ENHANCING QUALITY RESEARCH OUTPUT THROUGH OPEN KNOWLEDGE PRACTICES IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE: ACASE STUDY OF CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This study examined the extent of Quality Research Output through Open Knowledge in Library and Information Science,   Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State.  The objectives: identified the types of OK resources used, assess awareness levels, determining the purposes of utilization, and explored challenges faced by students. The research adopted descriptive survey design and collected data through questionnaires with a population of 282 registered LIS students, achieving a 91.1% response rate. Descriptive statistics with percentages, mean and frequency counts were used for analysis. The literature review highlighted OK as a transformative model in scholarly communication, offering free, immediate access to research articles, e-books, and other resources. Key findings revealed that OK e-books, research articles, and conference papers were the most utilized resources. Students primarily used OK for assignments, class presentations, and updating lecture notes. Awareness of OK resources was relatively high, with most respondents acknowledging their availability in the library. However, significant barriers included inadequate knowledge of locating online items, difficulty accessing relevant materials, and insufficient internet facilities. The study recommended that library management should enhance user training programs to improve information retrieval skills, invest in better ICT infrastructure to facilitate remote access and regular evaluations of users' abilities to navigate OK resources utilisation. In conclusion, OK resources are vital for academic success, particularly in technical institutions like polytechnics. Addressing the identified challenges through targeted interventions, will empower students to leverage OK effectively, fostering a culture of quality research and innovation.