Abstract
This study develops an integrated evaluation framework that links technology acceptance constructs with system performance attributes and contextual factors influencing digital library usage in resource-limited environments across Africa, Asia, and Central/Latin America. A survey of 1368 participants across 23 higher institutions was conducted, employing path analysis based on a series of multiple regression analyses. The findings revealed that (i) perceived ease of use of digital library use had a significant impact on perceived usefulness, which in turn led to behavioral intention to use, and also when individually analyzing the continents and countries, there are broadly consistent patterns with some notable continents and countries variations; (ii) usability features and user satisfaction do contribute to continued usage behavior, but the usability features have no effect via satisfaction on continued usage behavior. There is such evidence even when the continents and countries analyzed individually; however, there is relative differences in the strength of these effects; (iii) both task efficiency and information quality are strongly and positively associated with perceived information system success while based on continents, the results were remarkably similar in strength; however, minor differences emerged in the magnitude of the effect, while for the individual countries, most nations shared a strong positive association, but differences emerged in the relative strength of predictors; (iv) when intention to use is combined with digital literacy and infrastructural support increases continued usage behavior of digital library use, and there is similarity across the individual continents and countries with little difference. Thus, the findings offer context-sensitive insights for digital library evaluation in resource-limited environments.
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