

 

Mission of the ICT Division

The mission of ICTD is to bridge information gaps, promote visibility and credible research-base services, maintain and sustain the digital library system of Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Vision of the ICT Division

The vision of the ICTD is to add value to all faculty status, sustain digital literacy, evolve the use of library spaces and facilities acquired resources according to the best library practices globally.

Head of Division

Full Name: Aminu Musa Umar
Rank: Senior Librarian
Appointed: .....
Title: Mal.
Position: Head of Division
E-mail: .....
Office Addr: Kashim Ibrahim Library, ABU Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.

Research Endeavour: The ICTD Strength

• Maintain resources in diverse digital formats that support teaching, learning, research and community information needs
• Promote the visibility of local contents in order to facilitate access and retrieval globally
• Internet Training/Electronic Classroom Unit,
• Assist library users to identify, locate, retrieve and access acquired digital-based resources
• Instruct users on efficient ways to utilize acquired digital resources
• Provide appropriate platforms that support acquisition of threshold (basic) soft skills for evaluation and assessment of information resources use for academic and non-academic purposes, and
• Actively participate in teaching basic research processes, referencing styles, anti-plagiarism, scholarship ethics to enhance library services

Activities of the ICTD Units:
1. The CD-ROM Database Search Unit
• Provide access to off-line databases
• Instructs students on diverse information search strategies
• Acquaint patrons of the available and functionable CD-ROM-based resources for research and academic activities
• Prepare comprehensive list of acquired/subscribed database with their respective user names and password for library stakeholders use
• Mine the databases acquired/subscribed for consistency and operability
2. Digitization Unit
• Digitise non-digital born theses and dissertations for ingest same into the university institutional repository
• Upload digital born information resources into the university institutional repository
• Support library digital-based services
• Collect, collate, preserve, conserve and disseminate intellectual resources admissible by the Institutional output of the university according to the digital repository policy of the library
• Provide adequate access points that can be discovered with search engines for easy retrieval
• Categorise contributors to the institutional repository to the development of the collective efforts
• Provide guidelines for the use of Ahmadu Bello University digitized resources
3. Internet Training/Electronic Classroom Unit
• Conduct and collaborate instructional trainings
• Admit faculty to conduct instruction and training sessions to their students
• The space is also open for library staff and users on different aspects of library functions and use
• Arouse interest in research through support and facilitation instructional programmes
4. Information Commons Unit
• Provide space for group learning and study
• Encourage exploration, creation and collaboration for the purpose of learning, teaching, and research among stakeholders
• Provide access to variety of flexible learning spaces
• Provide learning hubs and support services
• Arouse renew interest in research and teamwork
• One-on-one discussion consultation
• Small group discussion collaboration meetings
• Conference seminar preparation
• Mock interview
• Poster presentation rehearsal
• Printing/photocopying
5. The MTN Connect Unit
• Provide e-learning spaces for undergraduate students
• Provide access to wide array of electronic, digital and virtual information resources and services
• Provide internet-based services
• Promote student self-development
6. The Postgraduate Electronic Library Unit
• Provide e-learning spaces for postgraduate students
• Provide access to wide array of electronic, digital and virtual information resources and services
• Provide internet-based services
• Promote student self-development
• Provide space for exchange, exploration, creative and collaborative learning, teaching and research among postgraduate students, faculty and university stakeholders
• Small group discussion collaboration meetings
• Conference seminar preparation
• Mock interview
• Poster presentation rehearsal
• Printing/photocopying
7. The Technical Service Unit
• Provide advisory roles on technical services (ICT)
• Carry out periodic checks and maintenance of ICTs
• Provide and install licensed software
• Ensure the library complex networks is effective and efficient in collaboration with the University’s IAIICT Institute

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