Evaluating the impact of eBook on reading motivation of students of higher learning in Nigerian Universities

Reading among students is a vital aspect of their learning process and should be encouraged, any effort or innovation that improves the reading motivation of students is worth sustaining. This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of ebooks on reading motivation of students in Nigerian Higher institution based on observations that the rate of reading has been dwindling and majority of youths prefer to while away time on frivolities rather than reading to widen their intelligence. The study adopted descriptive survey research method the population consist of students from University of Nigeria and University of Jos. The findings of the study showed that majority of the students studied were aware of ebooks, and they normally access them through Google books. The materials often used were textbooks and reference materials; the use them mainly for study and research. The students were motivated to use ebooks because they could read them at the comfort of their homes, it saved a lot of time for them and these books were so easy to search and had created a lot of impact as many of them agreed that it had improved their reading habits, increase the volumes of books they read and helps them to understand the text. The study therefore concluded that to encourage good reading habits among students, the universities should provide broadband Internet access and enough facilities to accommodate all the students. Librarians should intensify in their effort to create more awareness among the students.

学生阅读是其学习进程中的关键环节，理应得到倡导；任何能够提升学生阅读动机的举措与创新，均值得持续推行。
本研究针对尼日利亚高等院校中学生阅读率持续下滑、多数青年更倾向于将时间耗费在无意义消遣而非通过阅读拓展认知边界这一现状，旨在评估电子书(ebook)对学生阅读动机的影响。
本研究采用描述性调查研究法，研究对象涵盖尼日利亚大学（University of Nigeria）与乔斯大学（University of Jos）的在校学生。
研究结果显示，绝大多数受访学生了解电子书，且通常通过谷歌图书(Google Books)获取相关资源。学生常用的阅读材料为教科书与参考资料，主要用于学业学习与科研探究。
学生愿意使用电子书的动因在于，其可在舒适的居家环境中阅读，节省大量时间，且电子书检索便捷。诸多学生均表示，电子书有效改善了自身的阅读习惯，提升了阅读量，并有助于他们理解文本内容。
据此，本研究得出结论：若要培养学生良好的阅读习惯，各高校应提供宽带互联网接入服务与充足的配套设施以满足全体学生的需求；图书馆员应加大宣传力度，提升学生对电子书的认知度。