Accessibility and Usage of Electronic Resources by postgraduate students at Dar es salaam University college of education, Tanzania

Kalama, Jackson Israel (2020) Accessibility and Usage of Electronic Resources by postgraduate students at Dar es salaam University college of education, Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess accessibility and usage of e-resources by postgraduate students at Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) in Tanzania. The study sought to identify types of electronic resources available at Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE); find out the extent to which electronic resources are accessed and used by Postgraduate students at Dar es salaam University College of education (DUCE); identify the challenges and prospects faced by postgraduate students when accessing and using e-resources; examine measures to be taken by DUCE to improve the accessibility and usage of e-resources. Both theoretical and empirical literature was reviewed. The study employed a survey research design involving 122 respondents who were randomly and purposively selected. Key findings revealed that, e-books, database, e-paper and e-journals are the types of e-resources found in DUCE. It was revealed that the level of usage of eresources at DUCE is low due to factors such as; outdated ICT facilities, inadequate bandwidth, lack of information literacy skills, unreliable power supply, cost of subscription fees and instability of availability of online resources. Slowness when downloading, few ICT facilities and network downtime are the challenges faced by postigraduate students at DUCE. In view of the above, the study recommends that DUCE Library should regularly advertise, promote and market its e-resources through information literacy training; information literacy training should be included in the formal curricula of postgraduate students; management to allocate adequate budget for purchasing ICT facilities and improve ICT infrastructures and include students fees as possible source for funding. The study concluded that, eresources at DUCE have been vital in supporting teaching, research and community services and therefore, its usage should be promoted.

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