Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
8-12-2019
Abstract
Abstract
The introduction of databases by university libraries has presented lecturers with opportunities of obtaining accurate, timely and up-to-date information with little effort. However, research reports revealed that usage of databases by university lecturers in Nigeria is influenced by their demographic characteristics. Hence, this study investigated the influence of demographic variables on the utilization of databases by university lecturers in South-west, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to: (i) identify the types of databases available to lecturers in public universities in South-west, Nigeria; and (ii) establish the influence of demographic variables of university lecturers in South-west on the utilization of databases. The study adopted survey method. The population comprised 10,452 lecturers in public universities in South-west, Nigeria. Eight hundred and thirty six (836) lecturers were proportionately selected through multi stage sampling procedure across twelve universities. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection from the sample. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study were that: (i) African Journal Online (90.3%), Directory of Open Access Journal (87.1%), International Research Journal (86.4%), Google Scholar (81.1%), Emerald (62.7%) among other databases were available to lecturers in public universities in South-west, Nigeria; (ii) demographic variables: job status (F=11.66, p<0.05) and age range (F=4.62, p<0.05) influence the use of databases by lecturers. The study concluded that that demographic variables: job status (F=11.66, p<0.05) and age range (F=4.62, p<0.05) influence the use of electronic databases by university lecturers. It therefore recommended that equal and more opportunities should be provided by university libraries to all lecturers in form of training and education on databases utilization to enable them access electronic databases with ease.