ABSTRACT
This study examined postgraduate students’ use of library in University of Lagos. It has been observed that most postgraduate students hardly patronise the library regularly. However, the effectiveness of any library service depends on its maximum utilisation; otherwise, it is as good as waste. Therefore, it has become necessary to empirically establish the purpose of using the library and its challenges as this necessitates a need for this study. Against this background, this paper therefore examines Post Graduate Students’ Accessibility and Utilization of Library Resources (A Case Study of University of Lagos Main Library). The primary and secondary method of data collection was used in collection data for the study. Primary data were obtained through the use of questionnaires and interview while the secondary data were obtained through review of relevant literature. The population of the study comprises thirty (30) students of Postgraduate Diploma in Finance, out of which a sample of seventy (28) PGD students were selected as a representative sample using Taro Yamane. Simple percentage method and correlation were used in analyzing the data collected. The study revealed that Postgraduate students use the library once in a while; also, that Insufficient Internet Access points, space not enough, power outage and obsolete books are the problems encountered by the postgraduate students in using the library. With respect to the findings arrived at, recommendations were made that library management should continuously provide lasting solutions like regular orientation/ICT training, provision of adequate desktop computers to access databases, free internet access and provision of selective dissemination of information for the postgraduate students.
In addition, the university authorities should earmark enough fund for the libraries in order to purchase up to date and relevant library materials.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The major aim of any university library is to support teaching, learning and research activities of its parent institution. University libraries must therefore, make sure that their resources are well utilized as this is essential for the educational development of the students. In agreement with this, Rathinasabapathy (2005) posited that library is an important intellectual resource of the academic community, and helps them to fulfil the curriculum requirements and to promote studies and research. The library, however, includes the totality of human and organized materials resources available in both book and non-book format for providing and obtaining needed information (Ahuauzu, 2002).
In tertiary institutions, the main library users are students and as such they are the major customers or patrons patronizing the library in looking for any information whatsoever. In a competitive environment especially university environments, provision of quality resources to satisfy students’ needs is essential and necessary, therefore, it is vital for service-oriented organizations to have a proper understanding of their clients satisfaction. When users are satisfied with the quality of resources rendered to them, it could be an important tool to move ahead and be in a competitive advantage over other organizations. Libraries serve as facilitators and play an important role in the provision of information resources and resources to assist its users in their studies and research activities. The library housed information resources such as, prints and non-prints format as well as special collection from Governments documents. Users are very important in any types of library and libraries exist because of them (users), they should therefore get satisfaction with the quality of resources render to them by the library. Libraries should be in an advanced stage where other competitors cannot beat them in terms of new technologies that are in vogue now and as such they would be in the same level if not over some information providers in the society today. The general library mission and vision statements serve as a backbone for most activities in the entire community in which they serve being students both undergraduate and post graduate, academic staff, non-academic staff and research fellows. Since most academic libraries are non-monetary organization, academic libraries should be known on how to render quality resources to its users in the community. However, in recent years, academic and research libraries are being faced with competition as a result of emergence of search engines on the internet whereby users can easily access without necessarily going to the library. In a study of Hossain (2010) who asserted that in today’s digital environment, some libraries must improve their resources in order to survive in a competitive environment. A library as one of the information provision centres has a significant role in providing information and to provide access to information resources without any restriction. Provision of quality resources should be a paramount thing to all library staff. When users are satisfied with the resources provided in the library, they feel happy and it could lead to frequent patronage thereby using library resources to the maximum. Users’ satisfaction could possibly be used as predictor for library effectiveness and productivity in terms of quality resources being rendered to users. In other words, the efficiency and effectiveness of a library can be measured by the extent to which library resources and resources satisfy and meet the needs of users. There are several units in the library which has its own significant functions in providing different information and resources to users such as Reference unit, Cataloguing unit, Serials unit, Automation unit and Circulation unit. However, there are factors that could contribute to users’ satisfaction; availability and quick access to updated information, providing information need to users, answering users’ query at any point in time, adequacy of library resources, and good comportment of library staff and so on. In providing good resources to meet users’ satisfaction, Akinlade (2000) observes that the expectation of users of the library is high when sourcing and retrieving information. The study however suggested that for a library to satisfy the information needs of its users, both human and material resources such as machines and equipments must be put in place and make available. Thus, the information that is disseminated to the right people at the right time and use for specific purpose has value forever. Therefore, this study sought to find out whether the library resources and resources are adequately utilized by postgraduate students in University of Lagos main library and if not find a way of improving the situation.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Students remain the major customers in any higher institutions of learning and for them to stay till the end of their programme irrespective of external factors, there must be a kind of satisfaction in respect of services provided in any unit of that institution including library. Libraries serve as bedrock to any academic institution or university, the library collection in terms of resources must meet up with the needs of users in the community in which it is served. To encourage users’ patronage to the library, the resources and services provided by the library must be in high quality and should be an optimum goal to achieve by the library management.
