Perceived influence of students Programme of study on Utilisation of online library services at the University of Nairobi, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of demographic and institutional factors on the utilisation of online library services by distance learners of the University of Nairobi. Specifically, the study aimed at achieving one objective: viz. Asses the influence of students program of study on Utilisation of Online Library Services by Distance learners at the University of Nairobi. The study was anchored on the positivist research paradigm. Descriptive survey and correlation research designs were adopted for this study. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and interview schedules. The target population consisted of 1671learners in the School of Open and Distance Learning and 14 librarians found in the University of Nairobi namel Kikuyu Campus, Chiromo Campus and the main library Campus (The Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library). The sample size was 312 respondents. A pre-test study was conducted using 31learners and 1 librarian. This constituted 10% of the study sample. The researcher tested for the inter-item reliability of the instruments using Cronbach’s Alpha and results ranged from 52.5%-95.8% for learners’ questionnaires while that of librarians recorded 69.8%.Data analysis were done using frequency counts, the mean and standard deviation while hypothesis was tested using multiple linear regression analysis; One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was at 0.05 level of significance. The finding indicated that there is a significant relationship between internet connectivity and Utilization of online library services at the University of Nairobi. The results showed a coefficient of correlation r = 0.309, which suggests a positive relationship between variables; R2 = 0.137, which implies a positive linear correlation. The significance of change also referred to as the ρ-value is ρ= 0.019. This value is pegged on the study putting the limit of 0.5 or 95 percent degree of the confidence interval. Since ρ-value 0.019<0.05, the investigator rejected the null hypothesis and accepted the alternative that there was a significance relationship between Internet connectivity and utilisation of online library services at the University of Nairobi. The study recommends that all distance learners irrespective of their gender and age should be enlightened to use online library services provided by the University of Nairobi. In order to create awareness, there is a need to engage distance learners in activities that give practice and require them to demonstrate their competence in evaluating the quality of information they use. The outcome of this study may act as a basis for policy formulation for both the University of Nairobi and the government of Kenya regarding Distance Learning Programmes. Further research may be carried out to ensure that these demographic and institutional factors are tested in other study samples found in other public universities in Kenya.