Information Needs Access to and Use of Electronic Information Resources by Students of College of Agriculture, Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the cardinal points of the change agenda of the Buhari administration is quality education services. Access to and use of quality information found in electronic information resources is inevitable. The study thus examines information needs, access to, and use of electronic information resources by students of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-Ora. Four research questions were raised and three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive survey research design of correlational type was adopted. Data was collected from 214 ND students using structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was analysed using frequency count, percentages, Pearson’s Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis. Most of the respondents need information on current affairs (x=3.48; Std.= .865), culture (x = 3.39; Std. =1.018), education (x = 3.36; Std. =1.032), etc. Other results show that the students had moderate access to, and frequently use, the internet (x=3.19; Std =1.124), online databases (x=2.85; Std. = .709), etc. The students lack funding for purchase of electronic information resources (x=3.48; Std. =.865); slow internet connection (x=2.77; Std. =.832). There is empirical link between information needs, access to, and use of electronic information resources by the students. Provision of access to increased band width internet service was recommended.