Investigating Postgraduate Students of Olabisi Onabanjo University\u27s Use of Electronic Information Resources UsingTechnology Acceptance Model.

Research remains an integral part of university postgraduate studies. Literature is a key ingredient of research report writing, while paper based information resources are often difficult to remotely access, the internet has encouraged and enhanced information resources access and use. It is therefore pertinent that universities worldwide should ensure the provision and access to information resources, particularly those available in electronic format. This study thus investigated the use of electronic information resources (EIR) by postgraduate students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University using the Davis Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A survey research design was adopted for this study and the population for the study comprised Four Hundred and Sixty-Two (462) postgraduate students of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria. Using Yamane (1973) formula, Two Hundred and Fourteen respondents were identified for the study. 214 copies of the questionnaire were administered and 183 copies were retrieved. Out of the 183 copies retrieved, 178 copies were found useful for further use. The return date was 83%. The study found that the TAM parameters influence the use of EIRs by the students, the study thus recommend the sustenance of regular subscriptions to the various EIR database being currently provided by the university. The study also recommend that the postgraduate school should partner with librarians in teaching the ‘literature review’ aspect of Research Methodology

Prospects and Challenges of Internet Use among the Postgraduate Students of Social and Management Sciences in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria

The Internet is the most visible component of the dynamic developments in information and communication technologies. It could be used for information gathering, storage and dissemination in all academic disciplines .This study examined the prospects and challenges of Internet usage by post graduate students of Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye. One thousand two hundred (1200) copies of structured questionnaire were randomly distributed among various respondents and some of one thousand (1000) was retrieved and analyzed. The study found out that students use the internet mostly for chatting, mailing and entertainment. Only a few of them navigate the Internet for research purposes. In conclusion, this study recommended that there should be a compulsory formal training and workshop programs organized at departmental levels for students on the importance of Internet to their various academic activities. Keywords: Internet Usage; Postgraduate Students; Nigeria; Olabisi Onabanjo Universit

Format preference and utilisation of Library information resources by Undergraduates of Public Universities in a Nigerian State

The existence of an academic environment is incomplete without a functioning library, which forms the fulcrum of all academic institutions in knowledge development and information depository. Irrespective of the format, information must be protected and persevered for posterity. The study used a descriptive design method based on both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Structured Questionnaire was used to obtain data from 210 respondents while for the qualitative data the researcher interviewed the Heads of Automation and Readers’ Services Units of the three universities studied. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The formats of information resources available and preferred by the undergraduates were text books (=2.84) for print information format and internet material (=2.65) for non-print information format. The respondents ranked textbooks (=3.52) and E-books (=3.47) as the highest accessible Print and non-print formats respectively. The study concluded by recommending that university libraries should invest more in the acquisition of current and updated textbooks and e-books that were found to be the preferred formats of library information resources by the respondents. Abstract The existence of an academic environment is incomplete without a functioning library, which forms the fulcrum of all academic institutions in knowledge development and information depository. Irrespective of the format, information must be protected and persevered for posterity. The study used a descriptive design method based on both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Structured Questionnaire was used to obtain data from 210 respondents while for the qualitative data the researcher interviewed the Heads of Automation and Readers’ Services Units of the three universities studied. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The formats of information resources available and preferred by the undergraduates were text books (=2.84) for print information format and internet material (=2.65) for non-print information format. The respondents ranked textbooks (=3.52) and E-books (=3.47) as the highest accessible Print and non-print formats respectively. The study concluded by recommending that university libraries should invest more in the acquisition of current and updated textbooks and e-books that were found to be the preferred formats of library information resources by the respondents

Utilisation of Library information resources by Undergraduates of Public University in Ogun State

