ASSESSMENT OF NETWORK BASED ELECTRONIC SERIALS SERVICES IN SULE HAMMA LIBRARY, NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY KANO.

ABSTRACT The study investigated the assessment of network based electronic serial services in Sule Hamma library, Northwest University Kano. The research was guided with six research questions. Qualitative research methodology was employed through structured interviews was conducted with head of serial section and other staffs in Sule Hamma library to understand the scope usage patterns, challenges and the infrastructure supporting network based electronic serial services. The output of the interview was analyzed using fundamental approaches. The findings revealed that Sule Hamma library provides different services to users which include e-journals e-magazines, enewspapers and digital databases in supporting academic research and learning. It also revealed that majority of the users are student and academic staff. However limitations such as poor internet connectivity, lack of skilled personnel, and inadequate facilities, insufficient funds, user awareness hinder optimal service delivery in Sule Hamma library. The study recommends infrastructural improvement, user training and enhanced awareness to improve the efficiency and adoption of electronic serials services. Therefore, there is need for the annual library annual budget to be increased so that, the library could meet the global trend in having standardized facilities that will help in service delivery to quench the desire needs of user in the library