POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ USE OF LIBRARY AND CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Onanuga, Ayotola, Ilori, Olufemi and Kusoro, Abiodun

Abstract

This study examined postgraduate students’ use of library and challenges encountered in South-west, Nigeria universities. 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 wasted. 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. Survey research method was adopted while questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. The population of the study consisted of all postgraduate students in universities in South-west, Nigeria. A sample of 2,942 postgraduate students was selected using the proportionate random sampling technique. The face and content validity were ensured. The reliability was ascertained using test re-test method and a reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics-frequency counts and percentages. The study revealed that most postgraduate students in South-west Nigerian Universities use the library for reading their personal note (94%), preparing for test and examination (92%), updating their knowledge and skills (92%). The study also found the constraints to the use of library as absence of regular orientation for the postgraduate students (45%), irregular ICT training (41%) and inadequate desktop computers to access databases (40%). Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that library management should continuously provide lasting solutions to the identified constraints to the use of library.