Determining the Influence of User Training on the Level of E-Resource Utilisation Among Undergraduate Students at Laikipia University

E-resources (electronic resources) are critical components of teaching and learning at universities today. Even though universities continue to put a lot of money into online information and digital databases, evidence shows that undergraduate students do not always take full advantage of these resources when using them. At Laikipia University, there have been concerns about the difference between the subscribed e-resources and their actual use. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine whether or not user training has an effect on how much undergraduate students use e-resources. Using the Diffusion of Innovations theory, a descriptive research design was employed in this study. Undergraduates were selected by stratified random sampling so as to be represented across all years of study. Data were collected using questionnaires and were analysed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (correlated with training and regression analysis) to set up a relationship between user training and user levels of e-resource utilisation. The findings in this study indicate that user training is a good predictor of how much university students will use e-resources. The students who participated in user training reported they would use the databases more frequently than those who did not receive user training; they also reported they were able to search for information better than those who did not receive user training; and, finally, that they felt more confident conducting research after having received user training than they did before having received user training. However, user training only occurred during orientation classes, with minimal practical engagement and limited follow-up support. Limitations of the use of digital resources have hindered the potential for sustained use of e-resources in a strategic way. The overall results of the study revealed that although training users effectively impacts their use of digital resources, the frequency, intensity, and institutional support provided by an institution impact the effectiveness of training. Consequently, the study recommends integrating training for both digital literacy and e-resources into the university curriculum, enhancing hands-on training to be conducted on a more frequent basis, and greater collaboration between librarians and faculty to assist in promoting ongoing use of digital resources.