LIBRARY RESOURCES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Library is an essential factor in teaching-learning process. It forms one of the most important educational services. The educational process functions in a world of books. The chief purpose of a school library is to make available to the pupil, at his convenience, all books, periodicals and other reproduced materials which are of interest and value to him but which are not provided or assigned to him as basic or supplementary textbooks (Topsy, 2004).
Facilities constitute a strategic factor in organizational functioning. This is so because they determine to a very large extent the smooth functioning of any social organization or system including education. He further stated that their availability, adequacy and relevance influence efficiency and high productivity. It is against this background that this study will attempt to investigate the impact of library facilities on the academic performance of students (Salin, 2002).
In his words, Oyediran-Tidings (2004) opined that the wealth of a nation or society could determine the quality of education in that land; emphasizing that a society that is wealthy will establish good schools with quality teachers, learning infrastructure that with such, students may learn with ease thus, bringing about good academic achievement. There is no doubt that library is a good learning resource that every school crave for in enhancing students’ learning.
Aguolu and Aguolu (2002) reiterated that when library facilities are provided to meet relative needs of a school system, students will not only have access to the reference materials mentioned by the teacher, but individual students will also learn at their own paces. The net effect of this is increased overall academic performance of the entire students.
Rosenfield (2005) further affirms that libraries have a powerful influence on stimulating interest in reading and strengthening research and critical-thinking skills of students. This further emphasized the role of School libraries in society.
Operating in a Sandwich Programme, it involves collections of books and other learning materials organized by trained professionals and placed in one or two big rooms in the school for the use of the students and lecturers.
The objectives of school libraries according to Salin (2002) is to acquire, process and make available to pupils and students, a wide range of books and materials to supplement and enrich the teaching and learning situation in schools.
The importance of library has been demonstrated by the government when she expressed in the National Policy on Education (NPE) that every state Ministry needs to provide funds for the establishment of libraries in all her educational institutions and to train librarians and library assistants. As a result, it occupies a central and primary place in any school system. It supports all functions of school-teaching and provides service and guidance to its readers (Abdulahi, 1998).
According to Salin (2002) a library must be up-to-date and at the same time allow access to older materials. It must be properly supported financially to fund materials and services among others. The academic library has been described as the heart of the learning community, providing a place for students and faculty to do their research and advance their knowledge. The librarians and library staff provide numerous services to these users, addressing their diverse needs, characteristics, and interests.
Library facilities have been observed as a potent factor to quantitative education. The importance to teaching and learning of the provision of adequate instructional facilities for education cannot be over-emphasized. The dictum that teaching is inseparable from learning but learning is not separable from teaching is that teachers do the teaching to make the students learn, but students can learn without the teachers.
Resources constitute a strategic factor in organizational functioning. This is so because they determine to a very large extent the smooth functioning of any social organization or system including education. He further stated that their availability, adequacy and relevance influence efficiency and high productivity.
According to Kenneth (2001), learning can occur through one’s interaction with one’s environment. Environment here refers to facilities that are available to facilitate students learning outcome. It includes books, audio-visual, software and hardware of educational technology; so also, size of classroom, sitting position and arrangement, availability of tables, chairs, chalkboards and shelves on which instruments for practical are arranged.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The buildings housing the library do not merit the standard specification in terms of library space per pupils while the furniture is grossly inadequate. This observation is peculiar to the terrain of the school libraries in Nigeria, part of libraries are sometimes converted to classrooms or where staff meeting are held without any consideration to whether such will be conducive for learning. Most school libraries lack tables, chairs, fans and shelves and the absence of these resources is said to have effect on students academic performance.
Staffing is also part of the problems hindering effective use of library and information centre among Sandwich students. The idea of using unqualified personnel as school/teachers/librarian has not helped matters as most of them will not be able to assist in the full exploitation of library resources as they were not educationally equipped to do so.
The school libraries are warehouse for old books, some of which were covered with dust that had gathered over time, with mismatched chairs and tables blending well with the ageing bookshelves. In the Northern part, development of school libraries have been described as accidental, even though almost all the secondary schools had libraries but books were not there.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study is to examine the library resources and their influence on the academic performance of students. Specifically, the study aims:
- To ascertain if perceived attitude of library personnel would influence students’ academic performance
- To examine if adequate library resources would influence students’ academic performance.
- To ascertain if utilization of library resources would affect the academic performance of Sandwich students.
- To determine the extent to which e-library would affect academic performance of the students.
- To determine the challenges faced by Sandwich students in utilizing library resources.
1.4 Relevant Research Questions
In assessing the purpose of the study, this research project will answer the following questions:
- How would perceived attitude of library personnel influence the academic performance of students?
- To what extent would library resources affect students’ academic performance?
- To ascertain what extent would utilization of library resources affect the academic performance of Sandwich students?
- To what extent would e-library affect the academic performance of the students?
5.What are the challenges faced by Sandwich students in utilizing library resources?
1.5 Relevant Research Hypotheses
In carrying out this research work the following theoretical statements are buttressed to serve as a direction on which the work will be premised:
- There is no significant relationship between perceived attitude of library personnel and students’ academic performance.
- There is no significant relationship between availability of library resources and students’ academic performance in Sandwich students.
- There is no significant relationship between perceived usage of library resources and students’ academic performance.
- There is no significant relationship between e-library facilities and students’ academic performance.
- There is no significant relationship between library facilities and students’ academic performance.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study will enable government to know the state of library resources in Nigerian Secondary Schools so as to provide an insight through which the problems could be resolved.
It will be of great importance to the students by broadening their knowledge about the effect of library resources on academic performance.
It will also help the society to appreciate effective library resources as an agent of political, social and religious development of a community which can compel them into passing the right judgment and taking the right decision that affect their lives and existence.
Scope of the Study
The research work examines the impacts of Library resources on the academic performance of students with a view to explore Sandwich students’ academic performance in University of Lagos. The research is confined to the institution under study.
- Definition Of Term
- Book: provides access to a significant art, historical collection and is one of the major source of information available to students.
- Library Resource: library is that part of school where a collection of books periodicals, magazines, and newspapers, firms and filmstrips, videotapes, recording of all types, slides, computers, study kits, and other information resources are housed for use by teachers and pupils for learning, recreational activities, personal interest and inter personal relationships of children in school.
- Library Facility: this involves a collection of books periodicals, magazines, and newspapers, firms and filmstrips, videotapes, recording of all types, slides, computers, study kits, and other information resources in the library.
Library: This is an organized collection of resources made accessible to students for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space or both.
- Student Performance: This shows the result of students’ assessment, test and examination. It can be said to be the accomplishment of students achievement measured against preset known standards of accuracy, completeness, etc
- School: A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students (or pupils) under the direction of teachers.
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