Use of Library Resources by Undergraduate Students from Two Tertiary Institutions in South West, Nigeria

Abstract

University libraries serve the teaching, learning, and research needs of their communities including undergraduate students. The main objective of this descriptive study was to determine the usage pattern of library resources by undergraduate students at the University of Ibadan and Bowen University, Nigeria. The study population comprised 1013 randomly selected respondents who completed a 23-item structured questionnaire. There were more females (54.2%) than males (45.8%) and more than half (59.3%) are between the ages of 20-24 years and are in the 300 level. The majority (86.0%) of the respondents had used the university library and more than two-thirds used it to study for examinations and completion of assignments. More than a quarter (33.3%) of nonlibrary users indicated that they preferred to study in halls of residence. The library materials mostly used are textbooks (66.1%) and reference sources (19.7%). The perceived attitude of library staff towards library users was cordial (33.8%) and responsive (29.3%). More than half (54.7%) had never requested assistance from a librarian. 
The majority of the students use the university library however, many do not make optimal use of the resources due to a lack of current materials while others do not do so because the library is not conducive for their to study. Academic libraries and library managers should therefore ensure that the Libraries are stocked with relevant, quality, and up-to-date learning materials for the students and also make the library environment conducive for students to study.