The Impact of the internet on academic library use:perception of Chepkoilel community

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly apparent that academic libraries will no longer be able to meet information needs of their users using the traditional library services due to diminishing government funding, increased number of academic programs and the ever increasing number of users. Yet the demand for information appears undiminished. The Internet is an untapped channel that libraries can use to supplement already existing library services. The study explored Internet awareness, frequency and reasons of use and perception of the users towards traditional library services as compared to the Internet so as to set a platform for establishing future trends in library services. A modified model (D’Elia and Rodger, 2000) was used based on the Chepkoilel campus community use of the library and use of the Internet. They defined the segments of this market as follows: Segment 1) People who use the library but do not use the Internet; Segment 2) People who use the library, and Internet; Segment 3) People who do not use the library, and do not use the Internet; Segment 4) People who do not use the library but use the Internet. The survey was conducted through the use of self administered questionnaires. The results indicates that there is need to develop appropriate and complementary services in the library that will incorporate traditional library services and emerging services that have been made possible by the rapid new developments in ICT. Training is suggested as an appropriate means of enabling library staff to run and manage a digital library and also assist and teach students and staff on how to efficiently and effectively use the internet. But widespread usage of this powerful information resource depends not only on the innovativeness of the library but more on the efforts made by the university management to promote its access, advantages and ease of use.