IMPACT OF LIBRARY ANXIETY ON DIGITAL LIBRARY UTILISATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN A NIGERIAN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Academic libraries all over the world, especially in Nigeria have invested heavily on the
provision of digital resource in order to provide current and relevant information sources for
the(ir) users. This is imperative in a dynamic knowledge society where information become
obsolete in the twinkle of an eye. However, there are several factors that can affect the effective
Utilisation of these digital resources. This study examined the impact of library anxiety on the
utilisation of digital library resources by undergraduates in a Nigerian private university. The
study adopted a survey research method. The study sample was selected using stratified random
sampling to select 165 undergraduate students from four faculties in the university which
represents 5% of the total population (n= 3285). The data for the research was collected using a
standard scale; the AQAK Library anxiety questionnaire and the analysis was done using the
Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Findings established that a significant number of
the students (n= 67; 70%) experienced more than low anxiety based on the AQAK Scale. It was
also revealed that there is a significant negative relationship (r = -0.13, p > 0.1) between library
anxiety and use of digital library resources by the students; an indication that the use of digital
library resources increases as library anxiety decreases in the students. The study therefore
recommended that user education programs should be intensified and library staff should make
more effort to develop a cordial relationship with library users in order to eliminate all forms of
library anxiety.