COGNISANCE, ACCESS, AND UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC SCHOLARLY RESOURCES IN KNUSTSpace: THE CASE OF STAFF AND STUDENTS AT KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The Institutional Repository (KNUSTSpace) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) plays an essential role in meeting the information needs of scholars by providing free, instant, and endless online access to the full content of scholarly resources. The study investigated users’ cognisance, access and usage effectiveness of electronic academic resources in KNUSTSpace to determine how it has satisfied the information needs of users. Thirty-five lecturers and 113 students responded to the survey. The study discovered that the majority of users are aware of the existence of KNUSTSpace; the results show a growing interest in the usage of electronic scholarly resources among staff and students at KNUST. The respondents identified KNUSTSpace as a useful tool in preserving, accessing and disseminating electronic scholarly resources. The study also identified some significant challenges concerning users’ access and practical usage of academic resources in KNUSTSpace