Use of Electronic Resources by Postgraduate Students of Information Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of use of electronic resources (e-resources) by postgraduate students at the University of Zululand in South Africa. The theoretical basis of the study was informed by the Technology Acceptance Model proposed by Davis in 1989. The study adopted a post-positivist research paradigm to enable numerous perspectives by using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. A total of 66 questionnaires were sent to postgraduate students and 46 (70%) were returned. In addition, interviews were conducted with eight information librarians and two e-resource librarians from the University of Zululand. The study revealed that the use of the library by postgraduate students at the University of Zululand was exceptionally high. In the same vein, the level of awareness about the availability of e-resources was high. Librarians and postgraduate students were able to identify the different types of e-resource available at the University of Zululand library. Electronic databases and electronic journals (e-journals) were highly used, but electronic books (e-books), electronic catalogues (e-catalogues), and CD-ROMs were rarely used. The marketing methods of e-resources include departmental and faculty conferences. The study unveiled a limited budget and inadequate functional computers as challenges that hinder the effective use of e-resources by postgraduate students. The study recommends that the management of the University of Zululand increase the budget for e-resources. The institution should also consider seeking funds to purchase additional computers and expanding the computer laboratory to accommodate a larger number of postgraduate students.