ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to investigate The Awareness and usage of digital referencing services in John Harris Library , university of Benin. The Researcher made use of five objectives and five research questions to guide the study. The conceptual framework and various sub headings were stated to guide this study. In this study ,Descriptive survey research design was incorporated .The study's target population was based on the total number of registered library patrons in John Harris library, University of Benin. The researcher made use of 100 students purposively. A structured questionnaire designed by the researcher was used for data collection and with the help of descriptive statistics, such as frequency counts and percentages, the data were examined. The findings of this study revealed that the various digital referencing services mention in the section are broad in usage to achieve different aims and objectives in digital referencing, These services can utilize various media, including email reference, chat Reference, video conferring, SMS reference, virtual reference desk, online research assistance, co-browsing and social media reference. Co-browsing digital referencing services makes a majority of utilization among the various digital referencing services. The study also takes a look at the awareness of digital referencing services in the library, respondents attention were drawn to the awareness in digital referencing and factors that may have influenced the usage of digital referencing services among users, majority of respondents were between 42.2% to 50.5% responds which makes up a parallel responds whom indicated a very high extent to the following question in table 6. The use of advertising digital referencing service to increase awareness and usage among patrons is divided into two methods, internet and external, through social media platforms, user education and orientation, library website, classroom teaching and curriculum, library 11 display, flyers and stickers and the use of university email, respondents responds indicated that the use of flyers and stickers will create a vast awareness and means of advertising digital referencing service. It was therefore recommended that Stakeholders and management of John Harris library should create a policy to have a different budget that should focus on digital referencing.Periodic training should be encouraged for staff and students to equip them with necessary update/information i.e. training and re-training. There should be an avenue where the staff and students can share their knowledge and ask questions as regards digital referencing. Finally, The library personnel should find a way to increase its library advocacy skills, as library advocacy has been known to be a more and better effective way to sell the library and its services to its users.
