Examining the Availability and Use of Electronic Resources by Postgraduate students and Academic Staff in Academic Libraries in Tanzania: A Case Study of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) Library

Mkolo, Agnes Modestus (2019) Examining the Availability and Use of Electronic Resources by Postgraduate students and Academic Staff in Academic Libraries in Tanzania: A Case Study of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) Library. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

Library users in academic libraries are influenced by information needs such as searching and accessing online materials and other e-resources. This study was set to find out the availability and use of e- resources by postgraduate students and academic staff in academic libraries in Tanzania taking MUHAS library as a case study. This study used a case study research design with application of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to obtain 100 respondents made up of postgraduate students, academic staff and library staff. Data were collected using questionnaires, observations, focus group discussions and interviews. Besides, Statistical Packages for Social Sciences and Ms-Excel were employed for data analyses. The main findings of study revealed that the MUHAS library has e-resources such as ejournals, e-books and websites. The study also found that all 100% academic staff and 96% of postgraduate students make use of these e-resources. Apparently, the mostly preferred e-resources were e-journals 97% and websites 91%. However, the study showed that lack of awareness, inadequate training, bandwidth and materials, just to mention a few, were some of the key challenges of using the e-resources. Overall, the majority 71% of academic staff and 58% of postgraduate students asserted that; the available e-resources were not adequate to support user information needs. Respondents specifically pointed that their favorite journals were PubMed which requires subscription fees to be accessible. Therefore, this study recommends the changes to be made in the University strategic plan the library policy reforms to improve information infrastructures. This will raise the standards of MUHAS library and elicit academic performance at university level and Tanzania as a whole.

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