An assessment of students' use of electronic library resources: a case study of Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of electronic resources among Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) undergraduate students. The researcher was interested in finding out whether undergraduate students were using electronic resources for their academic work. This study aimed at determining whether information quality, system quality, service quality and student individual characteristics influence the use of electronic resources. The study excluded other variables such as age, gender and computer usage behaviour of electronic resources. A quantitative research methodology was adopted and a questionnaire was used to get in depth information about use of electronic resources. The target population was one hundred and forty-five (145) level 300 and 400 library registered undergraduate students from five (5) university academic departments. These students tend to understand and use library more because of their projects for the final year. The data collected was analysed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 24.0) where descriptive statistics and frequency tables were produced. The study revealed that undergraduate students depended on electronic resources to retrieve desired and relevant information to achieve academic efficiency. Undergraduate student’s level of awareness of different electronic resources was low. It was also revealed that students have average computer literacy skills and training provided by BUAN library was insufficient. When considering the conceptual framework adopted for this study the findings indicated that information quality, system quality, service quality and student individual characteristics had a strong significant influence on use of electronic resources and students’ academic performance. Adequate use and awareness of electronic resources improve academic community performance in research, teaching and learning. Electronic resources played an integral part in assisting students learning and research activities. The study made appropriate recommendations to the university, university library, university librarians and other academic libraries facing similar or related challenges.