INFORMATION LITERACY SKILLS AS CORRELATES OF EFFECTIVE USE OF ELECTRONIC LIBRARY RESORUCES BY LECTURERS IN UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the information literacy skills as correlates of effective use of electronic library resources by lecturers in universities in North-central, Nigeria. Specifically, six purposed and research questions guided the study. It adopted a descriptive survey design and had a population of 3,342 lecturers from federal, state and private universities in North-central Nigeria. The study used proportionate stratified sampling technique to select 404 lecturers from the nine selected universities. Structured type of questionnaire tagged information literacy and demographic factors as correlates of effective use of electronic library resources by faculty members in universities of North-central, Nigeria (ILDFCEUELRFMUNCN) with four point Likert scale was be used. The questionnaire is divided into five sections (A, B, C, D, E Fand G) according to the research questions. Observation checklist was used to supplement the questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentage mean scores, and Pearson correlation. The findings revealed among others that the lecturers were adequately skilled in information search skills and information literacy with mean score of (x ̄ =3.17). Similarly, the findings also revealed that there is a direct relationship between search skills and use of e-library resources among lecturers in universities in North-central Nigeria (r (435) = .002, P<.05). The study recommended among others that management of the federal, state and private universities should ensure that the teaching of information literacy skills is prioritized so as to ensure increased usage of e-library resources by lecturers’ is attained. The research concluded based on the findings that the lecturers acquired information literacy skills through various means such as, librarian’s guide, consultancy from their colleagues, existing user’s guide, among others. It also concluded that lecturers face several difficulties while acquiring information literacy skills ranging from lack of proactivity in spearheading or pushing information literacy initiatives by librarians among others.