Availability and Utilization of Library Information Services by Researchers in the Social Sciences in Federal Universities in South-South Nigeria
Availability and Utilization of Library Information Services by Researchers in the Social Sciences in Federal Universities in South-South Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Library information services are library processes and activities aimed at disseminating desirable information to the library users. For researchers to effectively conduct researches using the libraries, there is a need for the libraries to provide adequate information services in terms of availability and utilization of these services.
This study, therefore, investigated the availability and utilization of library information services by researchers in the social sciences in the federal university libraries in the South-South Zone of Nigeria. Seven research questions relating to the availability and utilization of these services were formulated to guide the study.
The study employed a descriptive research design. The population of the study consisted of five hundred and forty-six researchers who were lecturers and postgraduate students. Census method was used to include the entire population which was considered manageable.
Three experts validated the instrument which was found reliable with an overall average reliability coefficient of 0.88. Four federal universities in South-South zone were studied, namely the Universities of Benin, Calabar, Port-Harcourt and Uyo.
Eight library information services were studied: lending, reference, inter-library loan, current awareness, selective dissemination of information, photocopying, information communication technology (ICT), and literature search services.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – – i
Approval page – – – – – – – – – ii
Certification- – – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – – v
Table of contents – – – – – – – – – vi
List of tables – – – – – – – – – viii
List of figures – – – – – – – – – ix
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – x
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the study – – – – – – – 1
Statement of the problem – – – – – – – 9
Purpose of the study – – – – – – – – 11
Research questions – – – – – – – – 12
Hypotheses – – – – – – – – – 13
Significance of the study – – – – – – – 14
Scope of the study – – – – – – – – 15
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
Conceptual framework – – – – – – – – 16
Availability of library information services – – – – – 17
Utilization of library information services – – – – – 19
Effects of availability on utilization of library information services – 21
Importance of library information services in university libraries – 22
Factors affecting availability of library information services – – 23
Factors affecting utilization of library information services – – 25
Measures to increase availability of library information services – 26
How to increase the utilization of library information services – – 28
The concept of library information services – – – – – 30
Theoretical framework – – – – – – – 56
Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library information services – – 56
Shanon-Weaver Theory of Communication – – – – – 58
Empirical studies – – – – – – – – – 60
Summary of literature review – – – – – – – 67
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
Research Design – – – – – – – – – 69
Area of the Study – – – – – – – – – 69
Population of the study – – – – – – – – 70
Sample and sampling Techniques – – – – – – 70
Instrument for Data Collection – – – – – – 71
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS – – – 75
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Discussion of the Findings – – – – – – – 96
Implication of the Study – – – – – – – 112
Recommendations – – – – – – – – 113
Limitations – – – – – – – – – – 114
Suggestion for further research – – – – – – 114
Conclusions – – – – – – – – – 115
REFERENCES – – – – – – – – – 116
APPENDICES – – – – – – – – – 129
INTRODUCTION
The library is a unique repository of recorded knowledge which educates, informs and entertains. Libraries are also information centres for the dissemination of information through services.
Similarly, they are institutions responsible for the collection, processing and storage of recorded knowledge for the purpose of reading, study and consultations.
Information, on the other hand, can be seen as news, facts, data and knowledge which involve transmission from a source, for example, the library, to recipients which are users like the researchers. Services can be described as a system or organization that provides for a basic public need.
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CSN Team.
