Physical Facilities as Determinants of Undergraduate Students\u27 Use of Federal University Libraries in Nigeria

Adequate physical facilities such as furniture and lighting systems are essential for any meaningful academic work to be achieved in a university library. This paper assesses the adequacy and level of physical facilities in federal university libraries in Nigeria to determine the extent to which they affect undergraduate students\u27 use of the university libraries. The study population was 1,453 undergraduates from across Arts, Education, Engineeing, Law, Science, and Social Science faculties in the selected universities and the survey research method was used for the study. The main instrument used for the data collection was a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage tabulation were used in analyzing the data. Results revealed that the reading chairs and tables in Nigerian university libraries are comfortable for reading purposes, though, they are inadequate in number. The result equally revealed that the lighting systems of the university libraries are not bright enough for reading. To enhance the use of the university libraries by the undergraduate students, majority of the respondents indicated the need to improve the number of the reading chairs and tables available in Nigerian university libraries as well as provision of bright lighting systems in the university libraries

Impact of Quality Information Resources on Students\u27 Academic Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Niger State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the quality information resources and its impact on academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Niger State. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the availability of information resources, find out the impact of the quality of information resources on students’ academic performance among others. Three research questions were formulated, and one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprised of undergraduate students of the tertiary institutions in Niger State which as at 2014/2015 academic session was 69,061. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample 373 respondents. Questionnaire was used for data collection. A total 373 copies of the questionnaire were administered out of which 326 copies were dully filled and returned correctly representing 87% response rate. Mean (x) was used to analyze data in respect of the three research questions formulated. The findings from the study revealed that most of the information resources were not available in the academic libraries. Other findings revealed that quality of information resources and its utilization has positive impact on the academic performance of undergraduate students. The hypotheses tested showed significant relationship between quality of information resources, and students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Niger State. Drawn from the findings, it was recommended that libraries in tertiary institutions in Niger State should be adequately equipped with quality information resources among others

STUDENT RESIDENCE AS FACTOR AFFECTING USE OF LIBRARY BY THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF TWO FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA.

This study focused on student residence as factor affecting use of library by the undergraduate students of two Universities in North-Central Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive survey design and had a population of 11,732 undergraduate students from two selected federal universities in North-Central Nigeria. The study used proportionate stratified random sampling technique to sample 500 undergraduate students. Five hundred (500) copies of questionnaire were distributed and four hundred and twenty nine (429) returned; representing a return rate of 86%. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentages as well as mean and standard deviation frequency. The decision rule for research questions one through three was based on whether the mean score value was lower than or above the criterion mean value of 2.50 bench-mark. The findings of the study revealed that the use of library resources among undergraduate students is relatively low. The study also revealed that close proximity of libraries to student’s hostels (36.3%) positively affects the undergraduate students’ use of library resources though the effect is mild. Finally, the study recommended that University and Library Management in the universities studied should always consider the need for students’ hostels to be located close to the university libraries. This would no doubt enhance the students’ use of library. Also, university management should endeavour to provide Internet services in the entire campuses and hostels so as to improve the academic performance of the students

Relative effect of environmental factors, information literacy, course of study and resources availability to students use of university libraries in Nigeria

Effective use of university libraries is necessary for the academic development of the students. This paper, therefore, assessed the relative effect of the factors that affect the undergraduates students use of university libraries in Nigeria. The study also ascertained the factor that made the greatest contribution to student’s use of the libraries. The survey research method was used for the study and the study population was 1,453 undergraduate students from across Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Science and SocialScience Faculties in the selected universities. The main instrument used for the data collection was a questionnaire. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used in analyzing the data. Results revealed that resources availability, course of study, information literacy and noise made significant contribution whiletwo factors, physical facilities and ventilation made contributions which are not significant. The study also revealed that of the six (6) factors considered together, library resources availability made the greatest contribution which is significant to undergraduate students use of the university libraries. To enhance the level of library use by the Nigerian undergraduate students, majority of the students indicated the need for provision of current and adequate library material, followed by provision of ICT facilities and provision of conductive atmosphere in order to attract the students to visit the university libraries.Keywords: Environmental factors, Information literacy, Course of study, Resources availability, Undergraduate students, Use, University libraries, Nigeri

Impact of Quality Information Resources on Students\u27 Academic Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Niger State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate the quality information resources and its impact on academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Niger State. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the availability of information resources, find out the impact of the quality of information resources on students’ academic performance among others. Three research questions were formulated, and one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprised of undergraduate students of the tertiary institutions in Niger State which as at 2014/2015 academic session was 69,061. Multistage sampling technique was used to sample 373 respondents. Questionnaire was used for data collection. A total 373 copies of the questionnaire were administered out of which 326 copies were dully filled and returned correctly representing 87% response rate. Mean (x) was used to analyze data in respect of the three research questions formulated. The findings from the study revealed that most of the information resources were not available in the academic libraries. Other findings revealed that quality of information resources and its utilization has positive impact on the academic performance of undergraduate students. The hypotheses tested showed significant relationship between quality of information resources, and students’ academic performance in tertiary institutions in Niger State. Drawn from the findings, it was recommended that libraries in tertiary institutions in Niger State should be adequately equipped with quality information resources among others

Assessment of plagiarism in undergraduate projects in the department of library and information technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

The study examined students’ plagiarism in undergraduate final year projects for the 2014/2015 academic session in the Department of Library and Information Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna. Turnitin anti-plagiarism software was used in checking the similarity index and percentage of plagiarized content in the students’ projects. The acceptable benchmark for similarity index was 20% in line with the University policy. All the cases of plagiarism are treated as a case of examination misconduct by the University. The study subjected all the projects to Turnitin anti-plagiarism software as the method for determining the rate of plagiarism. The total population of 42 students for the 2014/2015 was considered out of which 31 (73.8%) successfully turned in their work and graduated with percentages ranging from 14% to 20% similarity indexes. The study determined different tricks and methods adopted by students in manipulating the results of Turnitin in order to get the acceptable percentages. Findings revealed some of the challenges faced by students while using Turnitin for plagiarism check. These includes students’ lack of basic paraphrasing skills; time constraints; and lack of continuous monitoring of students’ progress by Turnitin instructors. The study concluded that Turnitin has helped improve scholarly writings among students and staff and has also ensured integrity in intellectual outputs emanating from the university. This has a consequent effect on the research visibility and global ranking of Federal University of Technology, Minna on the Web. The study recommended among others that students should be advised to start turning in their works early and not at the end of the project, this would give them time to paraphrase the work before submission deadlines. The need for comprehensive training on how to paraphrase contents was also recommended.Keywords: Assessment, Plagiarism, Turnitin, Undergraduate Projects, Department of Library and Information Technolog