The Use of Electronic Resources by Postgraduate Students of the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

Academic libraries have become one stop information access points for members of the university and its community. In keeping pace with technological trends, academic libraries are focusing on the larger social and spatial context; through provision of electronic information resources for both local and remote users to enhance access to local and global information for the promotion of social, economic and political development in the society. The study sought to examine the use of electronic resources by postgraduate students of University of Cape Coast. The cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Simple random sampling technique was adopted to select 275 respondents out of 915 postgraduate students from four colleges. The questionnaire was the sole instrument used for data collection and that gave rise to a response rate of 91.63%. The responses from the respondents were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The findings of the study revealed that postgraduate students were aware of few individual e-resources in the library through orientation and seminar/workshop programmes. The study also showed that training on e-resources was inadequate, hence students had limited skills to access e-resources and relied on library staff for assistance. Major limitations were poor internet connection, inadequate computers, power outages and limited titles and power outage. Library management should promote e-resources extensively through social networking channels like Web 0.2 or Library 0.2 technologies; Training on e-resources should be organized at the beginning of each semester so that students do not rely solely on library staff for information; the university administration should increase bandwidth on campus so that students can readily access online e-resources.