Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Fall 5-30-2019
Document Type
Article
Citation
Eserada E.R., Okolo E.S and Ideh P.N.(2019) COMPUTER SELF-EFFICACY AS DETERMINANT TO THE USE OF ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED UNIVERSITIES IN NIGER DELTA REGION
Abstract
The research surveyed computer self-efficacy as determinants to the use of online public access catalogue. Based on a detailed literature review, a total of three research questions were raised: What are the available access points for the use of OPAC by the library users? What are the various search methods/technique used by users to locate needed materials through the OPAC? And what is the level of the user’s computer self-efficacy? The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The population of the study is made up of 18,332 registered under -graduate library users and the sampling size of 920. The findings from the study are as follows: The major access points through which information are accessed using OPAC are Author, Title and Subject access points, Keyword search, Simple search, basic search, Boolean search method and phrase searching ranked high in the search methods applied by the respondents in searching through OPACs and also the respondents seem to exhibit a positive computer self-efficacy and as such may be more akin to using OPAC. The study thus concluded by giving the following recommendations: Efforts should be geared towards inculcating on university students a practical training of the use of computer, Universities should be equipped with the enabling infrastructure such as adequate power supply, effective Internet connectivity etc. that will encourage the use of OPAC, University libraries should formulate policies that would encourage mandatory use of OPACs.