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August 21, 2025

Availability and accessibility of digital information services and library resources in agricultural research institute libraries in South-South, Nigeria

GBGabriel Ejiobi BosahMichael Okpara University of Agriculture ROR. E. OziokoMichael Okpara University of Agriculture JOJoy C. OnyenachiMichael Okpara University of Agriculture

Key Points

Researchers accessed digital information services at a low extent, indicating a need for improved accessibility.
The study identified e-journals and electronic databases like AGORA and TEEAL as available resources in research institutes.
Descriptive survey research design with 206 participants, including 133 from NIFOR and 73 from RRIN, was utilized.
Regular training for researchers on using digital services is recommended for better resource utilization.

Abstract

The study examined availability and accessibility of digital information services and library resources in agricultural research institute libraries in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study was 206 which comprised all the 133 researchers from Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) and 73 Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN). There was no sampling since population was manageable. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire validated by three experts, the reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach’s Alpha statistic which yielded 0.85 as overall reliability coefficient. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that the types of digital information services available in research institutes libraries in South-South, Nigeria include e-journals, electronic databases - TEEAL (The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library), AGORA (Global Online Research in Agriculture), HINARI (Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative) etc. - and bibliographic services only while others were unavailable. It was also found that researchers in the two research institutes accessed digital information services respectively to low extent. Finally, it was found that the purposes for which researchers access digital information services include for conducting research, updating knowledge, to chat with friends, for leisure and recreational services and for e-mail services among others. From the findings, it was recommended that agricultural research institutes should organize regular trainings for researchers and librarians on effective accessibility and use of digital information services for research and other related purposes.

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