Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the factors militating against the use of the Internet by Postgraduate Students of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka. The descriptive survey was employed as the research design in the study. The literature reviewed covered: internet resources and services, benefits of the internet, problem encountered while using the Internet and strategies to overcome the likely problems. 35 respondents represent the total population of postgraduate students of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka were used as the sample size of the study. The questionnaire was the instrument used in data collection from the respondents. A total number of 35 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the postgraduate students. The data were analyzed using frequency counts and simple percentage formula. The findings revealed that the e-mail, e-journal and online database were the Internet resources and services mostly used by the postgraduate students. The Internet is beneficial to postgraduate students but are faced with some militating factors such as; slow speed of server, power failure, high service charge and restricted access to site. The findings also revealed that the use of the Internet by students can be enhanced when there are; adequate Internet services, adequate power supply, subsidized charges and free access to sites. It is concluded and recommended that practical use of the Internet should be included as part of postgraduate students’ curriculum in the Department of Library and Information Science; charges for such services should be subsidized especially in libraries where fee-based sites will be subscribed to augment the print services.

Key words: Internet, postgraduate, internet resources and services.