Trending Usage Levels of EIFL-Based Electronic Resources among the Zambian Library Consortium Institutions

Abstract

Electronic resources are invaluable tools in research and academics. Their emergence and use have been major issues of discussion in scientific practice and literature. While some institutions have enjoyed using e-resources for some time now, others have recorded low usage.This study has revealed various challenges of EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) e-resources usage in ZALICO (Zambian Library Consortium) institutions. Today, ZALICO has access to over 30 databases from reputable publishers, most of which come under open access through EIFL membership. Despite having been with EIFL for more than a decade, ZALICO members still experience the low usage of electronic resources. The real causes of low usage of e-resources at the institutional level are not clear hence the need to establish factors behind this problem and the way to solve it. This picture may be worrying as the consortium continues to spend financial means on e-resources that are not appreciated by users. Other concerns may be on the quality of literature users are using in their academic activities.The main aim of the study was to establish factors behind the low usage of EIFL resources among ZALICO institutions. The study examined these issues as a case study. The questionnaire and usage analysis were used for data collection. The Statistic Package for Social Sciences software and Microsoft Excel were used for analyzing quantitative data, while content analysis was used for qualitative data from the questionnaire open-ended questions. The study reveals various access and usage challenges such as poor Internet connections, inadequate search skills among users, ineffective e-resources promotion strategies resulting in low awareness levels, problems of registration to EIFL resources, and non-proactive librarians.To improve the situation, the research identifies four undertakings: continuous user training, more sensitizations and promotions of e-resources using various methods, improved Internet connections (increased bandwidth, provision of more hot spots at various locations and increased Internet access points), and training of institutional librarians on the registration process as it is deemed to be cumbersome.