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ABSTRACT
This study examines the electronic resources collection development, awareness, and utilization in the University of CalabarLibrary. With the growing importance of digital information in academic settings, the researcher explores the library's strategies for acquiring e-resources, the level of awareness among students and faculty, and the extent to which these resources are utilized for academic and research purposes. Data were collected through a mixed-method approach involving questionnaires, interviews, and a review of library records. The findings revealed that while the University of Calabar Library has made significant strides in acquiring a variety of e-resources, challenges such as low level awareness, limited access points, and low utilization rates persist. The study recommends improved promotional strategies, increased training for users, and enhanced technological infrastructure to maximize the potential of e-resources in supporting academic and research activities within the university.
KEYWORDS: Collection Development, Awareness, Utilization, Electronic Resources
INTRODUCTION
University libraries are built to complement mainstream academic exercise and extra curricula activities of the university which include teaching, learning, research and publications, conservation of knowledge and ideas and extension services. They direct their activities towards the actualization of these objectives. One of such activities is the acquisition of information resources. They acquire collections in broad terms of quantity and quality in the form of prints and electronic to support the teaching, learning, research and recreational purposes. Collection development has become a very popular term in library and information centers, as a need for an efficient and balanced collection.
Collection development serves as a foundation upon which other library services are built. It is the systematic building of a library collection based on meaningful data rather than subjective choice. It is the process of accessing the strength and weaknesses in a collection and then creating the plan to correct the weakness and maintain the strength. The process of collection building includes selection of current as well as retrospective materials and the evaluation of the existing collection observed.
Electronic collection Development is the process of planning, selecting and acquiring a balanced collection of library materials in a variety of electronic formats such as e-books, e- journals, media and online resources.
It is the means by which the library provides high quality information resources of non-print and providing access electronically to...