ABSTRACT

 result of lack of adequate use library catalogue. The study investigates the evaluation ofthe utilization of library catalogue by students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Six objectives and corresponding research questions were designed to find out: The frequency of use of library catalogue by students in MOUAU library, the purpose of use of library catalogue by students in MOUAU library, the extent of use oflibrary catalogue by students in MOUAU library, the satisfaction students derived from the use of library catalogue in MOUAU library, the factors affecting the utilization of library catalogue, and the strategies for enhancing the utilization of library catalogue in MOUAU library. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study is 250 students in 2017/2018 academic session. : Sampling was not necessary as the population was manageable. Thus, a complete census was adopted for the study. Instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Questionnaire on Evaluation of the Utilization of Library Catalogue by Student of MOUAU (QEULCSM). Descriptive Statistical method such as frequencies, mean, and percentages, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0 were used to analyze the data. Findings of the study revealed that there is low frequency of library catalogue use by students in MOUAU Library. It was also revealed that there are various ' purposes for which students use library catalogue to achieve, which are as follows: to i search for information materials on specific subject in the library, to check whether I required book is available in the library and to know the shelf address of books among ! others. The findings equally revealed that there is a low extent of library catalogue use by 1 students in MOUAU Library. It was also revealed that there is low level of satisfaction derived by students in the use of library catalogue in MOUAU Library. Furthermore, the factors that affect the utilization oflibrary catalogue were revealed to be none existence of relationship between the catalogue and the books on the shelves, poor knowledge in the use oflibrary catalogue, lack of adequate instructional programmes for fresh students and also that students see the use oflibrary catalogue as a waste oftime among others. Based on the findings, it was recommended that digitizing the library catalogue to create Online Public Access Catalogue, proper filing of cards in the catalogue cabinet to provide for various access points, ensure that the cards in the cabinet relate to the books on the shelf for effective utilization and continuous and effective users education appropriate for the students among others. The study however, concluded that library catalogue is