THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN NIGERIAN LIBRARIES:EXPERIENCES AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

Abstract

The term "information explosion" refers to the massive increase in information generated during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, we are facing an "information revolution" that significantly changes the systems of handling this increasing volume of information. Microelectronics has reduced circuit size and increased reliability and speed of operation, making computers more accessible and efficient. In the technologically developed world, computer processing has become routine, enabling the generation, storage, and retrieval of information. The number and variety of databases available online are increasing daily, with many being searchable through search services. In the Western world, distance is no hindrance, as digital communications have enhanced remote searching. Teletext and Videotext or Viewdata are data systems in England and the USA that link television sets to large computer databases via telephone networks. Optical disc technology, which can store up to 800 million characters of data or 150,000 printed pages, is expected to replace microforms almost entirely.