Abstracts
Abstract
Objective – The aim of this study was to examine the practice of infopreneurship by librarians in public university libraries in South-South Nigeria. The study specifically intended to identify purposes of engaging in infopreneurship, methods of running infopreneurship, forms of infopreneurship practiced, benefits derived from practicing infopreneurship, and challenges encountered in practicing infopreneurship by the librarians.
Methods – The population of the study comprised all 175 librarians in 13 public university libraries in South-South Nigeria, which were purposively chosen for the study. The study employed convenience sampling to engage 102 librarians in the university libraries, who were involved in one form of infopreneurship or another. The librarians were identified through preliminary investigation, observation, and interaction with the librarians by the researchers. The instrument for data collection was a self-designed online questionnaire titled, “Librarians’ Infopreneurship Practice Questionnaire (LIPQ).” The instrument was validated by two experts in the Department of Library and Information Science in Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Reliability test was not conducted on the instrument, based on the knowledge that a valid test tends to be reliable. The researchers distributed 128 digital copies of the draft of the validated questionnaire to the librarians through personal WhatsApp accounts of the librarians, WhatsApp groups of the various university libraries and WhatsApp groups of the different state chapters of the Nigerian Library Association to which the librarians belonged. Out of the 128 questionnaires administered, 102 were properly completed by the librarians and returned, producing a response rate of 97.69%. The data collected were analyzed using weighted mean and standard deviation.
Results – The results from data analysis revealed that the librarians’ purposes of engaging in infopreneurship were to earn extra income, provide for post-retirement, meet unforeseen demands, and develop themselves. The librarians’ methods of running infopreneurship were leveraging, customizing, facilitating access to, and providing instant delivery of information. They used the following forms of infopreneurship: information brokerage, reprographic services, research-aid services, book vending and internet services. Finally, challenges faced by the librarians in practicing infopreneurship were lack of adequate finance, business infrastructure, technical skill, and high rate of presence of non-professional infopreneurs.
Conclusion – The findings in this study demonstrate that librarians under study practice infopreneurship primarily for purposes of making money and self-sustenance. They achieve this by leveraging, customizing, facilitating access to and providing quick delivery of information. With these methods, the librarians engage in information brokerage, reprographic services, internet services, research-aid services and book vending. In return, these information professionals enjoy additional income, financial independence, accumulated knowledge, and enhanced sense of fulfillment. However, the practice of infopreneurship by the librarians is hindered by shortage of sufficient funds, technical know-how, business facilities and high rate of presence of unprofessional infopreneurs in the business.
Appendices
Bibliography
- Adetayo, A. J., & Hamzat, S. A. (2021). Infopreneurship and financial satisfaction among library professionals in tertiary institutions in Ede, Osun, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice. (e-journal), 4749. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4749/
- Agbenyegah, A.T. (2013). Challenges facing rural entrepreneurship in selected areas in South-Africa. (Unpublished Ph. D dissertation). North-West University. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/9493
- Ajibola, A. E. (2019). Democracy, good governance and development in Nigeria. Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research, 8(7), 80-88. https://doi.org/10.5897/JPAPR2016.0378
- Akinyemi, F. O. &Adejumo, O. O. (2018). Government policies and entrepreneurship phases in emerging economies: Nigeria and South Africa. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 8(35). 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-018-0131-5
- Akpelu, F.E. (2019). Job enhancement strategies for teachers’ performance in public senior secondary schools in Rivers State. (Unpublished PhD thesis). University of Port Harcourt.
- Akpena, J. E., & Duosake, H. A. (2020). Exploring the practice of infopreneurship among librarians in Bauchi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Technologies in Library and Information Management, 6(2), 32-33. http://www.jatlim.org/volumes/Volume%206%20No%202/Johnson.pdf
- Amakiri, D. S., & Tatfeng, M. M. O. (2019). Galvanizing the infopreneurship career development for office and information management professionals. IIARD International Journal of Economics and Business Management, 5(4), 10-14. https://www.iiardjournals.org/get/IJEBM/VOL.%205%20NO.%204%202019/Galvanizing%20the%20Infopreneurship%20Career.pdf
- Amin, P., Heikkilä, H., Hyvämäki, T., Korolyuk, A., Parkkinen, J., Zhang, Z., & Nangini, C. (2011). Infopreneur: From nomads to knowmads. Bitbang: Entrepreneurship and services, 3, 6-20. http://lib.tkk.fi/Reports/20 11/isbn9789526035734.pdf
- Aregbesola, A., Van der Walt, T., Owolabi, S., Idiegbeyan-ose, J., Okocha, F., & Eyiolorunshe, T. (2019). Infopreneurship in a developing country: Opportunities and Challenges. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 640(1), 012123. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/640/1/012123
- Auriol, E. (2013). Barriers to formal entrepreneurship in developing countries. World Development Report. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/16364
- Bureau for Economic Research. (2016). The small, medium and micro enterprise sector of South Africa. BER Research Note, 1. http://www.seda.org.za/Publications/Publications/The%20Small,%20Medium%20and%20Micro%20Enterprise%20Sector%20of%20South%20Africa%20Commissioned%20by%20Seda.pdf
- Chandler, S. (2007). From entrepreneur to infopreneur: Make money with books, ebooks and information products. John Wiley & Sons.
