Availability and Accessibility of Journals to Postgraduate Students at the Universities of Agriculture Libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which journals are made
available and accessible to the postgraduate students at the
universities of agriculture libraries in Nigeria. The survey
research design was adopted. A total of 1,275 of a questionnaire
were distributed among the postgraduate students of the three
Universities of Agriculture in Nigeria of which there were 914
(71.69%) responses. The questionnaire sought for information on
how available and accessible are the journals of the
postgraduate students. The results showed that print journals
were fairly available (52.0%); there were some electronic
databases in two of the libraries. Journals available were
accessible (68.8%) to postgraduate students. Postgraduate
students did not rely on their libraries but visit other libraries for
supplements. It is recommended that library administrators
should pay more attention to the acquisition of relevant journals.
The libraries should also form a consortium for the acquisition of
electronic databases and network for resource–sharing so that
journals of the libraries are accessible to others.

KEYWORDS: Agricultural Libraries – Nigeria Journals – Postgraduate Students University Libraries – Journals – Nigeria