AVAILABILITY AND UTILISATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ACTIVENESS BY STUDENTS IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ISOKAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigates the availability and utili sation of school library resources by secondary school students in five selected secondary schools in Isokan local government area of Osun state, Nigeria. The main objective of this study was to assess availability, purpose and frequency of, as well as constraints and strategies to improve use of school library resources by students of secondary schools in Isokan. Local Government, Osun State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling with proportionate to sample was used to select 2.5% respondents from each selected school to make a sample size of 228 respondents. The study employed descriptive survey research design and used the method to collect quantitative data. Data was collected by using the structured questionnaire. Quantitative data was analysed by using SPSS. Findings revealed that dictionaries, textbooks, encyclopedias, CD-ROMs and novels were very readily available for use by secondary school students. Findings also revealed that the major purposes for which secondary school students used information resources were for assignment, continuous assessment preparation, knowledge update, competition and quiz preparation. Findings further showed that Magazines and Journals, Internet resources, Encyclopedias and Databases were the information resources most frequently used by the secondary school students. The findings further revealed that secondary school students averred erratic power supply, lack of modern techniques for learning, lack of locating tools like online public access catalogue, inadequate staff to assist users and poor awareness of the users to information service as major constraints. However, awareness of the information resources in the library, employment of computer technicians for routine repairs, provision of digital libraries, adequate provision of online computers/e-mail and provision of standby generators for regular power supply were major factors that promote the use of the information resources by secondary school students. This study recommends collaboration with all stakeholders in secondary education in the country in order to make adequate provision of fund and proactive measures necessary for the provision of current and up to date information resources and also for the employment of qualified and trained teacher librarian

Poverty Implications of COVID-19 and Government Social Protection Programmes in Nigeria

The sole objective of this paper was to investigate the poverty implications of COVID-19 on Nigerians, relative to the effectiveness of the government’s social protection programs in mitigating the socioeconomic strain caused by the pandemic. The paper used documentary analysis to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Nigerians’ socioeconomic lives and the government’s policy response to the situation. The review found that COVID-19 exacerbated the existing poverty in Nigeria, and most of the government policy programs were not effective in mitigating the effects. We concluded that government policy responses to the socioeconomic strain caused by the pandemic were ineffective due to the pre-existing poor performance of social protection programs in Nigeria before the onset of COVID-19. As the world prepares for future pandemics, we recommend that the Nigerian government overhaul the existing social protection programs on poverty alleviation in Nigeria by addressing all gaps and looking for effective and strategic ways such programs can achieve desirable results

Digital Literacy Skills as Determinants of Library Use by Undergraduate Students of Private Universities in Oyo State, Nigeria

This study examined digital literacy skills as determinants of library usage among undergraduates in two Private Universities in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive and non-experimental survey research design which involved the use of questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The targeted population of the study comprised of 8020 users who are undergraduates of the Ajayi Crowther University Library and Lead City University Library, while 481 respondents formed the sample using the sample size at confidence level of 95% and P=0.5. The data was collected via questionnaire and was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The First, and second research questions were analysed using descriptive statistics, while the research hypothesis was analysed using correlation analysis. Findings of the study revealed that most of the undergraduates can use technology competently to interpret and understand digital content. Secondly, majority of the undergraduates frequently update their digital skills to decrease their inability of accessing online materials which helps in increasing their digital knowledge. Thirdly, current and relevant information resources provided by the library encouraged the undergraduates to use the library. The study established that digital literacy skills had significant effect on library usage among undergraduates of private Universities in Oyo State. The study recommended that undergraduates should consider the university library as a place where they can actively engage themselves and enhance their knowledge as this would turn them into active Library users

Antioxidant status of hypertensive pregnant Nigerian women and its effectson birth weight

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