- Chux-Nyehe, G. C., & Nwinyokugi, P. N. (2020). Infopreneurship: Values and implications on employment sustainability of SMEs in Rivers State Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 4(3), 265-267. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341527031_Infopreneurship_Values_and_Implications_on_Employment_Sustainability_of_SMEs_in_Rivers_State_Nigeria
- Coulson-Thomas, C. (2000). Developing and supporting information entrepreneurs. Industrial and Commercial Training, 32(6),231–235. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197850010354214
- David, R., & Dube, A. (2013). Infopreneurial behaviour among university graduates in the information science faculty of a university in Zimbabwe. Engineering education and research and international conference on Information Technology, Cape Town, South Africa: Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
- David, R. & Dube, A. (2014). Infopreneurial behaviour among university graduates in the information science faculty of a university in Zimbabwe. Infopreneurship Journal, 1(2), 18–30. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1190.9601
- Dewah, P., & Mutula, S. (2016). Students’ perceptions of the infopreneurship education in the Department of Records and Archives Management at the National University of Science and Technology. South African Journal of Information Management, 18(1), 717. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim.v18i1.717
- Du Toit, A. (2000). Teaching infopreneurship: Students’ perspectives. Aslib Proceedings, 52(2), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000007003
- El-Kalash, K. I., Mohammed, S. B., & Aniki, Y. (2016). Exploring infopreneurship for economic growth and sustainability in a developing economy: The Nigeria perspective. Journal of Educational Policy and Entrepreneurial Research, 3(7), 241. https://www.academia.edu/27429447/Exploring_Infopreneurship_for_Economic_Growth_and_Sustainability_in_a_Developing_Economy_ The_Nigeria_Perspective
- Elumelu, T. O. (2014). African entrepreneurs will create the jobs Africa needs. http://www.africanglobe.net/business/african-entrepreneurs-create-jobs-africa/
- Fisher, K., & Kunaratnam, Y. Eds. (2007). Between ourselves: The new generation of information and knowledge intermediaries. Signposters, summarisers and synthesizers. Report of a workshop organized by the Institute of Development studies at the University of Sussex, Brighton: United Kingdom, May 2007. http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/Between_ourselves_report.pdf
- Ivwurie, O. M., & Ocholla, D. N. (2016). The status and development of infopreneurship in Nigeria and South Africa. Education for Information, 32, 323-339. https://doi.org/10.3233/efi-160980
- Javier, E., Chevrolier, N., Leenderste, M., Quigless, M., & Verghese, T. (2012). ICT competitiveness in Africa. World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/431511468193130115/pdf/882260 WP0Box380petitiveness0summary.pdf
- Jennings, S. (1998). Librarians, cybrarians, infopreneurs and webmasters. Vine, 28(4), 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040699
- Kazungu, I. (2021). Infopreneurship as a career option among African university students. Southern Africa Journal of Communication and Information Science, 1, 66. https://journals.nust.ac.zw/index.php/sajcis/article/download/18/14
- Kehinde, B. T. (2021). Influence of demographic factors on interest of LIS undergraduates in infopreneurship: A comparative analysis. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1-23. https://www.proquest.com/openview/5ba35dd7721bd55b4d9e870cfb3c16af/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=54903
- Lahm, R. J., & Stowe, R. B. C. (2011). Infopreneurship: Roots, evolution and revolution. Entrepreneurial Executive, 16(1), 107–119. https://www.abacademies.org/journals/month-june-year-2011-vol-16-issue-1-journal-ee-past-issue.html
- Legas, H. (2015). Challenges to entrepreneurial success in Sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative perspective. European Journal of Business and Management, 7(11), 25-31. https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/EJBM/article/view/21804
- Lose, T., & Khuzwayo, S. (2022). Attitudes towards infopreneurship among information science students at a higher education institution. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(1), 50-51. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(1).2022.05
- Mambula, C. (2002). Perception of SME growth constraints in Nigeria. Journal of Small Business Management, 40(1), 58-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-627X.00039
- Masron, M. Z., Yatin, M. S. F., Hussin, N., Taib, K. M., & Wah, Y. B. (2017). Infopreneurship: New career for university graduates. Journal of Informatics and Mathematical Sciences, 9(4), 1219–1226. https://doi.org/10.26713/jims.v9i4.996
