Librarians’ Technology Literacy Skills with the Use of Electronic Information Resources for Research Activities in University Libraries: A Correlational Study

Abstract

This study examines the correlation between librarians’ technology literacy skills as with the use of electronic information resources for research activities in university libraries. The study adopted a correlational research design, with a population of eighty-four (84) librarians, comprising ten (10) University Librarians, and 74 Heads of Divisions/Units from ten (10) public university libraries in South-East Nigeria. A full population survey was conducted in this study. Two (2) sets of researcher-administered questionnaire with a 4-point rating scale for the independent and correlating dependent variable were used to elicit data for the study. The instruments were subjected to face validation, and tested for reliability coefficient using Cronbach’s alpha reliability formula. The pre-test analysis yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.94 for the independent variables and 0.91 for the corresponding dependent variables. From the distribution of the questionnaire to the 84 respondents, a response rate of 90% representing 74 copies were successfully completed and collated for the analysis. The data collected were analysed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) to answer the research questions while Simple Regression Statistics were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that while librarians’ online search skills had strong positive significant relationships with the use of electronic information resources for research activities in public university libraries in South-East, Nigeria, Web 2.0 and librarians’ online collaboration skills had a weak relationship. Thus, the study recommended that management of public universities should provide more funds to university libraries to facilitate subscription to more electronic information resources, internet services, and other associated facilities for enhanced research activities, while librarians should take advantage of online collaboration training opportunities to acquire and/or improve on their research skills.