ABSTRACT
This study assessed the use of library resources in private
university libraries. The study amongst others aimed at determining the
availability of information resource in the private university libraries. A
questionnaire was carefully designed in line with the objectives and research
questions formulated. The sample comprised of 224 Medicine undergraduate
students in Igbinedion University, Edo State. The data collected were analysed
and using the frequency counts, tables and percentage statistics. The findings
revealed the following: while information resources like text books (97.6%) and
journals (89.6%) were actually available to Medicine students, crucial ones
like electronic information resources and database (42.7%) were not available.
Result also revealed the low degree of accessibility of library materials in
private universities. This low level of accessibility is as a result of non
availability of the resources. It was found that except for newspapers and
periodicals, all other library information resources that were reported to have
low degree of accessibility in the private university also have very low level
of usability by the students. Meanwhile, majority of the students (93%) are not
satisfied with information resources like periodicals and oral information
(97.4), except for the use of thesis and projects. Lastly, result shows that library
information resources in the private universities have positive impact on
users. Based on the findings, it was recommended the need to regularly evaluate
library resources and services they render so as to find out if the users’
needs are being met by the available materials.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Libraries
were storehouses and quarries of knowledge, held in books (Akande, 2009). Human
endeavour of many kinds, including education, research, invention, business and
leisure, has always depended to some extent on access to information, or on
what other people have known or said, and for many centuries books have been
the containers for holding and transmitting these information. Books were
created to be communication devices for texts, and libraries existed to store,
organise and make them accessible in large quantities (Hoare, 2006). Those who
have founded and funded libraries, or donated collections to them, have done so
in the knowledge that they have been augmenting reservoirs of knowledge for
which there is no substitute. The value of libraries has often been measured in
terms of the size of their stock; more books means a greater reservoir, more
comprehensiveness of coverage. There have been other sources of information but
when looking for authoritative, cumulative and trustworthy places to find it
and look after it, civilization has turned to libraries.
According
to Rathinasabapathy (2005) the 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).
Jubb and Green (2007) observe that
academic libraries have for centuries played critically important roles in
supporting research in all subjects and disciplines within their host
universities or colleges. Opara (2001) posits that the library stands in the
same relationship to the society as the memory of an individual by making
available and accessible to its users information required for teaching and
independent study. The main purpose of an academic library as stated by Aina
(2004) is to support the objectives of an academic environment in the areas of
learning, teaching, research, and service.
Oyesiku
and Oduwole (2004) assert that in academic communities, libraries are
indispensable. Guskin (1996) notes that the use of university libraries
promotes active learning, thus contributing to students’ ability to think
critically and work well independently or in group. An academic environment
without a library is tantamount to a person without a brain.
The
university library is set up to serve its parent institution and considered as an organ around which all
academic activities revolve and therefore the library can aptly be described as
the heart of the university. The role of a university library to the parent
institutions could be seen as:
·
Acquisition of materials to support learning and
teaching process in the University.
·
Provision
of materials necessary for research and to meet the requirement of faculty.
·
Cooperation with other university libraries with
a view of developing a network of academic library materials which will be at
the disposal of all students and teachers.
·
Open the door to a wide range of materials that
lie beyond the borders of one’s own field of specialization.
·
To bring information resources to door step of
student and scholars together under conditions which encourage reading for
pleasure, self discovering, personal growth and sharpening of intellectual
curiosity.
However for the schools educational
objectives to be achieved through the
library, the library materials and services must be made available to the
students and teachers users readily on request.
Proper dissemination of these materials
is only possible if the documents are in good and usable condition since
information bearing materials will not last forever in their usable state
demand for their proper usage. The use of library materials in this study
refers to the utilisation of the materials and services in the library for the
purpose of research, learning amongst others. It would be pertinent to discover
whether academic libraries are indeed living up to their objectives. The
effectiveness and efficiency of services provided in academic libraries are
mainly determined by library users. In the works of Behling and Cudd (2007)
assert that the library user is regarded as the most logical source to
determine whether the library is playing its role satisfactorily or not in
terms of services rendered. Therefore, carrying out regular surveys on user
needs at regular intervals on various aspects of library usage will be an
invaluable guide in determining the future directions of library developments.
Students, lecturers and researchers in academic institutions rely on libraries
to provide the information they need in support of teaching, learning, research
and knowledge dissemination, which is a
fundamental reason for the libraries’ existence.
The effectiveness of library
resources and services can be measured in various ways. Nwalo (1997) citing Ene
(1997) states, "libraries are judged by set objectives. [And] application
of set standards to measure the quality of operations." On the other hand,
we can use both qualitative and quantitative techniques in determining the
effectiveness of a library. Irrespective of whether the effectiveness is
quantitative or qualitative, parameters are set to be judged by users, who are
in the best position to evaluate the effectiveness of the library services and
materials. Students, faculty members and researchers of academic institutions
should have an interest in evaluating library materials since they are provided
to satisfy their information needs. The
effectiveness of a library is also gauged or assessed by its resources – human
and material and the services it offers through these resources. There is
therefore the need to regularly evaluate library services to find out if
patrons’ needs are being met by the available materials. For this reason most
university libraries have collection development policies which they adhere to.
