Use of Mobile Technology-Based Library Services and Information Needs Satisfaction of Undergraduates in Universities in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: Users’ satisfaction has been a subject of research since the establishment of the first university library in 1984, which signalled the commencement of the provision of information services to academic library users in Nigeria. However, empirical studies on the use of mobile technology-based library services in relation to students’ information needs satisfaction are rare. Thus, there is a knowledge gap, and this study, therefore, sets out to fill this gap by investigating the use of mobile technology-based library services and information needs satisfaction among undergraduates in universities in South-West Nigeria. Methods: The research design for the study was a survey, involving a multistage sampling technique. Two questionnaires (on the level of use of mobile technology-based library services and information needs satisfaction of undergraduates) were used to sample 1,086 undergraduates across three faculties at six universities in South-West Nigeria. 1,045 responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The study found that some mobile technology-based library services were frequently used by undergraduates, while others were not. Most of the students expressed satisfaction with the services provided by their university libraries. The results of this study also showed that there is a highly positive relationship (Pearson r = 0.53) between the use of mobile technology-based library services and the information needs satisfaction of undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. Conclusion: This study concluded that with a good deployment of infrastructure, the provision of mobile technology-based library services will encourage their effective use by undergraduates and, consequently, a higher level of information needs satisfaction. The study recommended, among other things, that university library management should subscribe regularly to mobile technology-based library services to overcome some of the challenges posed by COVID-19.