Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Reading a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning is an essential skill for academic success. This implies that in any institution of higher learning a lot of readings are done on all programmes by students for them to excel academically. This study therefore examined student-librarians’ reading preference considering the fact that today students are exposed to two main reading material, print materials and electronic materials. The study employed a descriptive survey method with a student-librarian population of 120 randomly selected from four federal universities offering library and information science in Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions while the main instrument used for data collection was a four-point Likert Scale structured questionnaire validated by three experts two from the department of library and information science and one from the department of educational measurement and evaluation. The data collected were presented in tables and charts analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The outcome of the study did show that despite the emergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) which have transformed the way information resources are accessed as a result of digitalization of most information materials, student-librarians in Nigeria still preferred reading print materials to electronic materials (e-materials) though they showed acceptability for electronic resources. It was based on the finding that the following recommendations were made; librarians should as a matter of need go for hybrid collections (i.e. both print and electronic format of information sources) and student-librarians as librarians in the making should from the start be exposure to electronic literacy skills so as to gain adeptness in the use of electronic information resources.