2026-11-10T10:21:04Zhttps://repository.slads.sc.tz/api/oai

oai:repository.slads.sc.tz:cmsj2knt7004hk8c5ceuffbcz2026-11-10T09:59:06Zdepartment:LIMtype:dissertation

AN ASSESSMENT ON THE USE OF E-REFERENCE SERVICES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES . A CASE STUDY OF AGENCY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT (ADEM) Elizabeth Metusela MlowaE-reference servicesAcademic librariesAgency for the Development of Educational ManagementInformation access and retrievalInfrastructure and connectivity challengesTechnical support and trainingUser adoption and awarenessThis study Assessed On the Use of E-Reference Services in Academic Libraries. A Case Study of Agency for The Development of Education Management (ADEM). The study was conducted to identify the types of e-reference services available at ADEM Library, to establish the level use of e-reference services among user and to identify the challenges hindering the effective use of e-reference services. The study employed a descriptive research design and adopted a mixed research approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected from 25 users and 5 staff members using questionnaires and interviews. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings were presented in tables and narrative form for easy interpretation. The findings revealed that although some students benefited from availability of disaster preparedness in library, there were challenges such Inadequate Infrastructure and Hardware Shortages Unreliable Power Supply and Connectivity Issues, Lack of Technical Support and Maintenance, Resistance to Change and Institutional Culture. The study concludes that the Use of E-Reference Services in Academic Libraries plays a crucial role in students’ access to information at ADEM. It recommends that E-Reference Services should improve communication, strengthen payment processing systems, and enhance awareness among students and reliable service delivery. School of Library, Archives and Documentation Studies (SLADS)2026TextDissertationapplication/pdfhttps://repository.slads.sc.tz/records/cmsj2knt7004hk8c5ceuffbczenAll rights reservedhttps://repository.slads.sc.tz/api/records/cmsj2knt7004hk8c5ceuffbcz/file