Digital Divide as Predictors of Access to Information Resources in ICT Based Services in Colleges of Education in Borno State (Published)
The study investigated the digital divide as predictors of access to information in ICT- based library services in colleges of education in Borno state. The objectives that guided the study were to: Assess the socio-economic status of users in accessing information resources in Colleges of Education in Borno state; Examine the impact of geographical location of users on access to information resources in Colleges of Education in Borno state and, Determine the impact of literacy level of users in accessing information resources in Colleges of Education in Borno state. In line with the objectives, three research questions and three null hypotheses were answered. This study adopted descriptive survey research design. The targeted population of this study was one hundred and six eighty-four (164) registered library users of Shehu Kyari library, Umar Ibn Ibrahim College Education science and Technology Bama and College library, Waka Biu College of Education. The study adopted purposive sampling technique since the entire population can be managed. The researcher used a self-designed questionnaire as the research instrument for data collection using the modified four (4) likert scale with 1= Strongly Agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Disagree, 4 = Strongly Disagree. The regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that: There is a positive very high relationship [r = 0.68] between the Socio-Economic Status of users and access to ICT – Based library services Borno State tertiary institutions. Furthermore, a significant relationship exists between socio economic status of users and access to information in ICT- based library services carried out in the libraries [0.02 < 0.05].; There is a positive high relationship [r= 0.73] between the geographical location of library users and access to ICT – Based library services Borno State tertiary institutions. Interestingly, a significant relationship exists between the geographical location of library users and access to ICT – Based library services carried out in the libraries [0.04 < 0.05].and, there is a positive high relationship [r= 0.73] between the literacy level of users and access to ICT – Based library services Borno State tertiary institutions. Furthermore, a significant relationship exists between the geographical location of library users and access to ICT – Based library services carried out in the libraries [0.01 < 0.05].
Keywords: Borno State, Colleges Of Education, Digital Divide, predictors access to information ICT- based services