Problems and Challenges Facing the University Of Nigeria Undergraduate Students in the Use of the Unn Digital Library

Abstract

This paper examined the problems and challenges facing the undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka in their use of the digital library of the institution. A sample size of 390 respondents was used, while all seven staff of the digital library in UNN were interviewed. The findings indicated that awareness of the meaning of multi-media is low. The library is being run as an internet café as against the real purpose of a digital/virtual library which should offer virtual access to other libraries, access to e-books among other crucial services. Respondents mentioned slow network as the most important problem, followed by difficulty in reaching needed e-books due to no subscription. Inability to access online books appeared more than power failure as problems. The study recommended that the university administration should show interest in ascertaining the functionality of newly established methods of learning and research to see how well they are going in view of the university's ICT goals and the general ICT policies of Nigeria. The digital library should also regularly renew subscriptions and look for ways to collaborate with other libraries on resource sharing to help students have better and greater access to books stored in other virtual libraries.

Users’ Perception of the Telecommunication Technologies Used for Improving Service Delivery at Federal University Libraries in Anambra and Enugu State

“…This finding agrees with [31] who observe that some available ICT facilities in most libraries are not readily accessible by library patrons as the facilities are kept in the administrative offices. The finding is also in consonance with [32] that the users were neither aware of, nor exposed to many multi-media resources boasted of by most libraries.…”

The Concept, Evolution and Challenges of Digital Library Development in Nigeria

“…Many of these managers do not even know that a lot of products or brands exist for a given purpose. As observed by Ukonu Wogu, & Obayi (2012), in one of the conferences organized by the Education Trust Fund (TETFund) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, in 2006, for lecturers in tertiary institutions, one company came around to train participants on web-mining, but used the opportunity to introduce its own web-mining software which if adopted, would not be appropriate for the institutions information needs, and this was unknown to the participants. Therefore, there is the need for developing countries to always shop for products that suit their peculiarities in terms of meeting their needs.…”