Facilitating Conditions and Use of Open Access Resources by Library and Information Science Postgraduate Students in Southwest, Nigeria : Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning: Vol 19 , No 3 - Get Access

Abstract:  This study examined Facilitating Conditions (FC) and use of Open Access Resources (OARs) by Library and Information Science (LIS) postgraduate students in universities in South-west Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was adopted and the population consisted of 227 postgraduate students in five universities. The total enumeration technique was used, and data was collected with a questionnaire and analyzed with frequencies, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression. The findings revealed that the major types (open access journals, repositories, search engines and databases) of OARs were used daily (16.1%–56%). Respondents possessed the FC; Resources, Technical infrastructure and Provision of training to use OARs (x̅ >2.50). There was a significant relationship between FC and the use of OAR at AU (r=.487, p < 0.05) and UI (r=.482, p < 0.05). Open access resources are essential for the academic activities of the LIS postgraduate students. OAR usage among postgraduate students is on the rise, therefore, university libraries should facilitate more usage through periodic training on the use of OARs and upgrading infrastructural facilities for OAR usage.