Undergraduates digital literacy skills for utilization of electronic resources in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Library

The research is a descriptive survey on undergraduates' digital literacy skills for utilization of electronic resources in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Library. The major purpose was to assess the specific digital competencies required by undergraduates, determine their current skill levels, identify influencing factors, examine the relationship between those skills and electronic-resource use, and propose strategies for improvement. It was guided by five research questions. The population comprised all 17,000 MOUAU undergraduate students. A structured, expert-validated questionnaire served as the data collection instrument, and data were analyzed with frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that students required seven core digital literacy skills - information search strategies, digital tool use, online safety, content creation and evaluation, digital rights and responsibilities, and basic computer operations - and that they exhibited strong proficiency in database searching and critical evaluation but weaker troubleshooting and ethical-use skills. Six factors: access to ICT training, reliable infrastructure, librarian support, prior coursework, peer/collaboration, and personal motivation, significantly influenced skill development. Students also strongly endorsed six improvement strategies - regular hands-on workshops, self-paced tutorials, curriculum integration, peer mentoring, infrastructure upgrades, and quickreference guides. The study recommended that, to enhance academic success and lifelong learning, MOUAU Library should institutionalize these interventions and integrate digital literacy across its services and curricula.