Undergraduate Library Users’ Utilization of Information Resources in Federal Tertiary Institutions in Imo State

Abstract

The study focused on undergraduate library users’ utilization of information resources in federal tertiary institutions in Imo State. Four research questions guided the study. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study is 11, 821 registered library users of the libraries studied. The sample for the study was 387. Proportionate sampling technique and simple random sampling technique were used for the study. Questionnaire designed using four-point rating scale was used to elicit data for this study. Data collected were analyzed using mean. The findings of the study revealed that books, encyclopedia, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, journals, electronic databases, internet resources, newspapers/magazines, dictionaries, audio-visual materials and abstracts/indexes are the types of information resources available in the libraries studied; undergraduate library users use information resources to a low extent in the libraries studied; access to current and up-to-date information, studying for examination, access to wider range of information, among others are the reasons for undergraduate library users’ utilization of information resources in the libraries studied; and insufficient search skills, users’ lack awareness of new arrivals,  among others are factors affecting utilization of information resources by undergraduate users in the libraries studied. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers recommend, among others that government and management of tertiary institutions should allocate adequate funds for academic libraries to maintain continuous subscriptions to online databases and also enhance the availability of other information resources to ensure that undergraduate library users can utilize these resources effectively.