1. IMPACT OF PERCEIVED HEALTH CHALLENGES ON LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
PROFESSIONALS ON THE USE OF COMPUTER BASED SYSTEMS
BEING
SEMINAR II PAPER - IRMA 904
PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF
Ph.D. DEGREE IN INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
TO
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
LECTURER
PROF. `BUNMI ALEGBELEYE
BY
AYORINDE P. ODUROYE
MATRIC NO.: PG/11/0013
APRIL 2013

2. Introduction
Library services have been modernized from the
traditional manual way of providing library services.
Many academic or university libraries have been
automated, meaning, most of the duties carried out by
librarians and information science professionals have
been programmed into the computers for automatic
execution, for example, borrowing of books can be
done online, cataloguing and classifications have also
been automated, these have given the users a lot of
opportunities to search many libraries and databases
worldwide for information. Computer-based systems
are used where circulation, reference and technical
services are fully automated.

3. Intro cont.
• Computers have become a creative tool in the hands of librarians
and information science professionals. According to Norton (2000),
“computers are tools – nothing more or less”. They are used to
enable productivity, enhance performance and make the user to be
more self-sufficient whether the computers are used for research,
communications, word processing, learning or time-management.
• With the Computer technology around, the world has become a
global village, people use e-mail for personal communications and
carry out other duties online with ease. The advantages of being
computer literate and the acquisition of various skills make the user
more attractive to prospective employers, guarantee higher
performance and envisage productivity. With this framework in
mind, we can see the reason why most librarians and information
professionals are computer literate and use computers actively in
their works.

4. Statement of the Problems
It has been found out from literatures that heavy use of computer
technology can cause some physiological and psychological
problems to the users. Uwaifo (2008) carried out a survey research
on the health risks faced by library staff in Nigerian libraries as a
result of using computer based systems. The result stated that a
wide range of health hazards were identified among library staff
using computer based systems. A number of prevailing health
challenges that were found among regular users of computer based
systems are eye strain, headaches, backaches and stress resulting
from information overload. Therefore, since librarians and
information professionals make use of computer based systems
regularly for the execution of their jobs and for higher productivity,
then they are vulnerable to these health challenges.

5. The Objectives of the Paper
The objective of this paper are:
to use the explanatory and descriptive methods to look
into the perceived health implications or challenges
that librarians and information professionals are
susceptible to as a result of using computer-based
systems to enhance their service delivery and increase
productivity.
to proffer solutions that can minimize the perceived
health challenges on the lives of library and
information professionals
To suggest some exercises that can be practiced
regularly.

6. Functions of Librarians and Information Professionals
• Librarians and Information Professionals are vital
in the acquisition, preservation and making
information available to the users. Without them,
the users will not be able to access and use
information accordingly. Cullen (2001) posited
that these professionals need to be able to
provide satisfactory services to the users since
the global digital revolution has affected both the
traditional forms of creation, organization, and
dissemination of knowledge.

7. Functions cont.
Library and Information professionals provide a
wide range of services in the areas of
classification systems, taxonomies, tagging
structures, thesauri, retention schedules,
information audits, knowledge audits,
information research, information resources
planning and acquisition, organizing training
programs for people on how to seek and use
information, information and knowledge literacy
campaigns, and host of other responsibilities.

8. Functions cont.
Library and Information professionals are found in a variety of
public, private, non-profit, and academic institutions. They
can also be found in the legal records offices as well as in
the library of several organizations. They are known as
information architects and managers, business analysts,
knowledge managers, information curators, community
managers, Archivist, Business Intelligence Officer, Chief
Information Officer, Community Information Officer,
Customer Service Officer, Data Researcher, Information
Consultant, Records Manager, Librarian, Program Manager,
Research Officer, Web Manager or Web master among
others, and all those that have information management as
a core part of their skill portfolio.

9. Perceived Health Implications from the Use of Technology
Technostress is a term coined from the combination of psychological
and physiological problems that are caused from the use of
automation; this assertion was made by Harper (2002) and stated in
Oketunji (2012). Coghill (1974) also buttressed the effect of
technostress on computer users that “headaches and muscular
dysfunctions may result from over exposure to computer terminals
while electromagnetic radiation produced by computer monitors or
visual display units (VDU) has been linked to miscarriages and to
other serious medical conditions including cancer (Oketunji, 2012,
p.34), this means that librarians and information science
professionals are susceptible to these health challenges due to their
use of computer-based systems for productivity and high
performance.

10. Perceived Psychological Problems and Disorders Among Librarians and
Information Science Professionals as a result of use of computer-based systems
In Psychology Information Online, a resource for
information about the practice of psychology, it
was noted that when psychological problems
interfere with emotional or physical health, it can
have great impact on work productivity and life
adjustment. Some of the perceived basic
psychological problems and disorders among
librarians and information science professionals
are anxiety, depression and stress. These
disorders can reduce work productivity and
increase absenteeism.

11. Depression
• Psychology Information Online describes depression as a
“psychological condition that changes how you think and
feel, and also affects your social behavior and sense of
physical well-being.” Depression causes emotional pains; it
can affect the lives of families and friends, this is
manifested in the strain relationships that do occur at work
and at home occasionally.
• Depression manifests itself in form of physical illness,
such as sleep and appetite disturbances. Depressed people
are seen as weak or lazy at work, so when an active worker
or colleague suddenly change behavior or manifest some of
the above, he or she may be depressed. In a situation like
this, the services of a psychologist would be needed to
assist the affected person.

