A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INFORMATION RESOURCES AND SERVICES ON USE AND SATISFACTION OF HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HARAMAYA AND DIRE DAWA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The

study

compared

information

resources

and

services

on use

and

satisfaction of

Health

science students for academic performance in Haramaya and Dire Dawa University Libraries

with

the

objectives

of:

examining

the

types of

Library

resources

and

services

provided;

the

utilization levels and satisfaction levels of the Health Science students with the existing Library resources and services; find out the main challenges faced by Health Science student and to determine the strategies needed for the enhancement of utilization and satisfaction levels of the

Health

Science students

in both

university libraries. To

achieve

the desired

goal,

descriptive

survey research method involving both quantitative and qualitative techniques were employed. The data was collected with the help of questionnaire, interview and observation checklist and analyzed using mean, frequency, percentage and Mann-Whitney U test. The results revealed that textbook, teachers’ handout, reference books, Internet services, circulation services, and Inter- library loan services were the most common information resources and services made available

in both

Haramaya

and

Dire

Dawa

university

libraries. It

also

revealed

that

majority of

respondents

from

both

universities

frequently

used

textbook,

reference

book,

handout

and

internet services, while e-resources were underutilized because of lack of availability. The study again revealed that majority of respondents from HU and DDU were partially satisfied with Textbook, Reference books, Internet Services, Circulation Service and Inter-library loan service, but dissatisfied with electronic resources and services and no significant difference was found. The study identified Lack of relevant books, inadequate current information materials, lack of

electronic

resources

and

services,

slow

internet

connection,

and

poor

library

facilities as

common

problem of

both

universities

without

significant

differences

between

them.

It is

recommended

that

the

library

should

be automated

and

given

attention

for

e-resources

and

services with provision of appropriate library skills programs; acquiring adequate, up-to-dated

and

relevant

printed

and

non-printed

information

resources

along

with

skilled

library

professionals and well equipped library with facilities to improve the quality of their services.