Undergraduate Students’ Awareness and Use of the Multi-media Facilities in the University of Nigeria Nsukka Virtual Library

Abstract

This paper appraised the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) undergraduate students’ awareness and utilization of the multi-media facilities in the UNN virtual library. The aim of the study was to assess students’ multi-media literacy in terms of awareness, exposure, and use. A sample size of 390 respondents was used, while all seven staff members of the digital library in UNN were interviewed. The findings indicated that awareness of the existence of the digital library is high, but exposure is low. The respondents did not know the precise meaning of multi-media. Use of the multi-media facilities in the library is limited to browsing for assignments. The library is being run as an internet cafe as against the real purpose of a digital/virtual library which should offer virtual access to other libraries, among other crucial services. The paper recommended that lecturers should direct their students to the library for specific assignments, and use it as a way to evaluate the relevance of the e-library and subsequently arm the university administration with information on ways to position the virtual library to serve students better. The library should also regularly renew subscriptions and collaborate with other libraries on networked resource sharing. Key Words: awareness, use, multi-media, virtual library, exposure, access, virtual communities