Effect of Digital Library Resources on Information Literacy Skills of Undergraduate Students in Nigerian Higher Institutions

Abubakar Yahaya Musa

doi:10.56201/wjimt.v10.no10.2026.pg140.147

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Effect of Digital Library Resources on Information Literacy Skills of Undergraduate Students in Nigerian Higher Institutions

Abubakar Yahaya Musa

Abstract

The proliferation of digital library resources in Nigerian higher institutions has repositioned the university library from a passive repository of print materials to an active hub for electronic information access. This article examines the effect of digital library resources on the information literacy skills of undergraduate students in Nigerian higher institutions. Adopting a desk-review methodology, the study synthesises empirical and conceptual literature published mainly between 2017 and 2024 to interrogate the extent to which electronic databases, institutional repositories, e-journals and online public access catalogues shape students' ability to locate, evaluate, and ethically use information. The review shows that digital library resources have a generally positive effect on information literacy, particularly in search formulation and information retrieval, but that gains are uneven and are frequently constrained by epileptic power supply, poor internet connectivity, inadequate funding, and a shortage of structured digital-skills training. A synthesis table and a summary chart drawn from nine reviewed studies illustrate the recurring pattern of challenges across Nigerian university libraries. The article recommends the institutionalisation of credit-bearing information literacy courses, sustained investment in ICT infrastructure, and continuous digital-skills training for both students and librarians as strategies for optimising the benefits of digital library resources in Nigerian higher education.

Keywords

Digital library resources; information literacy; digital literacy; undergraduate students; Nigerian higher institutions; academic libraries

References

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Effect of Digital Library Resources on Information Literacy Skills of Undergraduate Students in Nigerian Higher Institutions

Abstract

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