Electronic Resource Management and User Access in Federal University Libraries in South South Nigeria

This study examined electronic resource management practices and their effect on user access in federal university libraries in South South Nigeria, covering institutions in Rivers, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Bayelsa States. As electronic resources increasingly dominate academic library collections, effective management is critical to ensuring that subscription investments translate into genuine user access. A mixed-methods design was adopted, and data were gathered from electronic resources librarians, systems librarians, and library users through structured questionnaires and interviews. The study found that most institutions lacked dedicated electronic resource management software, leading to reliance on spreadsheet-based tracking that was error-prone and inefficient. Users reported difficulties in navigating e-resource portals due to insufficient linking and inadequate user guidance. Licence compliance was inconsistently monitored. The study recommended the adoption of dedicated electronic resource management systems, the creation of clear user access guides, and the appointment of e-resources librarians with specialist training in licence negotiation and access management. Keywords: electronic resource management, federal university libraries, user access, South South Nigeria, e-resources.