Electronic Information Seeking Among LIS Postgraduate Students at Makerere University, Uganda

Without clearly understanding the users’ level of usage of resources, attitudes and the e-resources literacy levels, it is difficult to promote reading in electronic environment. Developing countries within their limited library resources need to ensure that the e-resources acquired or subscribed to are optimally used. It is on that basis that the study was designed and conducted among the postgraduate Library and Information Science (LIS) students of Makerere University, Uganda to establish the level of computer skills of its LIS postgraduate students; determine the use of electronic information resources; their attitudes towards e-resources; access; their e-resources literacy levels and propose strategies to improve on e-resources use. Survey research technique was used. The data collected using structured questionnaire were analysed using Excel Software to generate the frequencies, percentages and pie charts. Results of the study established that LIS postgraduate students have varied computer skills. Working on coursework/assignments, looking for opportunities and e-mail use top the main reasons as to why they use e-resources. Among the e-resources that the University Library subscribes to, Emerald and Blackwell-Synergy are the most accessed. The study also established that the respondents have positive attitude towards e-resources and feel that their standard of academic work would suffer without e-resources. The respondents proposed different strategies to improve on e-resources in the University. Among the different proposals suggested to promote e-resources in the University are the integration of the Phone short text message services and insistence by the LIS lecturers for students to use e-resources in coursework/assignments. The respondents however did not support the idea of introducing e-resources fees to be paid by students. The study concludes that a concerted effort is needed by both lecturers of LIS postgraduate students and university librarians to promote e-resources. Joint effort is required if optimum reading in electronic environment is to be achieved. It should not be seen as the work of the university librarians alone. The study will help to develop access to critical data that can help academic libraries make decisions regarding e-services and resources. It will also develop data-rich evidence for the library users that the academic library serves attesting to the value of the library-enabled networked services and e-resources