Reducing the environmental impacts of ICT adoption with library practices and collection development policies in selected university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined practices and collection development policies that reduce the environmental impacts of the adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) in selected university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study adopted a multiple-case-study research design. The findings showed that the available ICT facilities in the selected university libraries include computers, printers, scanners, projectors, photocopiers, CD-ROMs, servers and Internet facilities. The results showed that the ICT facilities that consume a high level of energy/power include printers, photocopiers and computer systems. The results showed that the libraries do not have stated collection development policies that consider the environmental impacts of the acquired ICT facilities, and the common practice of the selected university libraries is the adoption of solar energy to power ICT facilities. The findings showed that the challenges associated with the use of ICTs include technological upgrade, inadequate funding, inadequate management support, erratic power supply and difficulty in repairing faulty ICT facilities.