What Do Our Digital Native Students do or Do Not Do in Our Academic Libraries?

Abstract

This paper looks at the culture of a new breed of users - the digital native students- in our Ghanaian universities. Utilising mixed methods approach, the study examined what students do or do not do at the Institute of African Studies Library. Findings reveal that this group of users are multi-taskers, want quick feedback and are therefore not prepared to go through laborious search for information. They patronise libraries that provide them with the “comfort” of air-conditioning and study carrels that provide privacy. Even though the study is focused on only one library, in the University of Ghana Library System, it raises a number of library lessons and issues that need to be addressed in the redesign of library services and facilities in African academic libraries. The study concludes by offering some recommendations to make library services and environment more exciting to attract our digital native students