Information literacy skills for electronic resources: a study of students of Open University of Tanzania.

The overall objective of the study was to examine information literacy skills of distance learners in accessing electronic resources. The study adopted Big6 framework which guided the collection of data. Data was collected through both qualitative and quantitative, questionnaires, observation, interview guides and discussions. Random and purposive samplings were used to identify population to the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS, MS word, MS excel and manually. The study revealed that, OUT management and the library were responsible in training students in IL skills so that could deploy the available e-resources on the Internet. The study also found the imbalance in the distribution of ICT facilities within the centers that forced learners to train outside the university. Both lecturers and students lacked adequate facilities to access e-resources. Furthermore the study found that, distance learners IL skills were very low. The study concluded that, the incorporation of IL skills courses in the curriculum as a compulsory course unit to all distance learners would make students able to acquire IL skills that would help them supplement their print materials with electronic resources.