ATTITUDE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN STUDENT’S UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES IN LIBRARIES: A CASE STUDY OF TWO UNIVERSITIES IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the attitudes and gender differences in student’s utilization of electronic information resource in university libraries in Adamawa state, Nigeria, specifically Ibrahim Babangida Library Modibo Adama Federal University of Technology, Yola and Abdulrahman Gaji Library, Adamawa State University Mubi. Attitude of students towards the use of electronic information resources in university libraries in Adamawa State, difference in the use of electronic information resources on the basis of gender by students in University libraries in Adamawa State. Two hypotheses were formulated for the study. Survey design was employed and the population consisted of all registered library users of Ibrahim Babangida Library, and Abdulrahman Gaji Library, which was 6135 from both Universities, out of which seven hundred and one (701) students were sampled. Yamane method of sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was Questionnaire. Inferential statistics of ChiSquare was used to test the null hypotheses. There was significant difference between attitude of students and the extent of use of electronic information resources in University libraries in Adamawa State, there was also, significant difference in the use of electronic information resources on the basis of gender by students in University libraries in Adamawa State. Some of the strategies for providing the academic use of electronic information resources by students identified were user education on the use of electronic information resources, provision of more quality computers in the University Libraries, provision of free internet connectivity to students within the university and providing constant power supply among others. It was recommended that Libraries should intensify their awareness campaigns concerning the availability of electronic information resources in the libraries and motivate the students to greater or use of electronic information resources for their benefit.