A Survey of Information Resources Required by Ulama to Perform Their Work Roles: A Case Study of Borno State, Nigeria

Information behavior studies within the professional context has came a long way as a major area of study in library and information science as can be seen from the interest it generated as indicated by the large number of researches conducted, especially in the last decade. Despite the influential roles Muslim clerics (Ulama) has been playing and will continue to play especially in the Muslim world, it has been neglected in terms of its information requirement. This study surveys the resources mostly consulted by the Ulama in relation to the role to which the information is used. Five major information resources and four main roles have been identified. The study recommends the development of a comprehensive Islamic database and a suitable IRS that will not only incorporate search terms familiar to the Ulama, but also comply with Islamic search pattern