A paper presented at IFLA WLIC 2016 – Columbus, OH – Connections. Collaboration. Community in Session 189 - Access to Information Network - Africa (ATINA) on 17th August, 2016

1. EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF EBOOKS ON
READING MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS OF
HIGHER LEARNING IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES
Akpokodje, Vera Nkiruka
University of Jos Library, Jos, 930001,
Nigeria
&
Ukwoma Scholastica Chizoma
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
A paper presented at IFLA WLIC 2016 – Columbus, OH – Connections.
Collaboration. Community in Session 189 - Access to Information Network -
Africa (ATINA) on 17th August, 2016

2. Introduction
Clay
Printed resources
Electronic resources
Students reading using the
conventional method, to
enhance teaching learning
&research
Innovations to
improve reading and
motivate students
Evolution of information
resources from clay to the
electronic format.

3. Students and their Reading culture in
Nigeria
• Rate of reading in Nigeria is dwindling
• Majority of youths prefer to while away time
on frivolities rather than reading to widen
their intelligence (Peoples Daily, Nov 12,
2014).
• Necessitated the introduction of Bring Back
the Book Project by Former President
Goodluck Jonathan to encourage reading.
(www.bringbackthebook.org)

4. AIM
The survey aimed to verify
client awareness, usage
level, usage patterns,
purpose of eBook usage,
impact and challenges
encountered in using
electronic books amongst
students of higher
learning of the two
universities.

5. POPULATION
• Two Conventional Federal Universities were
used
– University of Nigeria, Nsukka
– University of Jos, Nigeria
• A total of One Hundred and Fifty four (154)
respondents of both undergraduate and
Postgraduate responded

6. Findings
Level of use of
e-books
76,9% of the
students are
aware that each
of these libraries
have access to
eBooks
Frequency of use of e-
books

7. Findings
Motivation for
using e-books
To read more
books
To take
advantage of its
portability to
have as many
books as
possible in my
mobile devices
To always
read books
even at the
comfort of
my room
and on the
go
Impact on
reading
habit
The use of
eBooks has
increased the
amount of time
I spent reading
Has made me
to develop a
good reading
habit
The use of
eBooks has
increased the
variety of
books I read
The use of
eBooks have
made studying
much more
interesting

8. Conclusion
• eBooks have quickly become an essential part of the
information mix. The considerable number of users
found eBooks useful with quick accessibility and use
on the go!
• There is need for libraries to provide enough facilities
(such as ebook readers) and to create more
awareness and advocacy on the benefits of ebooks.
• Article at http://library.ifla.org/1506/1/189-
akpokodje-en.pdf