EVALUATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS USAGE AND SERVICES IN PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluates the use of library materials and services in four private Universities in south west Nigeria: Babcock University, Covenant University, Lead City University, and Redeemer University. The objective is to assess the degree of the usage of university library resources and services, clientele’s perception on the adequacy of the available library resources and services, and the level of users’ satisfaction. The data for this study was elucidated through the use of questionnaire, the questionnaire was administered to 255 registered users of the four universities’ library and 200 questionnaires were duly filled and returned. The respondents were selected through random sampling of those using the library at that particular time. The finding shows inadequate of library holdings of books and audio visual materials. However, the university libraries’ users appreciated the reserved resources system. Finally, it is being recommended that a good percentage of fund should be made available regularly to run the university libraries, there should be acquisition policy/guideline
documented and strictly followed by University libraries in acquiring information resources into the library, there should be consistent shelf-reading to put the books in their right places on the shelves, and library staff should adopt marketing strategies in order to make the libraries user friendly, thereby encouraging users for more patronage.