UTILIZATION OF WEB-BASED LIBRARY SERVICES IN ISA MUSTAPHA AGWAI I POLYTECHNIC LIBRARY LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE: CHALLENGE AND REMEDIES

Abstract

This study investigated the challenges confronting the use of web-based library services in Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Library. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 750 registered student users of the library and the sample size of 200 students was randomly taken. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection and the data collected were analyzed using mean. The result revealed that lack of awareness of available web-based services, and high cost of Internet services among others were the challenges confronting the use of web-based services in the library. The study also pointed out that creating awareness of available web-based services, expanding coverage and quality of internet services, organizing training programs for users, designing user-friendly and dynamic websites and more are the suggested strategies to remedy the challenges. The study recommended that, the institution's management should provide more funds to enable the library to fully upgrade its web-based services so that a true virtual experience could be derived from the use of these services. Library users need to be trained on the use of the library web services as sometimes these websites are a bit difficult to navigate. In the same vein the library needs to create user friendly websites so that users can easily access their web services.