A review on the Collection Development Practices and Use of Electronic Resources in Academic Libraries: Emerging Issues for Student Access and Learning

Abstract

The advancement of technology has significantly changed collection development practices in libraries, particularly in terms of acquisition and use of electronic resources. Academic libraries aim to realise their mandate of supporting learning, teaching and research output mostly with an emphasis on student success and researcher productivity. This move has fostered a change in what to be considered in the collection development and way this information is disseminated. Pressure in building digital collection has been witnessed. This review examined emerging issues and trends in the development and use of electronic resources within Universities. The most important areas investigated included an exploration on the current collection development practices, awareness levels, usage and access methods. transfer of pressure to digital collections, challenges to resource and license accessibility, user training needs, and the role of library guidelines in supporting access. To understand the current situation regarding collection development practices and integration of e-resources in libraries, a scoping review was undertaken. Literature of this review was undertaken from well-known different databases such as: EBSCOHOST, Scopus/Web of Science, Google Scholar, Emerald Insight, Taylor & Francis) Research Gate and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. The inclusion criteria included papers that were published between 2015 and 2025 and were written in English; focused on key aspects of collection development practices and the use of electronic resources in academic libraries. Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to choose relevant articles with keyword searching. Findings demonstrate how strategic integration of electronic resources in the library collection can improve academic engagement and support remote and blended learning environments. In addition, the results indicated that though students were indeed aware of the availability of e-resources, the usage remained low. The study results further cited inadequate funding, lack of skills for hybrid collection management, lack of collection development policy and poor Internet connectivity etc. There is a critical part of digital resources for academic success, institutions need to address obstacles such as digital literacy gaps, insufficient infra-structure, and developing user expectations. This review highlights the need for ongoing assessments and adaptation strategies to ensure that guidelines for collection development continue to meet the changing educational environment and student information needs.