Utilization and challenges of online subscribed databases by academics in university libraries in Katsina State

Abstract

The paper investigated the Utilization and Challenges of Online Databases Subscribed to by university libraries in Katsina State. Objectives of the study were to find out the types of online subscribed databases used by academics in universities in Katsina; the extent to which the academics in the universities use the online databases subscribed to by their university libraries; the major purposes for using the online subscribed databases in the university libraries; the point of access of the online subscribed databases by the academics in the university libraries; and the challenges associated with the use of the online databases by the academics of the universities. Survey research method was employed and the instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. Ninety nine (99) copies of questionnaire were distributed to respondents in which a total of eighty five (85) were duly completed and found usable which represent 85.86%. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics.. The findings revealed that Ebscohost, Nigerian Virtual Library, sciencedirect, Jstor, Oareetc.databases were used by the  academics,the extent to which online databases are used by academics of the university libraries in Katsina state was frequent, the major purpose of using the online subscribed databases by the academics was research, themajor pointsof access of the online subscribed databases were the staff offices and the university libraries. Lack of search skills and lack of constant power supply were the major problems associated with the use of the databases. It is therefore recommended that management of the universities should put more effort to encourage the academics to get the necessary skills to use the online subscribed databases.

Key Words: Utilization, Challenges, Online, databases, Academics, University, libraries.