Library Herald Year : 2023, Volume : 61, Issue : 2 First page : ( 30) Last page : ( 41) Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Online ISSN : 0976-2469. Article DOI : 10.5958/0976-2469.2023.00012.X
Awareness and Usage of Electronic Resources by Postgraduate Students in Nigerian Universities
Okwu Emmanuel1, Oladokun Bolaji David2, Enejoh Oguche3, Dauda Bilal Arome4
1Department of Library and Information Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, emmanuel.okwu@iaue.edu.ng
2Department of Library and Information Science, Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, akwaibombolaji.oladokun@yahoo.com
3Department of Library and Information Science, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria, enejohoguche@gmail.com
4Central Library, Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Kogi State, Nigeria, bilaldauda14@gmail.com
Abstract This study investigated the awareness and usage of electronic resources by postgraduate students in Nigerian universities. In so doing, five (5) research questions guided the conduct of this study. This study used a descriptive survey as its research strategy. The population of this study included 1,767 postgraduate students enrolled in three universities in Nigeria’s Kogi State for the academic year 2021–2022, including federal, state-owned, and private institutions. Using the multi-stage sampling, 313 postgraduate students were from Federal, State and Private owned institutions in Kogi State. Data was analysed quantitatively using mean and standard deviation. This survey made it abundantly evident that postgraduate students seldomever use online resources which showed a detrimental effect on research, teaching, and learning. Also, the study found that, knowledge of e-resources does not equate to usage of those resources. This study is the original idea from the authors and does not reflect on any copyrighted materials. This study recommended, among others, that the library needs to make an effort to educate users and teach students so that all students are aware of how to access e-resources off-campus and faculty librarians must consider a variety of channel to increase awareness of e-resources. The limitations of this study is that, it focused on three (3) selected universities, therefore generalization of result should be done with caution. Also, the study considered only academic libraries. Keywords Electronic resources, Awareness, Usage, Postgraduate, Academic library, University, Nigeria.