Use of Electronic Information Resources by Undergraduate Students of Library and Information Science, Bayero University Kano State.

ABSTRACT This study examine the use of electronic resources by undergraduates in the department of Library and Information Science, Bayero University Kano. It further seeks to examine the types of electronic information resources used by undergraduate students, to examine the satisfaction derived from the use of electronic information resources, the factors that facilitates the use of e-resources and the challenges that are associated with use of electronic information resources. A survey descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 450 undergraduates students of Library and Information Science, Bayero University Kano. A stratified sampling technique was used to draw a sample size of 207. Data was collected with the use of a questionnaire. The findings showed that there are several types of electronic information resources available in the library which include e-book, e-journal, e-thesis, e-magazine, e-database, e-dictionary, e-encyclopedia, e-maps and e-bibliography. Findings also revealed that e-book, e-journal, e-thesis, e-magazine were regularly used among undergraduates. The findings of the study shows that users are not satisfied with the use of electronic information resources in the library as they encountered different kind of challenges such as inadequate skills by library staff, inadequate skills by library users, poor ICT infrastructure, poor internet connection, erratic power supply, high cost of maintenance as well as information overload. The study recommended that the university should invest in high-speed and reliable internet access to facilitate seamless access to EIRs. That more Wi-Fi hotspots should be installed in key areas, including libraries, lecture halls, and student hostels.