Abstract:
The study focuses on the information needs of distance learners of the Winneba Study Centre
of the University of Education, Winneba. The main objective was to investigate the
information needs of this group of students who live far away from their host institution and
have minimal interaction with their tutors. The study was a survey and made use of a
questionnaire as research instrument. The target population consisted of all distance
learners of the Centre; this includes the Diploma and Post Diploma students numbering
1,029 as at 2014/2015 academic year. A sample size of 206 representing 20% of the
population was selected through random sampling. The questionnaire was analyzed using
frequency tables and percentages. Findings of the study were that distance learners depend
solely on the course materials and lecture notes as the only source of information due to
their tight schedule. They were also not using libraries to support their learning and other
academic activities as they lacked searching and library use skills. Furthermore, it was found
that the learners prefer print format to electronic format and lack of time and inability to
search for information are some of the hindrances to their information utilization. Based on
the findings, it was recommended among other things that, tutors should endeavor to give
assignments that would require the use of libraries, efforts should also be made by library
management in partnership with distance education administrators to run mobile library
services, instruction on library use, negotiate for space in public and school libraries to keep
library materials for use by the learners and also provide instruction on how to access and
use both print and electronic resources in libraries.