The library has the singular function of collecting, organising, preserving, conserving and making information accessible to potential users in different formats. This study examined the correlation between utilisation of print and electronic resources by Undergraduates of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Tai solarin University, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from 380 students from the total population 39,256 of the undergraduates in the institutions, while for the qualitative data the researcher interviewed the Heads of Automation and Readers’ Services Units of the three universities studied. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Results revealed that 59. 6% of the respondents in the three universities were female, 57.2% were between 21-25 years of age. The types of information resources available by the undergraduates were text books ( =2.84) for print information resources and internet material ( =2.65) for non-print information reources. The most often used of the library information resources were text books ( =4.23). Results further revealed that the purpose of use of library and information resources by the undergraduates of state universities in Ogun state, Nigeria. It reported that self-study ranked highest as the major purpose of using information resources with a mean score of ( =3.76), and was followed by preparation for examination ( =3.73) and assignment purpose ( =3.70). In conclusion, the most utilised information resources was text book and e-books of non-print formats. The study recommended that university libraries should invest more in the acquisition of current and updated textbooks and e-books

Information Literacy, Computer Competence and Use of Electronic Resources by Olabisi Onabanjo Faculty Members.

University libraries in Nigeria are struggling within lean financial resources to provide electronic information resources for their clients. Studies have indicated poor use of library electronic resources. This study thus set out to investigate whether the lecturers possesses the skills to effectively use the electronic resources. The study probed into the information literacy, computer competence level of the lecturers and their use of electronic resources. Questionnaire survey was conducted for the study. A total of 125 of the questionnaires administered were duly completed, retrieved and analysed. The study found that the lecturers were information literate, possess computer competence and use electronic resources. They have access to and do use the internet and the library portal. The study among others recommends training and re-training for the academic staff in the effective use of electronic information resources

AN ANALYSIS OF QUALITY REFERENCE SERVICES DELIVERY AS PERCEIVED BY UNDERGRADUATES IN SELECTED UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Reference service delivery has been changing with the evolution of information communication and technology (ICT), availability of search engines and collaborative tools in recent times, thereby leading to the gradual service decline in university libraries. This study therefore examined the quality of reference service delivery as perceived by undergraduates in selected university libraries in South-west, Nigeria. The objectives were to find out the perception of undergraduates to reference service delivery and the quality of reference service delivery in university libraries in South-west, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design. From 38 university libraries in the Southwest as at the time of this study, sixteen (16) libraries were purposively selected. The population comprised of 637 users (undergraduates) of the reference service who were purposively selected and sixteen (16) reference librarians. Questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The research instrument was subjected to reliability test using the Cronbach alpha method, with a reliability of 0.92. The research questions were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study found out that reference service quality was perceived by the undergraduates as low in terms of comfortable and inviting location (18.3%), latest resources for easy access to needed information (19.8%), giving users’ individual attention (17.5%) and courteous staff (2.6%). The study therefore concludes and recommends the overall improvement of the reference service quality and increased awareness of reference service delivery

Pattern of usage of internet among Students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

The internet technology has revolutionized the teaching and learning methods, and appropriate use of the technology is critical for University students. The unprecedented growth of information on internet necessitates the continual evaluation from time to time how students have embraced the technology. Thus, the research explored the pattern of internet usage by students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The research approach adopted for the study was descriptive survey in which a questionnaire was used as the research instrument to collect data from 200 undergraduates selected by stratified random sampling from the four faculties in the university, with a valid response rate of 95%. Findings showed that nearly all respondents used Internet regularly; the main access point being from home/hostels (51.6%), while only 21.1% used the university library, and mobile phones (91.1%) was the main access device. The acquisition of internet use skills was mainly from University training (49%) and by trial and error (45.8%) and the majority of them used the Internet to complete class assignment (78.4%), entertainment(76.3%) and for communication(73.2%). The most used internet services and resources were the social media and search engines, online newspapers and e-books. The respondents that agreed that they filtered their information were 53.2%, while only 28.9% claimed to know how to use the Boolean logic operators. The respondents agreed that internet use has been of immense benefits to their academic pursuit even though, only 36% respondents were satisfied to some extent with the Internet service provided by the university. The major constraints faced in using the internet were slow internet speed, difficulty in finding relevant information and lack of skills of information retrieval methods. To optimize student’s internet use, the authorities at FUOYE should pay more attention to providing enabling environment for the development of appropriate internet infrastructure and strengthen the students’ information literacy capacity. The other institutions of learning in Nigeria and elsewhere that have similar situations highlighted in this study could also benefit from the findings to improve their internet provision

