Training in the use of e‐resources in academic libraries: one university's approach

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reflect on the experience of the Redeemer's University Library in Nigeria in its information literacy (IL) training programs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a brief literature review of current trends in IL training and challenges. A description of methods of training, schedules, content of IL, successes, and shortcomings are detailed. Information and data for the paper were collected from records kept by the IL librarian. The experiences of the authors and observation complemented the data.FindingsThe IL librarian's training programs have enabled a good number of students to attain IL. But much needs to be done by both librarians and faculty to attain the desired result of making every students information literate.Originality/valueThis paper provides information on Redeemer's University Library in Nigeria, and is useful for librarians in developing countries who may want to improve on their IL programs.

Use of electronic resources by postgraduate students in University of Cape Coast

“…Unfortunately, some of the graduate students do not avail themselves to the training programs. The finding supports the work of Adeleke and Olorunsola (2010), who reported that a high percentage of students in Redeemer University in Nigeria had training regarding access and use of electronic resources.…”

Awareness and use of online information resources by medical students at Delta State University in Nigeria

“…The lack of awareness might by as a result of the inability of the medical library to educate and train users on online information resources. This may be why Adeleke and Olorunsola (2010) stated that``it is one thing to make users aware of the e-resources available in the library, whereas it is another to train the users on how to access such electronic resources. It is the only way that academic libraries can help students learn and work in the digital Evidently, none of the students interviewed mentioned using medical databases like Medline, CINAHL and HINARI.…”

“…Writing on the training in the use of e-resources in academic at the Redeemer's University in Nigeria, Adeleke and Olorunsola (2010) reported that``as soon as the library started subscribing to e-resources, efforts were put in place to train users on how to access the resources, particularly databases under the AGORA and HINARI programs which are used by both faculty and students''. Lwehabura (2008a) in his study on skills and training needs for use of electronic information resources (EIRs) among students in four Tanzanian universities revealed that although students in Tanzanian universities have access to and use various EIRs both for academic and non-academic work, they still lack adequate knowledge and skills in some aspects, including searching and evaluation.…”

Nigerian Libraries and Information Literacy in the 21st Century: How Far, So Far

“…These approaches have been confirmed to yield good results in the library where they were used as reported by Adeleke and Olorunsola (2010).…”

“…However, personal experience of one of the researchers had shown that some libraries, particularly academic libraries, adopt and adapt the two IL approaches and found them to yield good results in the academic library where they were used (Adeleke and Olorunsola, 2010). The approaches are: ◊ group method designed for students on subject related database in the faculties of Natural sciences, Humanities, Social/Management sciences, and project writing students in their final classes; ◊ individual training approach in which staff and students voluntarily approach the e-resources librarian for training particularly in the area of online resources.…”