- Mbonyane, B., & Ladzani, W. (2011). Factors that hinder the growth of small businesses in South African townships. European Business Review, 23(6), 550–560. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09555341111175390/full/html
- My Guide Nigeria. (2017). South-South region: Your local guide to the South-South region of Nigeria. https://www.myguidenigeria.com/regionalinfo/south-south-region
- National Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Labour Force Statistics. Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- Ndukwe, O. J., & Allison, P. (2021). Good governance and ease of doing business in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. International Journal of Academic Management Science Research (IJAMSR), 5(1), 92. http://ijeais.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/1/IJAMSR210113.pdf
- Ngorora, G. P. K. & Mago, S. (2013). Challenges of rural entrepreneurship in South Africa: Insights from Nkonkobe municipal area in the Eastern Cape province. International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management, 16(1), 3. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/CHALLENGES-OF-RURAL-ENTREPRENEURSHIP-IN-SOUTH-FROM-Ngorora-Mago/8c8d848242629c4b60c81a6af5bb0db59c99a733
- Nweze, C. A. (2018). Utilization of ICT facilities for quality teaching and learning in the 21st century: An overview of public secondary schools in Rivers State. African Journal of Education, 12(2), 5-6. http://ajerduniport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/J19.pdf
- Nworgu, B. G. (2015). Educational research: Basic issues and methodology. (3rd ed.). University Trust Publishers.
- Ocholla, D. N. (1998). Information consultancy and brokerage in Botswana. Journal of Information Science, 24(2), 83–95. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/016555159802400203
- Ocholla, D. N. (1999). Information intermediaries in the next millennium: An agenda for action for the development of information consultancy and brokerage in Africa. Library Management, 20(2), 105–114. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01435129910251584
- Ogbonna, A. U., & Dare, L. A. (2019). Infopreneurship potentials to financial downturn of the unemployed graduates in Nigeria. (Unpublished Ph.D. seminar paper). University of Nigeria.
- Olawale, F., & Garwe, D. (2010). Obstacles to the growth of new SMEs in South Africa: A principal component analysis approach. African Journal of Business Management, 4(5), 729–738. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJBM.9000434
- Olien, J. (2013). Entrepreneurial competency. https://www.scribd.com/document/351418487/Entrepreneurial-Competency.pdf
- Olorunfemi, G. C. (2021). Addressing the state of youth unemployment in Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Psychology and Social Development, 9(4), 106. https://seahipaj.org/journals-ci/dec-2021/IJIPSD/full/IJIPSD-D-10-2021.pdf
- Onaade, O. J. (2012). Information brokerage: An entrepreneurial approach to information services in Nigeria. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 12(20), 12-20. https://globaljournals.org/GJMBR_Volume12/2-Information-Brokerage-an-Entrepreneurial.pdf
- Onwuka, E. M., & Ile-Chika, M. (2006). Entrepreneurship development. Conceptual, theoretical and practical framework, Anambra, Nigeria: Jossy Printing Press.
- Onwuka, E. M., Ugwu, K. E., & Kalu, A. U. (2014). The Effect of policy measures on entrepreneurship development analysis of Nigeria’s experience. European Journal of Business and Management, 6(23), 271. https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/EJBM/article/view/14850
- Ramugondo, L. S. (2021). Infopreneurship as an employment option for library and information science students and graduates in South Africa: A literature review. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), 5948, 5-7. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/5948
- Samitowska, W. (2011). Barriers to the development of entrepreneurship demonstrated by micro, small and medium enterprises in Poland. Economics and Sociology, 4(2), 45. https://dx.doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2011/4-2/5
- Shapiro, C., & Varian, H. R., (1999). Information rules: A strategic guide to the network economy. Harvard Business School Press.
- Smith, K., & Beasley, M. (2011). Graduate entrepreneurs: Intentions, barriers and solutions. Education + Training, 53(8/9), 737. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00400911111185044
- Skrob, R. (2009). Benefit of infopreneurship. www.info-marketing.org
- Taylor, D. P. (2020, Nov. 5). 7 infopreneur business ideas to explore. https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/small-business/articles/infopreneur/
- Weitzen, H.S. (1998). Infopreneurs: Turning data into dollars. John Wiley and Sons.