AWARENESS, ACCESS AND USE OF ACADEMIC DATABASES BY FACULTY MEMBERS: A CASE STUDY OF BAYERO UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

The study investigated the awareness, access to and use of academic databases by faculty members of Bayero University, Kano. The aim was to examine their level of awareness, accessibility and extent of use of the academic databases in the library. The study adopted a cross sectional survey research design. A sample of 142 respondents was drawn out of a population of 1,420 academic staff of the university. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. One Hundred and Forty Two (142) copies of the questionnaire were administered but one hundred and ten (110) were returned and used for the study. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze the data collected. The study found that majority of the academic staff of the University were aware of the E-databases available in the library and their level of awareness varies in respect of the databases available. Source(s) of their awareness include contact with the University Librarian/ Library staff and University Bulletin. Majority of the academic staff access the E- databases in the library. Strategies used in accessing the databases include using ID login and password. They used online databases “sometimes” but “never” used the offline databases. The study recommended that the library should increase the level of awareness of users on the offline electronic databases available in the library through active publicity programmes. Also, to develop plan that will improve use of electronic databases by users of the library.