USE OF OPEN ACCESS RESOURCES BY UNDERGRADUATES IN SELECTED PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA.

This study looks at the use of open access resources in two private universities in Oyo state, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and a self constructed questionnaire was used as a tool for data gathering. The population of study was comprised of the undergraduate students in undergraduates of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, and Lead City University, Ibadan. With the total population of 7,160 but in order to determine the sample size, the multi-stage random technique was used and the final sample size was 234. This study was guided by three objectives. Simple descriptive statistical analysis of frequency counts and percentages was used to analyze the data acquired. The study revealed that the most available open access resources in the selected private universities are open access journal, open courseware and free electronic books and most of the undergraduates used the open access resources occasionally. Also, it was revealed that undergraduate students are confronted with mild challenges against the use of open access resources and some of these challenges include; poor internet connectivity, inconsistent/unreliable electricity supplies, insufficient digital literacy skills and low awareness of the importance of the use of open access resources. The study therefore recommended the need for university library management to sustain the availability and awareness of open access resources and also to provide alternate source of power supply in order for accessibilit