Male reproductive health challenges, fertility desire and coping strategies among young couples

There is a dearth of information on strategies that wives employ in a marital relationship that involves husbands with sexual challenges neither are there popular interventions to enhance enduring conjugal relationships where such problems exist in Nigeria. This study examined the incidence of male sexual diseases, the influence of fertility desire and coping strategies among young couples in Nigeria. The data was extracted from a 2010 survey of 435 couples in the southwest Nigeria. Data were analyzed using univariate and logistic regression techniques. The common male sexual diseases identified include erectile dysfunction (10.5%), gonorrhoea (12.7%), low sperm count (0.1%), testicular cancer (6.3%), prostate (3.2%) and prostate cancer (1.6%). Where the husbands experience erectile dysfunction, prostate or gonorrhoea, the couples are 0.064, 0.898 and 0.583 times (respectively) less likely to enjoy marital satisfaction. The study concludes that marriage counselors, social and health workers need to focus on erectile dysfunction, gonorrhoea and prostate as major determinants of sustainable marital satisfaction. It recommends public awareness on male sexual diseases and establishment of robust specialized reproductive healthcare services to cater for health needs of men who are experiencing sexual problems

Awareness and Usage of Open Access among University Lecturers in Nigeria

The study examined the level of awareness and usage of Open Access among lecturers in the Faculties of Arts and Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. A questionnaire designed by the researchers was employed to collect data for the study. The study revealed that lecturers had high level of awareness of Open Access and used them for conducting and publishing their scholarly works; however their level of awareness of Open Access content were higher than their actual use of the contents. The study further revealed that some lecturers used some open access contents, such as, e-journals, e-dictionaries and e-encyclopedias daily, weekly, monthly and whenever the need arises while some others like e-handbooks, e-guides and e-technical reports were not used at all. It further revealed that Open Access journals were the most utilised of all the Open Access contents surveyed amongst ot her findings. Many recommendations were proffered amongst which were sensitisation of faculty about benefits, challenges and policies guiding Open Access use through information literacy training provided by academic librarians and that academic staff should made themselves available for information literacy training programmes so as to make wise and effective use of Open Access to enhance their academic status. Keywords: Awareness and Usage of Electronic Resources; Open Access Scholarly Communication, Nigerian Universities, Nigerian Lecturers’ Use of Electronic Resources; Scholarly Publishing

Female Students’ Participation and School Location on Performance in Further Mathematics in Senior Secondary Schools (2009 -2012)

The study investigated the female students’ participation and school location on performance in further mathematics in Ijebu Ode between 2009 and 2012. Three research questions and descriptive survey research type were used. Four hundred and twenty three candidates whose results were released for further mathematics from six Senior secondary schools were used for this study. One hundred and forty senior students 2 (89 urban schools and 51 rural schools). A computer format was designed to collect results of candidates participated. A forty-five minute, 30 item multiple choice Further mathematics achievement test (FMAT). The instrument had reliability coefficient value of 0.87 using Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20) formula and Lawshe method was used to establish the content validity value of 0.78.  The results revealed that female students’ participation in further mathematics is very low and there is a significant difference between the scores of male and female students’ performance on further mathematics from urban and rural schools. However, one of educational implications is that teaching and evaluation strategies in further mathematics classes should be gender-bias free. Thus, further mathematics teachers must be sure to call on girls for answers to questions, and to give them quality praise when appropriate. Word count: 195 Keywords: Female students’ participation, school location and performance