Aesthetics and utilization of university libraries in north east zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Relationship between library aesthetic facilities and utilization of university libraries in North-East zone of Nigeria was examined through a descriptive survey. Out of the 300 respondents sampled, 260 responded to the research instrument tagged Questionnaire on Library Building Variables and Utilization (QOLBUVAU) making a return rate of 86.6%. A proportional sampling technique was adopted as the respondents vary in size and compositions of lecturers and students (undergraduates and postgraduates). Three objectives guided the study that focused on utilization and a null hypothesis to determine if there was a relationship between aesthetic facilities and utilization of university libraries. Descriptive statistics of means and standard deviation was used for the research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed for the hypothesis. The findings of the study revealed that lecturers and postgraduate students frequently used the library more than undergraduates; and also lecturers used reference services, short team loan and inter-library loan facilities more than other category of users. The
study also revealed that there was a significant relationship between library aesthetic facilities and utilization of libraries in federal universities in North-East zone of Nigeria.