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E‐resource usage statistics contain a wealth of information, but mining that information from the massive amounts of data can be time consuming, expensive, and dangerous. Focuses on the practical aspects of getting some use out of usage statistics. Recent national studies in the USA and efforts to standardize the gathering and interpretation of e‐resource usage statistics show promise for accelerating the adoption and diffusion of reliable, meaningful usage information. The article concludes with some speculation about the overall value and long‐term potential for e‐resource usage statistics.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of e-resources by the Faculty of Law’s academic staff at the University of Namibia’s (UNAM’s) main campus. The study aimed to determine their level of awareness of electronic resources (e-resources) available to them, how useful and effective they found these e-resources, and the challenges they face in accessing them.

A convenient sampling technique was used to select a sample of 12 law academics from the population of 17. The study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods using questionnaires and a semi-structured interview guide.

Findings revealed that the majority of the law academics were aware of the e-resources subscribed by UNAM’s library, although some were not aware of the newly subscribed international law databases. The findings further revealed that the academics used e-resources for research, publications and teaching purposes, but irregular training, bandwidth problems and limited searching skills hindered their use of e-resources.

Findings could be used to inform future collection-development decisions, realignment of information-literacy training and promotion and marketing of library services.

This study has made a significant contribution in the understanding the use of electronic legal resources by law academics at UNAM. The findings and recommendations could also benefit similar academic institutions in developing countries like Namibia.

This study aims to investigate the utilisation of subscribed e-resources at Mzumbe University (MU) main library. The study involved academic staff, undergraduate (third-year) students and postgraduate students of MU.

The study used a mixed-method research design using cross-sectional and case study research designs. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Quantitative data were analysed using statistical package for the social sciences version 20 and Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.

The findings revealed that participants were moderately aware of the library-subscribed e-resources, and the major barriers that caused underutilisation were unstable network connectivity and lack of searching skills. It was recommended that MU Library should equip library users with intensive training on information searching skills to increase utilisation of the subscribed e-resources. Furthermore, it was strongly recommended that the library should market its subscribed e-resources to attract more users.

Many papers have been written on electronic resources, but this study specifically focussed on subscribed resources, and it is the first time that an investigation has been done on utilisation of subscribed electronic resources by library users in MU. The results of the study could be useful for MU Library and other academic libraries in Africa in ensuring that there is high utilisation of subscribed e-resources.

This paper aims to assess the usage behaviour of electronic resources (e-resources) among health sciences faculty and their level information literacy (IL) practices, and whether individual characteristics and IL skills can influence faculty member’s usage of e-resources at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

The authors conducted questionnaire surveys using a stratified random sampling technique to 135 faculty members at MUHAS between August and October 2016. The study used regression analysis to determine factors associated with the use of e-resources among faculty members at MUHAS.

In addition to Google search engine, Wikipedia and four scholarly databases and search engines, the level of awareness of other 19 scholarly databases and search engines which are either subscribed or open access resources was less than 50 per cent. In addition to Google search engine, Wikipedia and five scholarly databases and search engines, the self-reported usage of other 18 scholarly databases and search engines was less than 50 per cent on the on “daily” and “weekly” categories. In total, 18 of the 32 IL competencies were rated below 50 per cent in the “good” grade by the faculty members. These IL competencies included information search techniques, reference management, critical appraisal and Web 2.0 technologies. The IL competencies (ß = 0.223), an experience of using e-resources (ß = 0.222) and some research disciplines [nursing (ß = 0.191) and pharmacy (ß = 0.186)] positively predicted self-reported usage of e-resources among faculty members.

This is a comprehensive study that assesses the use patterns of e-resources across different health sciences disciplines in a university setting, and the influence of demographic characteristics and IL skills on the usage of e-resources in Tanzania. The results of this study will be useful to academic libraries to inform and review their policies and practices in relation to the IL training programmes and information services in a university setting.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight how libraries in Malawi are accessing e‐resources.

