Users’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding electronic resources and information literacy: a pilot study at Makerere University.

Abstract

This paper presents a pilot study of an on-going doctoral study, addressing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of e-resources users. The study was a crosssectional survey of graduate students, researchers, academic staff, heads of departments and college librarians at the Makerere University School of Public Health. The purpose was to test data collection methods and gain pre-understanding of users’ perceptions and use of e-resources. Conclusions: Data collection instruments had to be adjusted in terms of selection and grouping of subjects, and questionnaire rephrasing. - Users’ knowledge of available electronic resources is often inadequate, which means that they cannot utilize the e-resources fully. This in turn has a negative effect on learning, teaching and research. Most subjects had had no training in the use of electronic library resources. The users should be encouraged to participate in information literacy training.