There are other information providers that are competing with the library and if users are not really satisfied with the quality of library services that is provided to them in the library, there are chances of losing them to other competitors. However, no comprehensive study has been conducted on extent of satisfaction with service quality in the library settings. It has been observed that Post graduate students rarely seen to make use of the resources in the library.
There are different categories of users that make use of university libraries, among these are the postgraduate students. However, it is observed that this category of students rarely visit the library and therefore it is often difficult to assess if the library is meeting their needs as the aim of any good library is to satisfy all its users and thereby justify its existence. The aim of the study therefore, is to find out whether the library resources and services are adequately utilized by postgraduate students in University of Lagos main library and if not find a way of improving the situation.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The main objective of this study is to examine whether the postgraduate students utilized the resources and services provided by the library and the extent to which the library was used. The specific objectives are:
1. To examine how often the postgraduate students use the library
2. To determine the purposes for which the postgraduate students use the library
3. To find out the types of information resources used most by the postgraduate students
4. To identify the resources used most by the postgraduate students in the library
5. To examine the search strategy adopted by the postgraduate students in locating library materials
6. To identify the problems encountered by the postgraduate students in using the library
7. To find out if the postgraduate students are satisfied with the information resources in the library
1.4 Research Questions
1. How often the postgraduate students use the library?
2. What is the purpose for which the postgraduate students use the library?
3. What are the types of information resources used most by the postgraduate students?
4. What are the resources used most by the postgraduate students in the library?
5. What are the search strategies adopted by the postgraduate students in locating library materials?
6. What are the problems encountered by the postgraduate students in using the library?
7. Are postgraduate students satisfied with the information resources in the library?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
As a guide to the study, a single hypothesis was raised.
Ho: There is no significant correlation between accessibility and utilization of the library resources in the University of Lagos Library by postgraduate students.
1.6 Significance of the Study
1. This study will raise the level of awareness of postgraduate students on the accessibility and the need to utilize library resources
2. It will provide the basis towards proffering solution to the problem of non- accessibility and utilization of library resources in the University of Lagos Library.
3. It will also be beneficial to academics, students and professionals who are interested in this area of study.
4. It will be a guide for the University Library to improve their services.
5. This study will ensure there is adequate funding of university libraries to enhance the availability of library resources.
6. This study will encourage University libraries to provide programmes that could train their students in up-to-date 21st century skills of Information Communication technologies (ICTs). This will help to solve the problems of ICTs skills among postgraduate students.
7. It will encourage the management of university libraries ensure alternative sources of electricity like inverters, solar and power generating sets are provided to address the issue of erratic power supply in the library
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on Post graduate students accessibility and utilization of library resources (A case study of University of Lagos main library). The study concentrates only on University of Lagos main library, leaving out all the other type of libraries in the state. The content scope for the study is limited to: extent of utilization of resources and services, challenges hindering the utilization of resources and services, etc, in University of Lagos main library. The population for the study was confined to all reference librarians and post graduate students in University of Lagos (main library).
1.8 Limitation of the study
Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Attitudes of Respondents: The researcher encountered the major challenge from the respondents on their typical reluctant attitude to fill the questionnaire or grant interview. In some cases, some respondents expect to be paid for the use of their time and knowledge; if otherwise, they were very reluctant in giving the required information. Some hoard information due to security purposes.
Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
