USE OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES NEEDED BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA

 

 

The introduction and advanced use of information and communication technologies over the years have brought the digitalization, reformation and transformation of libraries into electronic information service systems. This scenario has brought radical changes in the way information is gathered, assembled and utilized in today’s libraries by the users. This is given also that the advancement in computer application to information processing has increased the availability of electronic information resources, and services in today’s academic libraries. 

The development and availability of the Internet service has contributed to increasing the impact that information has on people by placing vast information resources at people’s door steps (Odumegwu, 2017). For example, many libraries now have print versions and also subscribe to electronic full-text versions of materials online. Isiakpona & Ifijeh (2016) noted that availability of electronic resources in libraries does not necessarily imply its usage because the source may be available but access to use is prevented for many reasons. Therefore, strategies are being made globally to promote the accessibility and usage of the electronic information resources in all formats and forms by improving on the deficiencies and features of underdevelopment such as power failure, machines breakdowns, lack of spare parts, and technicians which intermittently stall the performance of the modern gadget of information storage and transfer in developing countries like Nigeria. 

In order to properly access and utilize the ever-growing range of electronic information resources, students, scholars and users must acquire and practice the skills necessary to exploit them. Tyagi (2015) argued that the ability to use electronic information resources efficiently depends on basic computer skills, knowledge of what is available and how to use it, and ability to define a search problem. How students attain the skills and knowledge needed to utilize Electronic Information Resources effectively for academic purposes could depend on many factors, such as their disciplines, academic and financial status, interest, and training, among others. This factor could potentially impinge on a student’s placing in his or her academic pursuit and performance. According to the Cambridge University Report (2014), academic performance is the performance level in examination and major modules, as well as the outcome of education, and also the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals. It refers to how students deal with their studies and how they cope with or accomplish different tasks given to them by their teachers. In educational institutions, success is measured by academic performance, or how well a student meets standards set out by the institution. Academic performance can be measured in several ways such as examinations, class assignment, test, group seminar, and many others.

Fleetwood & Shelley (2010) opined that academically successful students will have more employment opportunities than those with less education. Furthermore, the number of jobs requiring a college education is expected to grow more than twice as fast as those not requiring a college education over the next ten to twenty years. Beyond work and wages, Brown (2018) discussing from the American point of view suggest that academic success is important because the working class will need higher levels of education to tackle the technologically demanding occupations of the future. Availability of electronic information sources relates to the provision for and inclusion of the resources in the collection of the libraries at the disposal of users in academic institutions. In the words of Roberts (2010) availability of electronic resources provides access to authoritative, reliable, accurate and timely access to information. In addition to this, the resources can enable innovation in teaching and increase timeliness in research.

The National Universities Commission (NUC), a government agency in Nigeria, subscribed to a number of international and local journals and made them accessible in Nigerian Universities through its URL link (www.nigerianvirtuallibrary.com) on the internet. Also, NUC, NULIB (Nigerian University Libraries Consortium) and eifl.net (Electronic Information for Libraries Network) are partnering to provide electronic resources towards teaching, learning and research in Nigerian Universities (Okiki, 2012). National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), according to Egbe (2014), is developing ICT in Nigerian tertiary institutions through the National Virtual Library Project by setting up virtual libraries and donation of computers and/or internet facilities.

Electronic resources, in most universities, are integral part of the electronic library and stand as vital academic resources that support teaching, learning and research activities (Zhang & Liu, 2011). electronic resources are invaluable research tools for students in higher institution of learning. In academia, electronic resources are dominating the research activities of researchers; researchers have realized the importance of such resources (Hadagali, Kumbar, Nelogal & Bachalapur, 2018). Electronic resources provide accurate and timely information, especially for students who depend greatly on the electronic resources for information to advance research and collaboration with other researchers around the world for intellectual growth.

Developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have taken over every sphere of activity in university libraries. Academic libraries like the Ahmadu bello university library owe it a key duty to keep pace with technological advancement in order to cope with users’ continual sophisticated information requirements. such libraries in the 21st century may not function properly without the existence of electronic resources. Tyckoson (2016) affirms that libraries and information centres which fail to adopt appropriate information technology in their services may cease to function and perhaps, close down. Essentially, ICTs are the standpoints that provide access to electronic resources (e-resource).

It has been reported that the university is lagging behind their counterparts in terms of availability, accessibility and use of electronic information resources for research (Adams, 2017). Part of the problems has been attributed to inadequate modern ICT infrastructural facilities in university leading to low levels of availability and utilization of electronic information resources by students. In order to know the cause and make recommendations, the study investigated the extent of availability and utilization of electronic resources in Ahmadu bello university Zaria.

Availability and utilization of electronic information resources is key to the success of student academic activities most especially in the areas of research in any institution and the library plays the central role in making information available and accessible. It is therefore also necessary to find out if the Ahmadu bello university library is performing her primarily responsibility of providing electronic information resources to meet user’s information needs, learning and research. 

The pertinent issues are: Are electronic resources available in Ahmadu bello university Library? If they are available, to what extent are they available? Are they accessible by students for research? If they accessible, to what extent and are they really use by students for research? If they are suitable for use, are they being used? And why are they not being used? These issues have necessitated this research. It is in the light of the above reasons, that the researchers examined the available electronic resources in Ahmadu bello university Library and how they are used by the students in learning and research.

The study intends to answer the following research questions:

The aim of the study is to establish efficient, effectiveness and promoting the use of internet resources by students of department of physics. This study will help in identify the types of internet resources available to use by students of department of physics and feel comfortable using. And also try to find out the various aspects of searching techniques that motivates them or discourages in using the internet resources. It is expected that at the end of this research the faculty of arts and the university will gain insight on the difficulties that students are facing in the use of internet resources for their research work and other academic activities. 

The study covered only the undergraduate students of Department of Physics Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and examines the use of internet resources by students.

The following terms are defined in the context in which they have been used in this study: 

E-resources: Information materials that are in electronic format such as CD, Computer readable, database, web databases, Internet, etc. 

Print: Information material whose information content is printed on paper using ink and bound together or not in form of books, journals, magazines, indexes, pamphlet etc. 

Services: These include loans, reading spaces, reprographic services, referral, interlibrary services and directional and personal assistance offered to users to facilitate use of information resources in the library.