Assessment of Usage of Digital Library Services by undergraduate students at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)

Abstract

This study aimed on assessment of usage of digital library services by undergraduate students. The study carried out at Sokoine University of Agriculture at Morogoro region. The respondents of the study are the undergraduate students at Sokoine University of Agriculture. Both qualitative approach and quantitative approach used in this study. The sample size of 100 undergraduate students were included in the study, simply is manageable and gave the clear result without biasness and errors. This study employs stratified random sampling. The researcher means to collect primary data through questionnaire as a collection method. Quantitative approaches were used to analyze data collection and make recommendations and conclusions to a problem. Quantitative data analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Findings were as that majority 73(73.0%) of the undergraduate students reported that they were facing challenges in the use of digital library services due to low internet connection, followed by 67(67.0%) of the undergraduate students who indicated that they face the challenge of using digital library service due to unstable power supply. 60(60.0%) of the respondents specified that lack of enough skills is one the challenge they face when they use digital library services again 60(60.0%) of respondents said that difficult to use digital library service is also a challenge they face while 55(55.0%) of respondents reported that lack of electrical devices such as computers is a challenge in the use of digital library services at Sokoine university of agriculture among the undergraduate students. User needs analysis also needs to be considered in preparation for installing or implementing the other digital library services. Not only a comprehensive needs analysis but also the improvement of important infrastructure such as provision of enough computer devices, improvement of internet bandwidth as well as conducting regular training. Therefore, the usage of digital library services needs to be well improved to ensure timely retrieval of information for speedy decision making with regards to the organization’s mandate.