PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF LIBRARY SERVICES DELIVERY ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNDERGRADUATES IN UNIVERSITIES IN BENUE STATE

Abstract

University libraries are primarily setup to render academic support service to the academia, particularly students and staff. Over the years, evidence have shown that the provision of these services by university libraries has dwindled which in turn could negatively affect the performance of students. Thus, this study focused on the perceived library service delivery and academic performance of undergraduates in universities in Benue State. Descriptive survey research design was adapted for the study. The population of the study comprised 9832 registered undergraduate library users of the three universities under study (Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Beue State University Makurdi and University of Mkar, Mkar. A sample size of 394 undergraduates representing 4% was drawn from the population using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were Checklist and a structured questionnaire titled “University Library Services as a Determinant of Students Academic Performance” (ULSDSAQ)”.Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of Mean score and Standard Deviation to answer the research questions. Findings revealed that there were library services that were delivered such as lending and information services (81.73%), reference services (86.29%), indexing and abstracting services (66.24%), user education service (66.24%) among others.. Also, the study revealed that library services have influence on academic performance. It was recommended that: the management of University libraries should sustain efforts for the provision of library services to ensure that there is enough and balanced library services collection reflecting the interest of all the students in the university for adequate use by undergraduates as well as provision of user awareness programmes to students by the University Librarythrough avenues such as organizing library display, library exhibition, library orientation etcto attract students to the library making them to perform well academically.