ELECTRONIC RESOURCES UTILIZATION BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE UMUDIKE

Abstract

This study investigated electronic resources utilization by the undergraduate students of the Department of Library and Information Science in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study with a population of 223. Considering the number as manageable, the researchers used the entire population through simple random sampling. The instrument used in data collecting data was the close-ended questionnaire designed in line with four-point rating scale model. Meanwhile, out of the 223 copies of questionnaire distributed, 185 copies representing 82.96% were successfully completed and returned for use in the analysis. Frequency Percentages, Mean score and standard deviation were used in analyzing data represented in a table using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that electronic resources available for utilization by the undergraduate students include: OARE, TEEAL, HINARI, AGORA in CD-ROMS, but the level of frequency of utilization of these resources by the students varies. Moreover, the study revealed the problems militating against electronic resources utilization to include: lack oa and/or poor level of awareness and access to the electronic resources; lack of commitment of government to provide ICT policy in libraries to regulate the provision of new technologies, including electronic resources; high cost of using electronic resources for providing information due to high cost of hardware and software equipment, insensitive attitude by staff of the library etc. based on the identified problems, the following recommendations were made: increasing awareness and accessibility to electronic resources to enhance utilization; improved commitment on the part of government to formulate implementable ICT policies to aid information provider in the provision of highly regulated and reliable services; provision of free Internet services, improve high speed bandwidth to encourage the utilization of electronic resources by students of the University.

Keywords: Electronic resources, utilization, library and information science, students