Influence of motivation, library materials and location on use of library by undergraduates in University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of motivation, availability and adequacy of library materials as well as location of library on the use of library by undergraduates in University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The convenience sampling technique was adopted to select only 150 undergraduates while the questionnaire was used as the major instrument of data collection. Findings from the study revealed provision of conducive library environment, ICT facilities, availability of book supporting student centered curriculum, and group reading are major factors which motivate undergraduate students in University of Ibadan towards library use. Textbooks, reference resources, journals, newspapers as well as magazines were found to be the major library materials available to students while adequacy of special collection and government publications, audiovisual materials, electronic resources and students' long essays in meeting the needs of undergraduates in University of Ibadan was established. Further findings from the study revealed major purposes of use of library by undergraduates to include consulting textbooks, reading for examination, reading lecture notes, writing assignment, consulting reference materials, consulting journal (hard copies) and consulting electronic journals (online resources). Location of library was found to be easily accessible by the undergraduates. Positive relationships between motivation, library availability, adequacy, location and use of library were established which implies that proper motivation of undergraduates, high level of availability and adequacy of library materials as well ease of accessing location of library would lead to improvement in use of library among undergraduates in University of Ibadan. The study recommended proper motivation of undergraduates towards library use, provision of relevant library materials in adequate quantity and quality as well as location of university library where it can be easily accessible to ensure regular use of library by undergraduates in University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Keywords: Motivation, Availability and adequacy of library materials, Location, Use of library, Undergraduates in University of Ibadan, Nigeria