A Survey of Information Literacy Search Skills on the Utilisation of E-Resources in Federal University Otuoke Library, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of information literacy skills on the utilisation of electronic information resources in the University Library at Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The research employed a descriptive survey design. Three research questions and a null hypothesis guided the study. The population comprised 2500 final-year undergraduates across the five faculties of Federal University Otuoke. Purposive sampling was used, selecting 250 undergraduates- representing ten per cent of the population- as respondents. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire titled: ' Information Literacy Skills and the Utilisation of Electronic Information Resources in the University Library Questionnaire (ILSUEIRULQ) ' on a 4-point scale. The Spearman rank-order correlation method was used to assess the instrument's reliability. The researcher administered 250 copies of the questionnaire, and 234 were
returned. Chi-square(x2) was employed to test the null hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated no significant relationship between the information literacy skills of undergraduates at Federal University Otuoke and the utilisation of electronic information resources in the library. The study revealed a high level of information literacy, as well as the ability to assess the authoritativeness, correctness, and reliability of sources when accessing electronic resources. It also found that very few undergraduates utilise e-resources in the university library. Consequently, it is recommended that, to enhance undergraduates' understanding of information literacy skills, the University Library, in collaboration with the Institute for Foundation Studies (IFS), should focus on teaching information literacy through workshops and during lectures, supported by.