Micro factors influencing use of electronic information resources among postgraduate students in institutions of higher learning in Kenya
| Date | 02 March 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-10-2014-0096 |
| Pages | 18-21 |
| Published date | 02 March 2015 |
| Author | Elisha Ondieki Makori |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology |
Micro factors influencing use of electronic
information resources among postgraduate
students in institutions of higher learning
in Kenya
Elisha Ondieki Makori
Introduction
Historically, libraries are powerhouses
of information and knowledge. This gives
academic libraries the capacity to
influence learning, research and teaching
in institutions (Bature, 2009). Academic
libraries acquire, preserve, organize,
distribute and manage information
resources in relation to research,
teaching, learning and community
services of universities. In addition,
libraries administer and provide quality
information services to students, staff,
researchers and the general academic
community so as to enhance higher
customer satisfaction and better return on
investment. This escalates the efficiency
and proficiency of research activities,
teaching, learning and personal scholarly
enhancement, which in turn fosters
development nationally and institutionally.
In the knowledge-based economy,
the expansion of literature has lead
to the revolution and advancement
of technology in information
communication technology (ICT) solutions
resulting to introduction of innovative
and new products and services like
electronic information resources).
Computer-based communications have
gone further beyond merely widening
access to information into helping in
establishment of linkages with remote
professional colleagues and friends
elsewhere, and broadly enhancing access,
use, retrieval and distribution of
information (Thachill, 2008). Libraries,
first and foremost, exist for the sake of
patrons who are both users and
promoters, whose major interests are
that desired information materials
should be readily made available when
needed, and in the appropriate format
(Khan and Rubina, 2009).
Kenyan universities are creators of
knowledge in society and the modern
digital environment implies that both
libraries and clients depend largely on
electronic information resources. There
is a need to shift some of the energy
devoted to various aspects of collection
building to best practices that are more
practical to help students make better
use of electronic resources. This may
result in making informed decisions
resulting to well-researched scholarly
academic work by postgraduate
students in the university.
Digital information in higher
education
Far from traditional and classical
philosophical approaches, the modern
collective source of memory is built on
electronic information resources, mediated
through ICT solutions and systems. The
evolution of ICT has also led to electronic
realities where information resources are
now digitized as e-books, e-journals,
electronic purchasing (e-purchase), Web
sites, e-commerce and mobile devices.
Focusing on the indispensability of ICT
to the students of Niger Delta University,
Etobu (2010) says that ICT is part and
parcel of the entire nutstell of the
institution, as a learning resource to
the students and teaching aids to the
lecturers. Ayorinde and Oyegbami
(2009) observes that, ICT is the
instrument of a social economic
renaissance and if properly used it
could prevent a stem of national and
international calamity. If properly used
it will assist growth and development of
libraries in African higher education
institutions. It has created a
revolutionary journey from traditional
to the digital environment. With new
technology it has been possible to
access a variety of information and
knowledge sources in a manner that
would be simple, easy to use and
independent of time, place and subject
disciplines. Today, we are living in
virtual realities as opined by Omekwu
and Echezona (2008), where library
services are now in cyberspace and are
not affected by when the physical
library is open. Ajigboye (2010) found
out that users have control of what to
learn and from which location to learn
and at what time.
Exponential growth of electronic
information resources has caused
socio-cultural, political, educational and
economic change in the world. The
paradigm shift from traditional to
multidisciplinary collections has
increased the quantity of information
passing through the library (Okore,
2009). Electronic resources play vital
roles in all fields of study, and access and
use of these materials is fundamental to
the clients of any university library. Then
Internet revolution has witnessed
thousands of journals and publications
made available electronically, thereby
facilitating access to online articles free
of charge. Access to library and
information services has moved beyond
local and geographical locations to
universal or global platforms where
technology has helped to solve and
mediate the problems clients face in
using electronic materials.
Kenyan higher education
Higher education and training
opportunities in Kenya began in 1963 and
grown tremendously due to an increased
number of students. With the establishment
of the Commission for University
Education in 2012, the number of charted
universities is almost 50 including both
public and private institutions. In addition,
the universities have established affiliate
colleges or campuses within the country
or in the East African Community.
Public universities include University
of Nairobi, Moi University, Kenyatta
University, Egerton University, Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture
and Technology, Maseno University,
Masinde Muliro University of Science
LIBRARY HITECH NEWS Number 1 2015, pp. 18-21, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/LHTN-10-2014-009618
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