DIFFICULTIES OF ACCESSING ELECTRONIC RESOURCES AMONG POSTGRADUATE LIBRARY USERS IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

This paper is an empirical study of difficulties of accessing electronic resources among postgraduate library users in university libraries in South East Nigeria. The study identifies the difficulties of accessing electronic resources by postgraduate library users in university libraries in South East Nigeria. It employed a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 2509 postgraduate users in the state and federal university libraries under study. A 10% proportionate sampling technique was used to select a sample of 251 user respondents. The survey used questionnaire as instruments of data collection. Data collected were tabulated and analyzed using simple statistics (mean). The result revealed the difficulties the postgraduate library users encounter while accessing electronic resources which include lack of perpetual access, slow internet connectivity, struggle with information overload, irregular power supply, loss of access to the content due to cancellation of subscription, non -availability of e-resources relevant to my information needs and e-resources are too complicated to use. The study revealed seven difficulties experienced by postgraduate library users while using e-resources in university libraries which had mean values ranging from 2.78 to 3.18 which are all above the cut-off point of 2.50 on a 4-point rating scale. The overall mean shows that lack of perpetual access to electronic resources (mean = 3.18) is ranked highest, while e-resources are too complicated to use (Mean = 2.78) is ranked lowest as difficulties experienced in using the library’s electronic resources. The study recommended that the university libraries in South East Nigeria should have an upward review of the libraries budget on electronic resources which will enhance continuous renewal of electronic subscription and to avert the loss of access to electronic resources; that the upward review of the library budget will enhance improve internet bandwidth for better access to the network and for speedy internet connectivity; that the library should provide an alternative supply of power to support the library in the provision of energy needed for building electronic resources and libraries should indulge in subscription of electronic resources that are relevant to the needs of the library users