According to Manda (2005), access to and availability of PCs potentially influence the use of electronic resources. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the student respondents of Manda's (2005) study identified few numbers of computers available to them for browsing as a problem. He observed inadequacy of the numbers of PCs available to users in all the surveyed libraries. The interesting feature here is that at the institutional level, the observation is that the availability of PCs is good. However, in the libraries of these same universities or institutions, the number of computers accessible to users was generally unsatisfactory. The lack of workstations as a problem was also reported by Ojo and Akande (2005), Belcher et al (2O06).
As a result of the inadequate number of PCs with Internet connectivity, use restriction and access charges are introduced which become problems in themselves. Gwynn and Rosenberg (2005) advocated for the restriction of access to timed periods where there were few computers. An example given is the Midlands State University, Zimbabwe, that allows use of computers by 30 minutes’ periods. Mortenson Report (2005) argues that users are effectively discouraged from exploring available Web resources on campuses where they are charged a fee based on usage.
Another problem noted by Manda (2005) is that of restricted opening hours. The opening hours pose a limitation on access to the available PCs. The operational hours are between 8.00am to 4.00pm or 6.00pm for most of the academic Libraries studied. Only a few operate liberal hours of 8.00am to 10.00pm. The twin problem to restricted opening hours is that of computer use charges. Some of the libraries charge fees and others do not. Interestingly, where there is free access, long queues are checked through restricting time per PC per user. Manda (2005) reported that at the University of Dar es Salaam's (UDSM) Main Library, users are allowed only half an hour at a time of computer access that can be extended if there are no users queuing to take their turn. Muswazi (2005) recommended the procurement and installation of more computer terminals and the allocation of generous time quotas for effective databases searches.
Another problem that affects usage of electronic resource access is lack of usage skills. The lack of usage skills reported by Ray and Day (1998), Rosenberg (2005), Gwynn and Rosenberg (2005) and Mortenson Report (2005) causes low usage of electronic resources. Ray and Day (1998) fingered limited time and the lack of effective information retrieval skills as the main problems to using electronic resources. Ojo and Akande (2005) also affirmed lack of usage skills was identified by 30% of their respondents to be a problem in the use of electronic resources. Manda (2005) reported that 47% graduate students and 39% of academic staff mentioned the lack of skills in searching electronic resources as a problem.
The lack of reliable power is a major problem for users of electronic resources in a university library. The Mortenson Report (2005) stated categorically that reliable power is a precondition for the provision and use of electronic resources. According to the report the library shuts down its ICT facilities and services once there is no power; thus frustrating the users who cannot access the electronic resources due to power outages. Gbaje (2005) highlighted the problem of frequent power surge and power failure affecting the use of the computer laboratory down and connection not available (Manda, 2005).
Gbaje (2005) reporting on the damaging effect of power surge and power failure, said that out of the seven computers in the laboratory, "three had their power pack burnt and two had their hard disk crashed, leaving only two functioning computers at the end of October 2002"(Gbaje,2005).
Gwynn Rosenberg (2005) found out from her study that only a minority of African university Libraries had fully automated systems even though library automation started in the early 1990s in these countries. Only libraries with donor assistance that started late were fully automated. The University of Dar es Salaam Main Library, which started automation in 1998, is an example because it is fully automated with donor assistance. These African university Libraries according to Rosenberg (2005) depend on external funding for the provision of computers and electronic resources.
2.8 Summary of the Literature Reviewed
This chapter reviewed literature related to this study. The chapter discussed on concept of electronic databases, types of electronic resources such as e journals, internet, online database such as HINARI, AJOL AGORA among others utilization of electronic databases which include e learning, updating knowledge, research work etc. challenges encountered when utilizing e resource such as erratic power supply, computer illiteracy slow internet connectivity, to mention but few were reviewed. Most of these literature focused on availability and utilization of electronic databases in University libraries. These literatures revealed that electronic information resources are the new information resources that many libraries are adopting. None of these literatures focused on awareness and use of library electronic databasees by Lecturers in two selected colleges in kwara state university as the perspective of these studies.
