Analysis of Strategies for Enhancing User Engagement in University Libraries in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

The interactions among students, faculty, and staff with library resources, services, and facilities define user engagement in university libraries. To encourage engagement, these libraries invest in digital collections, empower users through information literacy workshops, gather feedback via surveys to customize their services, and build a strong social media presence to foster a sense of community and connection among library users. Unfortunately, some university libraries are facing low user engagement. This study aimed to analyze strategies for enhancing user engagement in university libraries in Meru County, with a particular emphasis on suggesting practical best practices. The objectives of this study were to evaluate how digital resource accessibility enhances user engagement, assess user survey mechanisms for improving engagement, examine the use of information literacy programs to boost engagement, and analyze social media strategies to increase engagement. The study was guided by information interaction theory, flow theory, and the social media integration framework. It adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 13,000 undergraduate students, 665 postgraduate students, and 25 library staff from Meru University and Kenya Methodist University. A sample of 434 undergraduate students, 267 postgraduate students, and 15 library staff participated in the study. The researcher first stratified the undergraduate and postgraduate students and then applied a simple random sampling technique to each group to ensure representation across different academic disciplines and years of study. Purposive sampling was used to select library staff participants. The researcher gathered data from undergraduate and postgraduate students through questionnaires and conducted interviews with library staff. The instruments were pretested to ensure their reliability, which was crucial for producing trustworthy and replicable research findings. A reliability test using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was conducted on the research instruments to ensure reliability. The qualitative data were thematically analyzed and presented in thematic categories and narratives, while the quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were computed, and the results were presented using tables and figures. The research adhered to ethical guidelines, including observing all research policies and ensuring the safety and confidentiality of the respondents. The study results revealed a significant level of engagement between students and library staff, with students frequently seeking assistance for research and resource location. Extensive use of online databases and electronic resources was noted; however, many students experienced difficulties in effectively using e-journals and institutional repositories. Additionally, user surveys were conducted sporadically with a poor response rate, and poor attendance at information literacy sessions was observed, with sessions not equipping students with efficient search strategies. Furthermore, most students felt library staff were unresponsive on social media, and the staff were unaware of effective methods to measure social media engagement. The study concludes that maintaining knowledgeable library staff, improving the quality and accessibility of digital resources, reassessing event planning and promotion strategies, enhancing social media engagement, and better promoting information literacy sessions are essential for enhancing user engagement. It recommended that university libraries in Meru County conduct regular user surveys, incorporate advanced search techniques in information literacy programs, establish clear social media engagement protocols, and integrate information literacy sessions into the academic curriculum.