ASSESSMENT OF DIGITAL ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study is a survey study carried on assessment of digital academic libraries in Plateau State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to assess usability of links, website functionality and users’ satisfaction. Survey research design and systematic sampling technique was employed for the study. The target population for the study was 10, 973 registered library users and the sample of 549 was drawn from the 10, 973 as the study’s sample size using 5% of the target population. Adetoro (1986) recommended that a minimum of 5% should be used for a population of 10,000 and above. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Thus, 549 copies of questionnaire were distributed to undergraduate students in academic libraries in Plateau State and response rate recorded was 391 which were used for data analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages. The findings revealed that: links were usable; digital libraries websites were functional; users were not satisfied with functionality and usability of digital libraries. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made: the university management should provide reliable network to support access to links without errors when loading so as to support teaching and learning process and the libraries and university management should provide means that would ensure the functionality of their library websites so as to enhance and harness students’ skills. The study concluded that network must be stable to make links usable without errors when locating information so as to meet the information needs of the users.