The use and future of electronic books in academic institutions in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the use and future of e‐books in academic institutions in Nigeria, to identify problems encountered in using e‐books and ascertain the future of e‐books in academic institutions in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a descriptive survey method supported by a questionnaire. The population of the study consisted of basic medical sciences and faculty of education lecturers made up of a total number of 122 academic staff.

Findings

Although the survey sampled response was not large, it represented the university's lecturers. The study reveals that all the academic staff sampled in the university make use of e‐books. It also shows that both faculties investigated encountered constraints in the course of using e‐books. Finally it indicated that researchers' use of e‐books would double in the future.

Research limitations/implications

Only 122 (20 per cent) of the entire population of the 640 lecturers participated in the study. Furthermore, the female and male respondents were not evenly distributed. Hence, the size of the population and the uneven distribution of males and females surveyed placed certain limitations on the level of generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

The findings of the study may encourage library authorities to purchase and manage hardware and to negotiate for license issues for e‐resources to be done on time. It is also believed that the study will encourage the library to acquire more models of handheld devices and load them with e‐books from different vendors.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first published study of the use and future of e‐books in Niger Delta University.

Citation

Ebiwolate Posigha, B. (2012), "The use and future of electronic books in academic institutions in Nigeria", The Electronic Library, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 796-808. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211282118