Indices of availability and accessibility of information resources on undergraduate students utilization of academic libraries in Rivers State

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of two selected indices (availability and accessibility of information resources), influencing information resources utilisation in academic libraries in Rivers State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to give direction to the study. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design. The population of the study was 9,984 registered library users in the two selected libraries - University of Port Harcourt and Rivers State University during the 2014/2015 session. A sample of 998 registered library users were selected using proportionate sampling technique. A questionnaire titled Indices Influencing Students Utilization and Accessibility of Information Resources (IISUAIR) was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using independent t-test statistics. The findings from data analysis showed that the influence of the indices investigated were significant determinant of information resources utilisation in academic libraries in Rivers State. Consequently, it was recommended among others that, government should ensure proper allocation of funds for academic libraries as all the indices cannot be attained without the availability of funds and that university libraries and librarians should take up the initiative to proactively improve their resources and services by partnering with agencies and groups whose objectives, aims and functions can help to further improve the availability of information resources in their libraries.

Keywords: Indices, Availability, Accessibility, Information, Resources, Academic, Library, Students