IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON UTILIZATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES: A STUDY OF POST-GRADUATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN CROSS RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Research Goals: This research investigates social media platforms' impact on “utilization of library resources by postgraduate students in Universities of Cross River State, Nigeria”. This study recognizes how social media has influenced our life daily, the people using social media are increasing day by day. Currently, social media tools have become important communication and learning tools to attract everyone with its unique features of information update. The social media users can share their ideas, images, documents, and videos with others through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Blogs, and YouTube. One major challenge of libraries has been the accessibility and “utilization of library resources, low utilization of library resources mostly by postgraduate students has necessitated this research work to find out the influence of WhatsApp, Blogs, and YouTube on the utilization of library resources among postgraduate students if deployed in libraries. To achieve this, one hypothesis was formulated. The study made use of postgraduate students of Universities in Cross River State, Nigeria.

Methods: The research design for this work was survey research. The population was 565 post graduate students. Accidental and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the sample. The instrument for data collection was a structured and validated questionnaire titled social media platforms impact on the utilization of library resources (SMPIULRQ). Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used to estimate its reliability. The data were analyzed using Multiple Regression statistics. The hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance.
Results /Findings: The findings reveal that there is a significant positive influence of WhatsApp”, Blogs, and YouTube on the utilization of library resources.
Conclusion/ Implications: Librarians should create an adequate technology environment in the library that will promote and encourage the use of social media tools or platforms to increase student's utilization of library resources. This will help them develop ICT skills in the ever-changing world of technology. It was also recommended that postgraduate students should make an individual effort to train themselves on the use of social media platforms for academic as this will help them learn more effectively.