1.1 Introduction
User education refers to the process of making library patrons learn how to make effective and efficient use of the library system through the acquaintance of skills in identification, location, search, retrieval and use of information resources. It encompasses all activities undertaken to help the undergraduate student become efficient users of information. These include library instruction, library orientation, bibliographic instruction and information literacy.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The library user education is expected to have various positive effects on student’s learning research practice and for independent life-long learning, it teaches students to make use of library resources without assistance from library staff. Bembura (2015) indicated that improper guidance and lack of professional, inadequate collections, as well as insufficient networked computers have been the main draw backs for student’s exploring the library resources.
Uwakwe et al (2016) articulated that user education is a process whereby potential users are made to learn how to make efficient and effective use of library resources through the acquisition of knowledge skills in identification, location, retrieval and exploitation of information. User educations inform and influence user’s opinion and attitudes towards library usage and also inspire their quest for knowledge which is essential for the advancement of individuals and societies (Liu, Lo and Isumura 2016). The library user education determines the dimension of library use.
According to Uwakwe et al (2016), user education is a process whereby potential users to the library are made to learn how to make efficient and effective use of the library and its resources through the acquisition of knowledge and skills in identification, location, retrieval and exploitation of information. User education can be in the form of orientation/training programmes, workshop, and seminar; “know your library programs” occasionally organized by the library for both new and old library users. These programs/activities may be packaged in hard copy that is manuals, handout or in soft copies that is compact discs. The fundamental objective of user education is to expose, acquaint and inculcate in the clients, the basic knowledge of understanding and skills which are necessary for effective and efficient use of the library resources and services. User education is, therefore, all about empowering undergraduate students with knowledge and skills to enable them to make judicious use of information resources and services available in a given library.
Ossai (2011) found that most students use information resources for their academic workload which includes information to complete assignments and test and research; they also utilize information resources to satisfy their personal developments, health, implementation and global information. According to Baro, Onyenania and Oni (2010) the internet is the most utilized information sources by students followed by lecturers’ notes, handouts and the library.
The adoption and implementation of technological devices obviously place on library service provider the responsibility of carrying library use along through design of quality user education determines the rate of use of nay library and also actualizes the sustainable optimal user satisfaction. The corollary to this is that a poorly packaged user education may account for low rate of use of library resources and services, which equally runs counter to the user satisfaction policy of the library. Therefore, in Bauchi State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Library User Education Program on the Students Utilization of Library Resources.
1.3 Statement of Problems
It is observed that students most times come in with their text books and notes to read in the library. They don’t actually make use of the library resources. Some students that try to use the resources depend on the library staff to locate information resources. This has however caused underutilization of library resources. It has also made the student’s not to be skilful and effective user of library. Despite the effort of library management introducing library user education, the problem still persist. This is why the researcher decided to carry out this study to find out why? Library resources are underutilized and also possibly proffer solution.
With the explosion of information on daily basis, the users need sufficient knowledge and ability to navigate and select relevant information library user education programs are necessary for all users especially the fresh men, because it involves instruction on how to access and use information resources available in the library. User education can help users developed the necessary skills for research and lifelong learning and to make maximum use of library resources available to them.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Impact of Library User Education Program on the Students Utilization of Library Resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain library user education program and student’s utilization of library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi
- To find out how library orientation enhances student's utilization of library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi
- To determine student's utilization of library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi
- To find out the factors restricting or affecting the use of library as a course for undergraduate’s use of library resources in faculty of education.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- How does library user education program enhance student's utilization library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi?
- What is the impact of user education program on undergraduate student’s utilization of library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi?
- What are the methods employed in teaching undergraduate students user education program in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi?
- What are the problems that hinder effective library user education program to undergraduate students in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi?
- What are the strategies can be adopted to enhance effective user education to undergraduate students in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
H0: There is no significant difference between library user education program and student’s utilization of library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi
H1: There is a significant difference between library user education program and student’s utilization of library resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi
1.7 Significance of Study
The significance of this study beckon on the hope for the librarians, library instructors, library management, the university authority and government and all concerned to make use of the findings of this study to fashion out a more holistic, pragmatic and improved user education programme through the use of library course that could turn out our undergraduates (in faculty of education in particular) into seasoned educators who are competent and productive library and information users, for the good of our educational system in Nigeria.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Impact of Library User Education Program on the Students Utilization of Library Resources in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Library, Bauchi.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
