INFLUENCE OF LIBRARY ENVIRONMENT AND USER EDUCATION ON UTILISATION OF LIBRARY INFORMATION SOURCES AMONG POST GRADUATE STUDENTS IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NORTH-EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of library environment and user education on the utilisation of library information sources among postgraduate students in Federal University Libraries in North-East Nigeria. The study was guided by five research objectives and two null hypotheses, and adopted a survey research design. The entire population of 225 registered postgraduate students across three federal universities, namely the University of Maiduguri, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, and Modibbo Adama University Yola, was studied without sampling due to its manageable size. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated for face validity, with a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.89. Descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and percentages were used to answer research questions one to three, while simple linear regression was used to answer research questions four and five and to test the two hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the library environment across the studied institutions was generally fair, with facilities such as internet connectivity, temperature regulation, noise control, availability of information sources, and library personnel requiring considerable improvement. Methods of delivering user education, including lectures, orientation, bibliographic instruction, and guided tours, were found to be largely underutilised. The frequency of library use among postgraduate students was also generally low across most academic activities, including research, reference consultation, and access to electronic resources. Regression analysis showed that library environment exerted a strong positive influence on utilisation of library information sources (R = 0.807, R² = 0.651, F(1,223) = 81.29, p < .05), while user education also exerted a strong positive influence (R = 0.722, R² = 0.521, F(1,223) = 75.74, p < .05). Both null hypotheses were consequently rejected. The study concluded that improving the physical and technological library environment, alongside implementing more consistent and interactive user education programmes, is essential for enhancing postgraduate students' effective utilisation of library information sources. Recommendations included increased funding for library infrastructure, adoption of more practical user education approaches, and regular retraining of librarians on modern information literacy strategies.