Level of Awareness on Digital Reference Services among Tertiary Students in Southern Christian College

The study aimed to assess the awareness of Digital Reference Services (DRS) at Southern Christian College, focusing on the factors influencing their implementation in academic libraries. Utilizing a quantitative design, the research involved a survey questionnaire distributed to 96 respondents. The demographic analysis revealed that most participants were enrolled in the Bachelor of Secondary Education program, while fewer were in other disciplines such as Office Administration, Psychology, Computer Science, and Agriculture Business. Among second-year students, a majority demonstrated awareness of DRS, primarily learning about it through friends and library orientations, with word of mouth being the least effective source. The study found that access to DRS was mainly on campus, highlighting the significance of library staff possessing excellent communication skills as a major influencing factor. In contrast, the adequacy of reference information sources had a moderate impact. Regarding awareness of specific factors, respondents exhibited high awareness of the library's website, while there was less awareness concerning the availability of bibliographical and electronic document delivery services. Overall, the findings indicate a need for enhanced outreach and education to improve awareness and access to DRS within the college community.