Utilization of Information Resources and Services by Students in Private Secondary School Libraries in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the utilization of information resources and services in private secondary school libraries in Jigawa State, Nigeria.  The objectives of the study were to identify the types of information resources and services utilized in private secondary school libraries,  to find out the extent of utilization of information resources and services in the private secondary school libraries and to ascertain the  challenges affecting the utilization of information resources and services in the private secondary school libraries in Jigawa State. To  achieve these objectives, a quantitative research methodology, with a crosssectional design was adopted for the study. The multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting the sample size for the study. The simple random sampling technique was used to select  two (2) private secondary schools from each of the three (3) selected senatorial zones in Jigawa State; thus six (6) private secondary  schools were selected for the study. The proportionate probability to size sampling technique was used to select 10% of the 2126  students in the selected schools. Two hundred and thirteen (213) respondents were selected to form the sample size for the study. Data  was collected using a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics using frequency counts and percentages were used to analyze the data  collected for the study. The findings revealed that a variety of information resources and services were made available to students. The  most utilized resources according to the findings were; textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, globes and atlases, and displays or chalkboards. While the most utilized services were user education services, storytelling services, current awareness services and  community information services. The results also showed that inadequate funds, space, furniture, inconvenience distance of the library,  lack of trained personnel to facilitate easy access to resources, and obsolete information resources were the challenges affecting the  utilization of school library resources and services in private secondary schools libraries in Jigawa State. The study concludes that the  situation in private secondary school libraries is not better than that of public schools. The study, therefore, recommends that budgetary  allocation to school libraries should be enhanced to provide, relevant and adequate resources and services among others for effective  and efficient library services.