UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT MAASAI MARA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, NAROK, KENYA.

Abstract

The future belongs to countries whose people make the most productive use of information, Knowledge and technology; as such Kenya as a developing nation cannot be an exception. The traditional library ways of acquiring, repackaging, storing and communicating information has changed due to web and internet technologies. The aim of this study was to indentify the existing problems in the utilization of electronic information resources and how they were being accessed by undergraduate students in public universities in Kenya with special reference to Maasai Mara University library services and suggest possible solutions to the challenges. The specific objectives of the study were to: identify the available e-resources at the MMU library; assess the utilization of the available resources; identify the major challenges that confront users while accessing the resources and finally suggest possible solutions for the identified challenges. The study was guided by the Unified theory of acceptance and use of Information Technology (UTAUT). The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a target population of 3180 students a sample size of 343 participants drawn from undergraduate students who are in their 2nd and 4th year of study. Stratified sampling technique was used to group the respondents into strata according to their respective Schools and year of study. Respondents were randomly selected. The drop and pick up method was used in administration of the questionnaires. Where a response rate of 266(76%) was achieved. Data was analyzed quantitatively whereby interpretation of the findings were achieved.. The study revealed that, a range of e-resources are available at Maasai Mara University for students to access. It was also found out that most of the respondents 106 (39.5%) used electronic journal resources .The study revealed that only 49 (18.4%) of the respondents’ accessed electronic resources from their homes, while only 142(53.2%) accessed e- resources from the library at the university. The results indicated that the main reason for using e-resources was for academic purposes which included writing and completing assignments 266 (100%). Internet connectivity had proven from the study not to be a major problem as there was evidence of it being reliable on many occasions. It was also noted that e- resources were not frequently being utilizes as many respondents accessed the resources occasionally 128(48.2%) leading to low usage. The reason for low usage and access was mainly due to inadequate search skills 213 (80%); lack of appropriate library user education training on accessing the resources 207 (78%) and inadequate computers 192 (72%). The study recommends that sufficient networked computers, students’ sensitization on the worth of electronic resources and well planned user awareness and user education programs by the library, be put in place.