International Journal of Education and Development using ICT

International Journal of Education and Development using ICT > Vol. 20, No. 1 (2024)

Information Literacy Skills as Predictors of the Use of Digital Library Resources by Academics in Selected Federal Universities in Nigeria

Iguehi Joy Ikenwe, Ambrose Alli Univerity
Afebuameh James Aiyebelehin, Ambrose Alli University

Abstract
Although many Nigerian universities are making efforts to provide access to digital library resources, the level of utilization of these resources have not been encouraging due to several factors. Information literacy has been identified as a major factor when considering the factors that enhance use of digital resources. In view of this, this study was designed to investigate how “information literacy skills” predict the utilization of digital library resource by university teaching staff. The study was built around two theoretical models, that is, SCONUL’s information literacy model, and the Technology Acceptance Model. A correlational research design guided the study. The population consisted of 6,653 teaching staff from six federal universities in Southern, Nigeria, and six hundred and sixty-five (665) persons comprised the sample, proportionately chosen via stratified random sampling. The test instruments designed for this study were: Test tool titled “Skill Test on Information Literacy” (STIL), and a questionnaire titled “Usage of Digital Library Resources” (UDLR). The study used the Kuder-Richardson technique to determine the items' reliability yielding results of 0.77, 0.78, 0.75, 0.64, 0.81, and 0.81 for digital library resources usage. The study used multiple regression analysis for the research question. The findings revealed that in terms of extent, a weak positive relationship exists between the skills of university teaching staff in information literacy and utilization of digital library resources. On the whole, the findings showed a significant correlation between university teaching staff skills in information literacy and utilization of digital resources. It implies that in improving the usage of digital resources by university teaching staff, attention must be focused on their abilities to utilize these resources. It was recommended that librarians should have a strategy for training lecturers on digital skills as part of the overall plan for promoting the usage of digital resources by lecturers.

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