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.