International Journal of Education and Development using ICT

International Journal of Education and Development using ICT > Vol. 15, No. 4 (2019)

Users’ acceptance of e-resources usage at the Institute of Finance Management, Tanzania

Mumitie Moikan Mollel, Mwenge Catholic University
Kelefa Mwantimwa, University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract
Whereas a large proportion of an institutional budget is allocated to the subscription of e-resources, the low usage of these resources by faculty members and students remain a longstanding challenge. The present study gauged the acceptance of e-resources usage by faculty members and students at the Institute of Finance Management. The study has employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design to gain insights into the acceptance and use of e-resources. A survey instrument was administered to 90 users of e-resources (that is, students and faculty members) conveniently. The study’s findings reveal a difference in the usage of open access and subscription e-resources. The e-resources subscribed to by the Institute registered insignificant usage compared to open access resources. Factors such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, users’ competencies, and facilitating conditions have been found to predict the behavioral intention of faculty and students to use e-resources. Inaccessibility of subscription e-resources, inadequacy of computers and information literacies and poor Internet connectivity have been found to limit the usage of e-resources. To increase the usage of subscription e-resources, the adoption of e-resources access enhancing tools such as LibHub, marketing the resources through outreach programmes, and increasing computer and information literacies are necessary.

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