AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE USE OF LIBRARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES AMONG POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN SELECTED UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

The study investigated the use of library resources and services among postgraduate students in selected universities in Nigeria, recognising the vital role these resources play in postgraduate studies. Despite the significance of library resources and services, literature indicates suboptimal use among postgraduates students in Nigeria. The research employed a probability sampling technique to select 450 students from three universities. Data was collected through a questionnaire designed based on the study's objectives and research questions, demonstrating good reliability of 0.853 (85.3%) for library resources and 0.846 (84.6%) for library services. Findings revealed that textbooks (2.96%) and periodicals (2.75%) were the primary resources used, with journals (3.64%) and e-books (3.63%) being frequently used. Popularly used library services included Wi-Fi (3.19%) and current awareness services (3.17%) with literature search (2.85%) and reference services (2.84%), being frequent. The study emphasised the importance of leveraging library resources and services to support academic goals in postgraduate studies. The study, therefore, recommended that provision and preservation of library resources should be given more attention in the universities, while library services should be improved upon for better service delivery.

Keywords: Use, Library Resources, Library Services, Postgraduate Students, Nigeria