ABSTRACT

 This research workwas intended to investigate the strategiesfor enhancing effective utilization ofInformation andCommunication Technologies (ICTs) by students in the fivefederal university libraries inNorth-CentralZone ofNigeria. This is with aims of ascertaining their level ofICT skills, problems and strategies for improvement. Descriptive survey design was employedfor the study with a population of113,329 students outwhich sample sizeof150students wasselectedusingpurposive sampling technique. The instrument usedfor data collection was questionnaire. Out ofthe 150 copies ofthe questionnaire distributedto the respondents, 140 copies werefilledand returned representing 93.33% ofthe copies ofquestionnaire distributed. To analyze the data the following descriptive statistical measures were employed: frequency table, simplepercentage andmean (X) The results obtainedfrom thefindings revealed that the studentspossess a wide range ofICTrelatedskills and that there arefactors militating against the effective use ofICTs by students which rangesfrom inadequatefunds, poor or erratic power supply, inadequate numberofeffective Internet Service Providers (ISP) to lackofpolicyframework on ICTs in the country. Based on thefindings, it was recommended that efforts should be made to place a highpremium/priority on application ofICTsin the services ofuniversity libraries. Students shouldbe encouragedto utilize ICTsin the librariesto enhance their academic output. Government should as wellshow more commitment in the developing ofICTs base in the country byproviding grants andaids more stablepowersupply andcyber cafes. Various institutionsshould endeavourto generatefunds internallyfor ICTprojects, adequate training and orientation on ICTs should be emphasized. Key Words: Information and Communication Technologies, Academic Libraries, ICT Utilization