Attitudes of Undergraduate Students Toward the Use of Library Information Resources: A Case of Two Universities in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The library is the pivot around which academic activities revolve providing resources to the community at large. However, students don’t make use of these resources as a result of negative attitudes toward library information resources. Thus, this study investigated attitudes toward the use of library resources by undergraduates at two universities in Oyo State, Nigeria. The sample of 379 undergraduates was selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Out of the 379 copies of questionnaire administered, 353 copies representing 93.1% were usable for analysis. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that undergraduate students have negative attitudes toward use of library resources (mean = 3.38), and books were resources used on weekly basis (mean = 2.14). Undergraduates in the science programs spent less time on resources compared to their counterparts in educational management program. The results also revealed a significant positive relationship between attitudes and use of resources with a coefficient of 0.1845. Hence, stakeholders in the management of resources should provide facilities that will enhance positive attitudes of undergraduates towards use of library resources.

Keywords: Library information resources, Attitudes, Undergraduates, Nigeria.