Perceived Usefulness and Users’ Attitude as Correlate of Multimedia Resources Utilization in Nigerian University Libraries

The study sought to evaluate perceived usefulness and users’ attitude as a correlate of multimedia resources utilization by undergraduate students in selected university libraries in Kwara State. It is a quantitative research that adopted descriptive survey design of correlational type. The units of analysis consist of all undergraduates in the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Molete and Al-Hikma University, Adewole. The study used a questionnaire and observational checklist for data collection. Available multimedia resources in the surveyed university libraries include photographs, audio and video recordings, projectors, globes/maps/atlas, plasma television, computer, library management software, electronic information resources and internet connectivity. None of the three university libraries has an interactive smart board and only the University of Ilorin Library has filmstrips and microfilms/microfiches. Identified challenges militating against successful utilization of multimedia resources in the university libraries include epileptic power supply, out-datedness of available multimedia resources and poor internet connectivity. It was also found that there was a relationship between level of multimedia resources utilization and perceived usefulness of multimedia resources (r=.65, p<.001, N=398) with a moderate to strong positive relationship. More so, there was a relationship between level of multimedia resources utilization and students’ attitude towards multimedia resources (r=.58, p<.001, N=398) with a moderate relationship. Librarians in charge of multimedia resources have a whole lot to contend with, ranging from ensuring information infrastructure to activating multimedia resources utilization are readily available, adhering to copyright laws and fair use guidelines while also maintaining access control. Greater effort also needs to be geared toward training and retraining of librarians because of the varying format of multimedia resources that require different skills of operation.