Factors Militating Against The Implementations Of Virtual Library Project In Public Colleges Of Education

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Library is a repository of stored knowledge. It is the life-line of every academic institution through out the world.
Everyday new technological advances affect the way information is handled in libraries and information centers. The effectiveness of Implementation of virtual library project are felt by libraries in every aspect. Computing technology, communication technology and mass storage technology are some of the area of continuous development that reshape the way that libraries access, retrieve, store, manipulate and disseminate information to users. Library collection have almost always contained a variety of materials. Contemporary libraries maintain collections that include not only printed materials such as manuscripts, books, newspapers and magazines, but also art productions, films, sound and video recordings, maps, photographs, microfiches, CD-Roms, Computer software, Online databases, and other media.
In addition to maintaining collection within library buildings, modern libraries often feature telecommunications links that provide users with access to information at remote sites. In essence, the library can be referred to as the “life wire” or “Heart” of tertiary institutions as it supports teaching, research and learning. In spite of this vital role most libraries in colleges lag behind their counterparts in developed countries due to absolute materials, dilapidated infrastructure and staff that lack adequate modern library management skills.
The quality of the library and its staff directly affect the quality of the products of the institutions.
The inability of the stakeholders to provide adequate fund to stock libraries with relevant book and materials particularly in academic institutions has a great negative implication for learning, teaching and research. The situation now forces libraries to have a re-think on the way out of the woods. The advent of ICTs and internal, came to the rescue of libraries. Libraries thus began to explore the possibility of deploying the benefits accruing from ICT as a way of reducing the cost of stocking libraries and networking which deals with resources sharing among libraries.
The era of virtual library has emerged in addition to the above. Many authors refer to the virtual libraries as the digital libraries, and electronic libraries (e-libraries). Other regard them as online libraries, or information super highway or universal or libraries without wants.
Here access to a wide range of information resources is possible through computer and telecommunication technologies. Also the users enjoy the euplarea of being able to access collections in distant libraries multmedially, and yet have not physically moved. This required a set of databases in what is referred as virtual cities, buildings and offices. In higher institutions, college of education inclusive virtual classrooms, laboratories and instrumentations all requiring funds must be put in place for the virtual library projects to have real impact on technology, learning and research.

1.2 Statement of the Problems
The issue now is that the researchers wish to look at the implementations of virtual library projects in the colleges of education in Nigeria through the public colleges of education in south east zone since the project is very new in the institutions of higher learning and knowing very well that ordinarily academic libraries in the country are faced with teething problems such as capital to buy hardwares, softwares, expansion training, acquisition of books, journals etc, standing generators, lack of search skills, automation and epileptic power supply.
Hence this study will examine the factors that affect the effective implementations of virtual library projects in public colleges of education in south eastern zone of Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study
The specific objectives of the study are to;
1. To determine the factors militating against the effective implementation of virtual library projects
2. To determines the involvements of the government in implementing virtual library project in the zone.
3. To determine the challenges associated with the implementations of virtual library project in south East College of Education
4. To determine the efficiency and effectiveness of implementation of virtual library
5. To determine how skillful and knowledgeable the staff are in the use of ICT resources.
6. To determine the usefulness of ICT resources in academic libraries.

1.4 Research Questions
1. What are the real factors militating against the effective implementation of virtual library project in South East colleges of education.
2. What are the remedies to remove those factors militating against the effective implementation of virtual library project.
3. In what extent has the government work to remove those factors militating against the effective implementation of virtual library project.
4. How efficient and effective is the use of virtual library project in South East colleges of Education.
5. Do the staff of the academic libraries have the required knowledge and skill in using ICT resources.
1.5 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to ascertain the impact of implementation of virtual library project. The research work highlights the factors militating against the affective implementation of virtual library project in South East Colleges of Education.

1.6 Significance of the Study
i. This study is expected to provide a basic for comprehensive information on factors militating against the affective implementation of virtual library project in south East Colleges of
Education.
ii. The study will established the existing gaps in the adoption of implementation of virtual library project in the operations of academic in achieving their statutory functions.
iii. The output of this study will serve as a blue-print for libraries, information managers/information scientists, researchers, lecturers, students, and teachers to chart the right course of action for the use of information and communication technology in furthering education through policy formulation and implementation.

1.7 Scope/Delimitation of the Study
The scope/delimitation of this study covers about eight (8) libraries of South East public colleges of education. This enables the researchers within the jurisdiction to find real facts about the factors militating against the effective implementation of virtual library projects in south East Colleges of Education.