SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION AND ROLE OF LIBRARIANS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study explored the influence of social media on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The study employed a survey research design. A total of 344 librarians participated in the study. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select 252 female and 92 male librarians for the study. The study formulated three (3) research questions and three (3) hypotheses to achieve the aim of the study. The research instrument that was used for data collection was an online questionnaire (Google form) that was administered through social media platforms. Frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used in data analysis while independent sample t-test was employed in hypotheses testing. Findings indicate that Facebook and WhatsApp were the social media frequently utilized by Librarians in Nigeria for retrieving and disseminating information on COVID-19. Also, in the case of Nigeria, Health hazards, Panic and stigmatization are the problems that emanate from social media misinformation on COVID-19. From findings, the study concluded that the roles played by Nigerian Librarians in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic are traditional, specialized roles as disaster information specialist was not significantly performed. Based on the study, it is recommended that the Nigerian Library Association issues a communiqué to both government and private institutions in Nigeria on the need for them to identify and utilize Librarians as Information first responders for disaster management. Furthermore, the Nigerian Library Association should institute special courses or workshops on disaster information management to equip professional Librarians with the required knowledge and skills for performing their roles as disaster information specialist for future disaster outbreaks such as pandemics.