Assessment of Online Usage Patterns of Elselvier Database amongst Academics of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos

Abstract

This research investigated the awareness and usage patterns of subscribed Elsevier online database amongst the lecturers of University of Jos, using the lecturers in the faculty of Environmental Sciences as a focal population. The entire population of 95 lecturers in the faculty was adopted for the research. Descriptive survey was the research method adopted for this investigation. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze the data. The findings of this research revealed among others that very few (34.4%) of the lecturers were aware of the subscribed Elsevier online database; the major sources (67.7%) of awareness of the existence of the Elsevier database by the lecturers were through Conferences/Seminars/Workshops/Lectures; however, most (90.3%) of the lecturers that admitted awareness of the Elsevier online database, used it frequently. Nevertheless, majority (75.0%) of the lecturers claimed that their major challenge in using the database was unawareness of the existence of the Elsevier database. It was therefore, recommended among others that the university management should intensify sensitization of the lecturers on the awareness and use of the subscribed online database for teaching, research and learning in general. The research conclude that majority of the lecturers were ignorant of the subscribed Elsevier online database. Hence, there was low patronage of the Elsevier online database by the lecturers.