Strategies to Enhance Access and Use of E-Resources by Postgraduate Students in Selected University Libraries in Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Electronic information resources subscribed into by academic libraries play a vital role in addressing varied user information needs and engender research and development among them. However, recent studies have indicated that there is limited access and use e-resources among postgraduate students in academic and research institutions in Kenya. Low consumption of e-resources has been attributed to limited awareness of existing about e-resources, poor training on access and uses the resources, lack of access to computers facilities for access, poor internet connectivity, and lack of information searching skills among others. This study was to assess the strategies to enhance access and use oferesources by postgraduate students in selected academic libraries in Kisii County, Kenya. A survey research design aimed at identifying library users’ opinion on the access and use of e-resources was used. Stratified sampling was used to identify the students-respondents and simple random sampling used to select the library staff. While questionnaires were employed to collect data from postgraduate students and library staff, library staff in-charge of e-resources were interviewed. The study sample comprised eighty (88) postgraduate students and library staff out of a population of six hundred and seventy two (672). The data to be collected will be analysed using SPSS according to the research objectives and presented using tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The study showed among other findings, that there are increased access and use