Information needs, accessibility and utilization of library information resources as determinants of psychological well-being of prison inmates in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigated information needs, accessibility and utilization of library information resources as determinants of psychological well-being of prison inmates in Nigeria. Survey research design of the correlation type was adopted. The stratified random sampling was used to select 2875 inmates from the population of 4,823 in 12 prisons with functional libraries. A questionnaire titled Information need, accessibility, utilization and psychological well-being of Prison Inmates was used to collect data on the sampled 2875 inmates out of which 2759 correctly completed questionnaire resulting in a response rate of 95.34%, were used in data analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of correlation analyses. The study found that there was significant multiple correlation among information needs, accessibility to library information resources, utilization of library information resources and psychological well-being of the inmates (r=0.665.p≤ 0.05). Also, there was significant relationship between: psychological well-being and accessibility to library information resources by prison inmates (r=0.438; p≤ 0.05); utilization of library information resources (r= .410; p≤05), and information needs (r=.454; p≤ 05). Result also indicated that information needs, accessibility to library information resources and utilization of library information resources are very critical ingredients in determining the psychological well-being of prison inmates. Consequently, all stakeholders should endeavour to equip prison libraries with relevant and current information resources for improved psychological well-being of prison inmates. article. Keywords: Psychological well-being. Information needs. Accessibility. Utilization. Library Information Resources. Prison inmates. NigeriaLink: http://www2.marilia.unesp.br/revistas/index.php/bjis/article/view/5034

Information behaviour of prison inmates in Malawi

“…The findings are not surprising in the sense that educational and health information are very important for the inmates so that they can upgrade themselves with the huge of amount of time available to the inmates as well as for them to remain healthy as they serve their respective sentences. Similar findings are reported in descriptive survey research studies on information needs and seeking behaviour of prisoners in Nigerian prisons by Emasealu and Popoola (2016), Sambo et al (2017) and Tarzan et al (2015) who found information on education and health conditions as the most sought-after information by the prisoners.…”

“…Studies by Adegboye (2017), Ajogwu (2006), Emasealu and Popoola (2016), Eze (2014), Sambo et al (2017) and Tarzaan et al (2015) have explored the concept of information needs among prison inmates in Africa. The studies established that the major information needs were related to legal, religious/spiritual, health, literacy and moral education, vocation, recreation and finance.…”

“…Accessing and using information sources by prison inmates is not without some barriers. Some of the barriers as reported in literature are lack of Internet access (Bajic, 2015; Smith, 2012), stigma, self-esteem, trust, misinformation and disinformation (Canning and Buchanan, 2019; Emasealu and Popoola, 2016), language barrier (Campbell, 2005), and limited access to information resources (Drabinski and Rabina, 2015). Other barriers are censorship and lack of professional staff (Sambo et al, 2017; Tarzaan et al, 2015), hostile nature of prison workers, inadequate library materials and uncomfortable nature of prisons (Ijiekhuamhen and Aiyebelehin, 2018; Sambo et al, 2017), high cost of information materials, high rate of illiteracy, lack of awareness on the part of the prison inmates, absence of radio/television programmes, information centres and public libraries services (Tarzaan et al, 2015).…”

Working Experience and Field of Specialisation as Determinant Factors of Engineers’ Utilisation of Information Resources in Libaries of Petroleum Industries in South- South, Nigeria

“…Utilisation varies among individuals, social groups, institutions, government agencies, organizations and establishments. (Emasealu and Popoola, 2016). This corroborates with the opinion of (Goraharper and May, 2013).…”

The information behaviours of maximum security prisoners

“…Emasealu and Popoola (2016), identifying their mixed age participants as both male and female, also identify similar needs, and add financial needs. Similar to Eze (2014), Emasealu and Popoola (2016) also identify needs ranging from developmental to coping. Sambo et al (2017), identifying their participants as male and female from four prisons, concur with previous needs identified and add: human rights, prison rules, and release information.…”