Students’ Awareness, Utilization, and Satisfaction with the Copperbelt University Library’s Online Public Access Catalogue

Abstract

This study investigates the levels of awareness, utilization, and satisfaction among undergraduate students at the Copperbelt University ( N=368 ) with the library’s Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). Grounded in the quantitative research paradigm and leveraging the UTAUT framework, the study employed descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and ANOVA to achieve its objectives. Descriptive findings revealed that while 51.7% of students possessed basic OPAC awareness, 40.5% reported never using it, with only 12% reporting frequent use, indicating a significant utilization gap. Overall satisfaction was moderate, with over 51%  of respondents expressing neutrality. Inferential analysis established that Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Performance Expectancy (PE) are the primary determinants of engagement. FC was the strongest positive predictor of Awareness (beta = 0.503) and Utilization (beta = 0.270 ). PE was the strongest determinant of Satisfaction (beta = 0.494). The analysis also found that Social Influence (SI) significantly drives Utilization (beta = 0.164), but, uniquely, had a negative predictive effect on Satisfaction (beta = -0.107). Furthermore, Age Group, Programme of Study, and Year of Study all significantly influence awareness, utilization, and satisfaction, confirming that user experience is highly heterogeneous. These results necessitate targeted Information Literacy campaigns, strategic system upgrades, and context-specific support programs to bridge the utilization gap and enhance the OPAC's role in academic success.