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Ponte Academic Journal
Apr 2018, Volume 74, Issue 4

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ USE OF LIBRARY INFORMATION RESOURCES IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Author(s): Oghenere Gabriel Salubi ,Ezra Ondari-Okemwa, Fhulu Nekwhevha

J. Ponte - Apr 2018 - Volume 74 - Issue 4
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2018.4.26



Abstract:
Library information resources and services are now easily accessible from remote locations without the users’ physical presence at the library building. Technological advancements and the development of scientific research equipment have made information resources better available to researchers and students. These new practices are shifting the landscape of research collaboration, data collection, analysis, dissemination and consequently, academic information seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to establish the library information resources use pattern in relation to their preferred information media in order to render better academic information services to library users. 390 respondents were surveyed at the Nelson Mandela University and the University of Fort Hare using quantitative and qualitative methods. Most of the respondents, 82.3% were aged between 18-23 years; while the average library use time was two hours daily. Inferential statistical findings revealed that the unavailability/inability of the library to provide an information material does not significantly increase the amount of time undergraduate students spend using the Internet (B = -0.244, t = -2.034, p<0.05). Records from the E-librarians revealed that undergraduate students account for only 5% and 6% of total users of electronic databases at UFH and NMMU respectively with 62.3% of the respondents preferring print information resources. Better understanding of library users’ demographics and information media preference is essential in proving the right kind of information services to undergraduate students.
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