The paper adopted a case study approach. Quantitative data were collected and analysed. Data was collected through MALICO and INASP documentary. Usage statistics provided by counter compliant publishers and collated by INASP from 2008 to 2012 was the other source of information. Annual member contributions and e‐resource subscription sheets from MALICO were used for data collection. Qualitative data have been presented and analysed in the form of tables and graphs.

Libraries in Malawi have access to peer reviewed and impact factored journals courtesy of EIFL, INASP, HINARI, OARE, AGORA and other international organisations. Libraries in Malawi contribute towards the e‐resources to the consortia, MALICO, at heavily discounted rates done through negotiations by eIFL and INASP with the publishers. Currently, the libraries are failing to contribute their portion towards e‐resources due to inadequate budgets. Libraries in Malawi have resorted to digitising local content and establishing locally available institutional repositories.

Libraries in Malawi are making enormous strides in building digital libraries and institutional repositories based on local content.

There is little researched information on the funding levels and use of e‐resources in libraries in Malawi. This paper seeks to bridge the gap by providing some information on the state of e‐resources for libraries in Malawi.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an input‐output analysis of electronic resources in academic libraries by verifying evaluation indicators and applying them to the digital library environment.

This study measures the performance of electronic resources in academic libraries in Korea. To measure the efficiency of the input‐output ratio, evaluation indicators were divided into inputs and outputs. Inputs refer to the e‐resource use environment as well as the acquisition of e‐resources such as web DB, e‐books, e‐journals, and so on. Outputs quantify the use of each resource.

First, the results of this study show that a large share of academic library budgets is spent on e‐resource purchases and e‐resource environment improvement for better use. Second, the measurement shows that web DB subscription, annual e‐resource development, and education for e‐resource exhibit higher efficiency, while e‐resource use, web DB and e‐journal download exhibited relatively high efficiency. Third, when the input‐output ratio is calculated in percentage terms, the efficiency of e‐resources of Korean academic libraries reaches 88.20 per cent.

First, to measure performance accurately, results/effectiveness must be included. However, this study focused on quantifiable input and output factors. It is recommended that future research include user satisfaction and learning effects. Second, this study was conducted in a particular country (Korea). So it is advisable to conduct research to compare the results of this study to results in other countries.

This study is the first research to consider the performance of electronic resources in depth. This paper contributes to improving the reliability of library evaluation.

The main purpose of this paper is to describe the use of e-resources at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), those are being offered through the University Grant Commission – Information and Library Network (UGC-INFONET) consortium. Statistical techniques are applied on usage reports generated by e-resources vendors/publishers to understand trend and seasonality in usages of e-resources in academic libraries. The researchers evaluated gain in popularity of e-resources and drew a comparison in use of various databases of e-resources in terms of volume of downloads over a period of three years. The study would help in designing an instrument to evaluate utilization of e-resources. The cross comparison of databases helps in identifying e-resources, which have been optimally used.

The present study used quantitative approach to express utilization of e-resources in terms of number of downloads of full text research papers from Project Muse, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Springer Links, Taylor and Francis and JSTOR databases, accessible through the UGC-INFONET consortium. The investigation is based on secondary data of usage statistics made available by the UGC-INFONET consortium. The descriptive statistics techniques have been used in the initial phase of the investigation to understand trend in utilization of e-resources and examine robustness of various statistical tests to identify most appropriate tests for the latter phase of the investigation. The robustness analysis has been recommended for graphical and non-parametric tests for advanced investigation, in the latter phase of the study. The with-in cohort analysis techniques investigates numbers of monthly downloads from each database for a period of three years, i.e. 2008-2010 to explain seasonality in volume of downloads of e-resources.