12. Stress
The internet is full of information both classified and
unclassified. The information is so enormous that
Library and Information Professionals do get stressed
as a result of information overload. Stresses do occur
when there is a role conflict, especially when job
descriptions are not properly stated. Other stressor
areas are political and group pressures at work. All are
sources of stress to the workers. Basically, some of the
works or activities that are carried out on regular basis
in the library or information centers involve sitting
down for a long time (sedentary work), arm-stretching,
bending and prolonged operations on the computer
keyboard.

13. Verzosa (1999) stated that librarians and information professionals are
also exposed to risks from indoor pollutants, such as dust from
books, dust from residual powder from photocopy machines and
dust from cleaning the library and information centers. The effect
of these risks may result in respiratory diseases such as asthma,
bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases to mention but few. The
impacts of all these physical and psychological challenges on job
performance are numerous, such as frequent absences from duty
due to sickness or visit to the hospitals, human error on important
assignments due to fatigue, and other emotional problems. The
result of all these is underperformance which relatively have impact
on the aims and objectives of the organization, and the
expectations of the library and information center users.
Respiratory diseases

14. Challenges from the use of computer keyboards and VDU
• Improper use of computer keyboard can lead to injury
from the short term discomfort to serious conditions
like carpal tunnel syndrome. Library and Information
Science professionals on computer-based systems are
susceptible to this discomfort because of the repetitive
nature of their work, challenges like pains on their
hands and fingers due to prolong use of the keyboard,
and shoulder pains may be experienced.
• Problems can also arise when the screen is poorly
positioned, meaning, it is too high/low/close/ or far
from the worker. Eyestrain can be increased when
there is glare on the screen from overhead lights or
windows.

15. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)
• According to a statistics from the United States Research
Institute of Work (2009), over 40% of all Washington State
Fund workers’ compensation claims among office workers
are on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). It
resulted in medical and time loss costs of over $12 million
per year to State Fund employers, and is responsible for
70,000 lost work days per year. Work-related
Musculoskeletal Disorders are group of painful disorders of
muscles, tendons and nerves. Examples of Work-related
Musculoskeletal Disorders are neck strain, shoulder
tendinitis, low back pain; carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic
outlet syndrome; and hand and wrist tendinitis.

16. Solutions
• the management of the library and Information
Centers should put in place facilities that can boost the
morale of their staff and workers, so that they can be
happy in doing their works.
• The management should also put in place a
mechanism that can take care of minor or major
conflicts among workers, and management and
workers in order to resolve the differences before it
generates into unmanageable problems,
• There should be a supportive culture where services
are recognize and appreciated; this will assist in
boosting the morale of workers.

17. Development of Emotional Intelligence
• From the study so far, it has been observed that stress or technostress can
affect the moods of the users and cause strain relationship at workplace,
library and Information professionals need to learn how to understand
and assess people’s behaviors, management styles, attitudes,
interpersonal skills and potential. In TalentSmart.com, it was stated that
“emotional intelligence is the “something” in each of us that is a bit
intangible. It affects how we mange behavior, navigate social
complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results”
(www.talentsmart.com). How the Librarians and Information Professionals
manage their emotions, that is, feelings like anger, jealousy, feeling
slighted, feeling misunderstood, feeling under-appreciated, resentment,
hopelessness, insecurity, fear, anxiety, feeling isolated, feeling powerless,
etc at work can make a lot of difference to their career and daily work life.
The development of Emotional Intelligence by library and Information
Science professionals will help in the reduction of stress for individuals
and organizations, reduction in conflicts among workers, improvement in
relationships and understanding which will result in personal and social
harmony at work place.

18. Ergonomics
• Ergonomics is the scientific study of workplace and the
equipment used and how they can best be designed for
comfort, efficiency, safety and productivity of the user. It
can also be seen as human factors engineering which is the
science of designing machines, products and system to
maximize the safety, comfort and efficiency of the people
who use them. Ergonomics takes into consideration the
physical and mental capabilities and limits of the worker as
he or she interacts with tools, equipment, work methods,
tasks and working environment. Ergonomics can help to
prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over
time into long term disability. It fulfills two goals of health
and productivity. It also reduces cost on hospital bills by
improving safety and health in the workplace.

19. Physical exercises for computer-based system users.
• The following exercises are good for Library and Information professionals
that are computer-based system users. Stretching is beneficial because it
promotes circulation and reduces muscle tension, others are:
• Abdominal Crunches: this exercise basically involves tightening the
muscles in the midsection for several seconds at a time and this can be
done without leaving the desk.
• Chair dips: this involves working on the arms by sitting on the chair, and
the hands are placed firmly on both sides while the body is being moved
an inch or two away from the edge of the chair. The body can also be
dipped down about a foot while after some time, the body will be pushed
back up.
• Wall squats: this is another exercise that can easily be done in the office
without going out. It requires leaning the back against a wall with the feet
at a slight angle to the upper body. The torso will be brought down slowly
until it forms a 45 degree angle with the feet and be in the position for
some seconds.

20. Conclusion
• From the study above, it has been clearly shown that the works of the library and
information science professionals are rapidly changing as a result of new
developments in computer technology which has made the job easier but it also
present new problems for both the management, and the library and information
science professionals. The study has been able to state some of the impacts of the
perceived health challenges that face the library and information science
professionals on the use of computer-based systems. There is need for proper
safe use of computer equipment to prevent injuries, which include maintaining
good body posture, good typing method and workstation adjustments to prevent
work related musculoskeletal disorders. The workstation design which include
appropriate computer table, chair and document holders should be comfortable to
the users. Document holders allow the operator to position and view material
without straining the eyes, neck, shoulder and back muscles. .
• Information dissemination and use of all the solutions and exercises
presented in this study can help library and information science professionals to
increase their productivity, increase work quality, reduce turnover, reduce
absenteeism and increase morale at work and home. Preventive and control
measures can only be truly effective when the workers and the management work
together.