This is because a system of information is relevant only if it affords access
to the right kind of documents. Similarly, Nwalo (1997) asserts that the
library’s services effectiveness is measured in terms of the satisfaction
expressed by its users. Libraries are one of the most important steps in the
research process and with the right resources and services; academic librarians
can give scholars a great advantage in terms of authentic information. Fabunmi (2004) described quality in library services
as including information customized to meet individual needs. He further stated
that qualitative library services are timely in delivery, meet their specific
needs, are easy to understand/use, and are delivered by courteous and
knowledgeable staff.
However, Ogunsheye (2012)
re-emphasized that neither a good book nor a good library can make the
individual educated. It is the successful use of the books and libraries that
makes the well informed, stable and well adjusted learned individual. It has
been observed that in most schools where library exists, emphasis is on
physical features, collection and budgets and not on the effective utilization
of the library materials and services. In order to ascertain the extent to
which academic library has helped in academic achievement, it is therefore,
imperative to evaluate the use of library materials and services provided.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The foremost objective of the
university library is to bring information resources to the door step of students
and scholars, to encourage reading for pleasure, self discovering, personal
growth and sharpening of intellectual curiosity. However for the university educational
objectives to be achieved through the library, the library resources and
services must be made available to the students and teachers users readily on
request. As a result of this, a university designs its program of study and
provides the necessary infrastructure as to meet these goals. It is in light of
this that facilities and services in the university becomes an integral part of
the university system, the library is undoubtedly the most significant of them
all.
It is pertinent to emphasized that
neither a good book nor a good library can make the individual educated. It is
the successful use of the books and libraries that makes the well informed,
stable and well adjusted learned individual. It has been observed by the
researcher that in most public institutions where library exists, emphasis is
on physical features, collection and budgets and not on the effective
utilization of the library materials and services. Little of such research has
been carried out in private universities in Nigeria. In order to ascertain the
extent to which academic library has helped in academic achievement, it is
therefore, imperative to evaluate the use of library materials and services
provided in Igbinedion University Library. This is a gap that this research
intends to fill.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is
to assess the use of library resources by undergraduate Medicine students in
Igbinedion University, Okada. The specific objectives of this study are:
i.
To determine the availability of information resource
in the private university libraries
ii.
To determine the extent of accessibility to library resources in
private universities in Edo State.
iii.
To explore extent of using the library information
resources by undergraduate medicine students in university libraries under
study.
iv.
To determine the extent of user satisfaction towards
the use of library information resources.
v.
To determine the
impact of library resources in private universities have on the users.
1.4 Research Questions
In carrying out this study, the researcher intends
to put forward the following questions, which will guide her in conducting the
study. These include:
i.
Are there adequate information resource available to undergraduate
medicine students in the private university libraries?
ii.
What is the degree of accessibility to the library resources
in private universities in Edo State?
iii.
What is the extent of using library information
resources provided by undergraduate medicine students by the university libraries
under study?
iv.
What is the level of satisfaction derived by users from
using library information resources?
v.
What impact does library resources services in the
private universities have on the users?
1.5 Scope Of The Study
This study covers only undergraduate
medicine students in private universities in Edo State. The study will also
cover areas of materials and services assessment with emphasis on print and non
print materials in the libraries. The study will also look at the impact of the
services rendered on the users who medicine students of Igbinedion university.
1.6
Significance of Study
This study, it is hoped will
enhance performance in libraries by enlightening professional librarians and
paraprofessional librarians on the importance of qualitative materials and
effective service delivery. The study draws the attention of the librarians on
what areas of collections needs urgent attention in respect to availability and
usability. Also, it is hoped the findings, will help to reduce further
redundancy in library services. The expected benefit of this study will lie
mostly in the students whom often utilise library materials and services for
learning and research. The study will help them get acquainted with the diverse
services that could help them get the desired information needed.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
This study will be
limited to undergraduates Medicine students of Igbinedion University, Okada.
The study will not transcend the confines of assessment of library materials
and services in the libraries of this institution. Since the study is limited to only one
private university in Edo State, it cannot cover all the private universities
in Nigeria therefore, generalising it to the entire private universities in
Nigeria might not bring out the real situation of library services in the
universities.
Finance is also a major
limitation of this study. In other words, getting adequate materials for this
research was an hectic task, thus, the researcher ensure that she does
everything she could by modifying certain areas of the limited literature
available regarding the subject under investigation. This was achieved by
breaking the variables in the study and taking conscious effort at sourcing for
related literatures linking to the study.
1.8
Operational Definition of Terms
Library:
A facility housing resource materials of all human endeavour of many kinds,
including education, research, invention, business and leisure.
Service:
the
task or duties offered by librarian for the benefit of the organization
(institution) and users.
Service
delivery: the quality of the job rendered by the
librarian.
Academic library: This is an institution that
collects and manages all book and non-book materials or resources and performs
specialized services within the university system.
Materials:
refers to all information bearing
resources ranging from text books, newspapers, journals, maps etc.
User:
as used in this study refer to those who
utilize the library resources such as students, researchers, and public.
Private
universities: are institutions of higher
learning that are owned by individual(s) and fully funded by the individuals.
Archive:
A non-circulating collection preserved for historical purposes.
Database
- A collection of articles, or records, stored in electronic form.
Reserves
- Books, articles, or other materials that an instructor has assigned for a
class to read and therefore placed on reserve in the Library.
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