ABSTRACT

The study was on accessibility and utilisation oflibrary resources by colleges ofeducation students in South East, Nigeria. The studywas guidedbyfive objectives coveringmethods usedby College of Education students in accessing library resources in the college libraries; the extent to which these accessibility methods are effective infacilitating the utilization ofthe library resources; challenges associated with accessibility and utilisation oflibrary resources, and the strategiesforimproving accessibility and utilisation ofthe library resources' among students. Five research questions were alsoformulatedfrom the objectives to guide the researcher in herstudy. A survey research design was usedforthe study. The study is made up ofa total of7,200 students anda sampleof360students was selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The questionnaire with title “Accessibility and Utilisation ofLibrary Resources Questionnaire ” (AULRQ) contains 84 items. It is divided into two sections: section A was on demographic information while section B answered thefive research questions usedforthestudy. Thefindings ofthe study revealedthat accessibility enhances utilisation oflibrary resources by students in Federal Colleges ofEducation in South East, Nigeria. Library resources are providedfor students in different areas of disciplines offered by students and in differentformats. Considering the access toolsprovided by these college librariesfor utilisation of library resources, studentsprefer browsing the shelves andat timesrely on the assistance oflibrary stafffor the utilization of library resources. Result, also revealed underutilisation of library resources; students only go to the library’for assignments and examination preparation and make most use oftextbooks than otherlibrary resourcesin carrying out theiracademic activities. There is no doubt that the studentsfaced some challenges in theprocess ofaccessing and utilizing library resources which includepoor library guide, lack ofawareness, poor arrangement ofbooks on the shelves, insensitive attitude oflibrary staffandpoor knowledge in the use ofaccess tools. Based on this, the study recommendedprovision ofadequatefunds by government, sensitization on the need forlibrary use, effective teaching ofusereducation by libraryprofessionals, proper organization of library resources on theshelves, provision oflibraryguidesto information resources on the shelves, regular exhibition oflibrary resources, provision ofmore electronic resources and other measures that will motivate students to utilize library resourcesfor their academic activities. Ifthese are followed, college libraries will achieve their goals in supporting their parent institutions in teaching, learning, instruction andresearch.