Importance of e-Books in improving access to scholarly materials by university students in Kenya

The purpose of this research is to investigate the significance of e-Books in universities, by looking for critical issues and practices which contribute enormously to enhancing its effectiveness.

The study adopted a descriptive research study design. The use of survey was efficient for this study because it was possible to obtain answers to different variables such as attitudes, personal characteristics and behaviors on usage of e-Books. Survey questionnaires were used on a student sample population at United States International University-A. The study was guided by three independent variables: technological factors, individual factors and institutional support factors. The dependent variable was the usage of e-Books.

The findings established that a majority of the student are computer literate as a whole and have a clear understanding of e-Books. The results further established that students encounter problems when carrying out searches in e-Books and that there is lack of knowledge of the e-Books subscribed by the university library. Support from the university management on the introduction of e-Books by financing its subscription was one of the factors enhancing the access and use of e-Books.

Knowledge of the significance of e-Books can assist libraries restructure their e-Books policies and hence hasten the adoption and implementation of e-Books usage in academic libraries in Kenya.