e-Resources have been gaining popularity gradually in academic libraries; this trend is in tune with gaining of popularity of web-based intellectual resources in other sectors. The study established need of library consortium for sharing resources and subscription fee. The investigation proves significant association between numbers of downloads of e-resources from different databases in the same period; thus gain in popularity of one database encourages readers to explore other databases. The study indicates seasonality effect in the usages of e-resources in academic libraries. This seasonality effect is contemporary to the academic calendar. There are large numbers of downloads just before the examinations, which are held twice in a year and negligible number of downloads during and around long summer study breaks. Thus, the bandwidth rendered to the university is not consistently used during the academic session. The coverage of databases in terms of disciplines and numbers of journals varies to great extent. There is overlapping in the coverage of databases. The strength of students and their demands for scholarly works also vary across disciplines, thus cross comparison of numbers of downloads from databases has little meaning until impact of these three parameters are not controlled in the investigation of utilization of e-resources.

The literature shows that no study has been carried out for the use of e-resources by researchers of JNU.

This paper aims to provide an overview of the trends and standards in electronic‐resource management (ERM).

This paper examines the challenges that rapid growth in the number of electronic resources and in the complexity of managing e‐collections has posed for libraries, and traces the progress in developing tools and setting standards to address such challenges. Particular emphasis is given to the work of the Digital Library Federation Electronic Resource Management Initiative (DLF ERMI) to develop ERM systems not only for managing e‐collections throughout their life cycle but also for aiding collection‐development decision making. The integration of such systems in existing library environments and the mechanisms that make such integration possible are highlighted. Finally, the paper describes the collaborative process through which one vendor, Ex Libris, designed its ERM system, Verde.

Collaboration between vendors and customers – in this example, Ex Libris and its users – combined with attentiveness to industry initiatives and standards can lead to a system design that responds to the demanding and rapidly changing requirements of the e‐resource world and builds on the software infrastructure already available at libraries.

This discussion will help librarians who struggle with the challenge of e‐resource management to set their expectations about the potential of future tools to assist them in their tasks.

The purpose of this study is to compare the use of electronic resources (e-resources) by undergraduate students in library and information science (LIS) and computer science in two Nigerian universities.

This study adopted a comparative method. The questionnaire was designed to elicit data from 680 undergraduate students in two universities. Simple percentages and chi square (χ²) statistical tool were used to analyse and test the hypotheses. The results are presented in tables and charts.

The findings show that the undergraduate students use some of the e-resources and do not use others probably because of lack of awareness or skills to effectively use the e-resources. Overall, almost half of the undergraduate students rated their skills to use e-resources to be high. It also emerged that there is significant difference between LIS students and computer science students use of e-resources.

The findings of this study on e-resources and their use by different subject areas in the university will establish an important foundation for selecting and providing e-resources and services. Such a foundation allows for the development of both useful theory and practical application.

The study reported findings on e-resources used particularly by different user groups in universities in Nigeria. The study will add to the body of knowledge on use of e-resources in Nigeria.

The main aim of this paper is to examine the role of demographics and self-reported computer skill levels as predictors of e-resources awareness and use by faculty members working at various public and private universities in Bangladesh.

An online survey was conducted at public and private universities in Bangladesh. A total of 757 faculty members from 48 universities across the country responded to the survey. The data were analyzed using various descriptive statistics, i.e. frequencies and percentages and non-parametric Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted to see the differences in levels of awareness among faculty members in terms of university type, gender, age, designation, specialization and computer proficiency levels. An ordinal regression model was used to predict the role of demographics and computer skill levels on faculty awareness levels. Finally, correlation coefficient was measured to see the relationships between faculty awareness and use of e-resources.

The findings revealed that faculty members working at different universities in Bangladesh are generally aware of most e-resources types. There were significant differences in faculty awareness in terms of demographics and self-reported computer skills levels. The results showed that computer proficiency level is a significant predictor of faculty awareness of e-resources. The findings also showed that awareness and use of e-resources are positively and significantly correlated.

This is the foremost attempt to assess the role of demographics and computer skill levels as predictors of awareness and use of e-resources by faculty members.