Internet Connectivity and Accessibility in University Libraries: A Study of Access, Use and Problems among Faculty of Natural Sciences Students, University of ]os, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective — This study has the objective of establishing whether the undergraduate students of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, have access to and use Internet facilities in the University library. Methods — A survey research design was adopted for this study and questionnaires were used in gathering data. Statistical methods used in the analysis include percentages, frequencies, and Chi-Square test for measuring the association of library visit and use of the Internet. Results — The analysis of the data and findings indicated that there is Internet connectivity in the library. The findings also revealed that few students (15.5%) use the computer and the Internet on a daily basis. The problems of slow Internet connection at peak periods and unsteady power supply were clearly identified. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that there is no association between the students’ library visits and their use of the Internet for most academic purposes, except for downloading articles. Conclusion — The presence of Internet connectivity in the library, does not translate to meaningful academic behaviour among the students. Therefore, sensitising and training of the students on Internet usage were recommended for better academic performance and life-long learning.