Awareness and Use of Electronic Information Resources by Students in Nigeria Polytechnics

The study examines student’s familiarity and extent of using electronic information resources in the polytechnic libraries of Nigeria. The rationale for the study was inform by the paucity of research on e-resources usage among students in polytechnics, particularly in Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the types of e-facilities and the availability of e-resources, students level of familiarity, the extent of use, and the purpose of utilizing the e-resources. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. Questionnaires and interviews were used as data collection instruments. the population of the study consists of regular students from 12 polytechnics in Nigeria. A total of 1033 students and 12 e-resources librarians were sampled from the entire population using proportionate allocation and judgemental sampling. Descriptive statistics using frequency count and percentage were used to analyse the data from the student and the hypothesis was tested with the Spearman Rho correlation procedure. Narrative style was used in reporting the responses of the interview from the e-resources librarians. The study reveals that the polytechnic libraries have the necessary e-facilities for effective use of e-information, Although the awareness of e-resources among the students is relatively very low and this results in low utilization of the e-resources. It was discovered that despite the low level of utilization, the students use the e-resources for several purposes that include, research, general acquisition of knowledge, assignments among others. The study recommends for policy formulation that could encourage improvement in the provision of ICT infrastructure, periodic enlightenment through library orientation, strategies that could encouraged students to use e-resources, among others