Availability, Awareness and use of Electronic Information Resources amongst Library Registered Students in Federal University Lafia and Nasarawa State University Keffi

Abstract

This study investigated the availability, awareness, and use of electronic resources by Students in Federal University, Lafia, and Nasarawa State University, Keffi. The specific objectives of the study were to find out the availability and use of electronic information resources in the two universities in Nasarawa State; the extent of awareness of the available electronic information resources; and factors that hinder the students’ awareness of electronic information resources by University students in Nasarawa State. Three research questions were raised in line with the objectives of the study and two hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was 7233 registered library users from two (2) Universities in Nasarawa State. A sample size of 379 users was drawn from the entire population through a stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected through questionnaires. Data collected for the study were analyzed using Mean Scores and Standard Deviations while null hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance using chi-square statistics. The findings of the study revealed that there are several available electronic information resources such as E-books, E-journals, E-newspapers, E-magazines, E-preprints, CD ROM, E-projects, E-lecture notes, E-research reports, Online databases, and internet services in the two universities libraries sample; Students are aware of the available electronic information resources; while it was also revealed that students are aware of the available electronic information resources for use by the students. The study reveals Lack of advanced searching skill, navigation problems, library staff indifference, poor internet connectivity, technological constraint, lack of ICT skill, student poor orientation, frequent breakdown of the system, lack of personal laptop and other electronic gadgets, erratic power supply, and lack of awareness and use of electronic information resources by some students. The test also reveals that electronic information resource significantly influences students usage of Electronic information resources by universities students in Nasarawa State;  The study recommends that computer room or ICT centers be created in faculties and departments to ease congestion and make it easily accessible to students among others.