Dog-Earing of Library Information Resources by Users: Its’ Effects and Way Forward

Abstract

The study examined dog-earing of books amongst library users at the Laz Otti Library, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was employed on library users across all levels and disciplines within three weeks of using the library. Purposive sampling technique was employed. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Out of 400 copies of the questionnaire administered, only 331 (82.8%) copies were found usable for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that dog-earing is prevalent on paper-based library materials. From the findings, library users dog-ear book pages to note areas where they stopped reading as well as highlight important aspects of the book. It was noted that library users had a negative attitude towards dog-earing, as a positive attitude indicates a favourable disposition toward the practice. It was found that bookmarking is a safer way to engage in active reading, as dog-earing reduces the lifespan of books as well as causes early deterioration.