Assessment of the role of SUBEB libraries in developing the reading skills of primary school pupils in Oyo state

Abstract

This study investigated the role of SUBEB libraries in the development and promotion of reading skills among primary school pupils in Oyo State, Nigeria. The sample population drawn from SUBEB libraries located in the five local government areas in Ibadan Township, Oyo State. A total number of 135 copies of questionnaire were administered on the respondents out of which only 133 were found useful for the study. The major findings of the study revealed the inadequacy of reading promotion programmes in the SUBEB libraries selected for the study (113 or 91.1%). Though the study revealed regular use of the library (74 or 60.2%), the attitude of the pupils towards reading were found to be negative (82 or 66.7%) which may be due to the fact that there were no interesting and relevant books that can attract the pupils to reading in SUBEB libraries included in the survey. The lack of other reading promotion programmes such as story hours and readers’ club may also be responsible for the negative attitude of the pupils towards reading. The findings further revealed textbooks as the only library material that the pupils use most. The study suggested the mounting of programmes such as story hours and readers’ club in SUBEB libraries.

Keywords: Reading skills, SUBEB libraries, Reading promotion