ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL LIBRARIES ON ACADEMIC RESEARCH, A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF JOS

ABSTRACT This study assessed the impact of digital libraries on academic research at the University of Jos Library. Five objectives were formulated to guide the study which include: to identify the types of digital resources available in the University of Jos Library; to examine the level of awareness of University of Jos digital library among students; to examine the level of utilization of the University of Jos digital library among students; to evaluate the challenges faced by students in accessing the library's digital resources in the University of Jos and to determine the impact of digital library usage on students' academic performance in the University of Jos. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) developed by Davis (1989), which emphasizes perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use as key determinants of technology adoption. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with a sample of 400 respondents drawn from a population of 6,165 students using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) sample size determination table. Structured questionnaires served as the primary instrument for data collection, while the data were analyzed using simple percentage and frequency distribution. The findings revealed that the most available and utilized digital resources were e-books and e-journals, with 78% of respondents indicating frequent use. Databases and institutional repositories recorded moderate use (45%), while multimedia resources were the least accessed (28%). Awareness levels showed a similar trend, with 80% of students aware of e-books and journals, compared to only 40% awareness of institutional repositories. The study also identified major challenges hindering optimal use of digital resources, including poor internet connectivity (65%), lack of adequate devices (52%), limited awareness (47%), and insufficient digital literacy skills (44%). Despite these challenges, 72% of respondents agreed that digital library resources positively influenced their academic performance by improving research efficiency, enhancing referencing, and promoting virtual learning. The study concludes that while digital resources play a crucial role in strengthening academic research and performance, greater effort is needed in publicity, training, and infrastructure improvement to optimize their use. It recommends that the University of Jos Library intensify user sensitization, upgrade its ICT facilities, and provide regular training to maximize the benefits of its digital library services among other recommendations.