ABSTRACT

The study was to find out whether students utilize information retrieval devices to access library resources. To achieve this, five specific objectives were proposed with their corresponding research questions and four null hypotheses formulated. Descriptive survey design was employed to guide the study. The population was 11, 004 registered library users, with 550 sample represented 5% of the population. The two sampling techniques adopted were simple stratified proportionate and accidental sampling methods. Questionnaire was used for data collection, which contained 41 items in five clusters, validated by two experts in Library and Information Science and one Measurement and Evaluation specialist in College of Education University of Agriculture, Umudike. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was calculated using Cronbach Alpha Formular which returned at 0.82 alpha coefficient. 550 copies of SURDAL-RQ were administered to students using the libraries. 496 copies of the questionnaire were collated and used for the analysis, which gave 90.2% useable rate. The analysis were done using descriptive statistic of frequency count and mean to answer the research questions, and t-test inferential statistic to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that students’ utilization of the identified information retrieval devices in accessing library resources were low, however, the low utilization does not significantly differ based on gender. In addition, the students encounter several challenges while using the retrieval tools which include but not limited to: library staff not helpful, when students encountered any challenge using retrieval tools, Students lacked the knowledge on how to use retrieval devices to access library resources. The conclusion drawn from the findings was that due to lack of knowledge on how to utilise information retrieval devices to access library resources students do not use them. Some of the major recommendations made were, that user education must be made compulsory, where retrieval skill should be emphasized, regular training of library staff should be ensured and computerization of information retrieval devices.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                               Pages

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                                  ii

Certification                                                                                                                iii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                      v

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vi

List of Tables                                                                                                              ix

List of Figures                                                                                                             x

Abstract                                                                                                                      xi

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION                                                                              

1.1       Background of the Study                                                                               1         

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                                               10

1.3       Purpose of the Study                                                                                      11              1.4 Research Questions                                                                                            12              1.5 Hypotheses                                                                                                     12           1.6    Significance of the Study                                                                               13   

1.7       Scope of the Study                                                                                         13

CHAPTER   2: REVIEW   OF   RELATED   LITERATURE                         

2.1       Conceptual Framework                                                                                   14  

2.1.1    Library and university libraries                                                                       14

2.1.2    Library resources and accessibility of library resources                                  18

2.1.3    Information retrieval and information retrieval devices                                 23

2.2       Theoretical Framework                                                                                   46

2.2.1    Information Theory by Claude Elwood Shannon and                                  

 Warren Weaver (1848)                                                                                   46

2.2.2    Theory of Connectionism by Edward Thorndike (1874 - 1949)                    48

2.3       Review of Related Empirical Studies                                                             49

2.4       Summary of Literature Review                                                                      69

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS                                                              

3.1       Design of the Study                                                                                        72   

3.2       Area of the Study                                                                                           72

3.3       Population of the Study                                                                                  75

3.4       Sample and Sampling Technique                                                                    75

3.5       Instrument for Data Collection                                                                       76 

3.6       Validation of the Instrument                                                                          77

3.7       Reliability of the Instrument                                                                           77

3.8       Method of Data Collection                                                                             78

3.9       Method of Data Analysis                                                                               79

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION                                                   

4.1       Results                                                                                                            80              4.2 Summary of Findings                                                                                              90       

4.3       Discussion of Findings                                                                                   91

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS            

5.1       Summary of the Study                                                                                    98

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                      101

5.3       Implication of the study                                                                                 102

5.4       Recommendations                                                                                          102

5.5       Suggestions for Further Studies                                                                     104

References                                                                                                                 105

Appendices                                                                                                                120

LIST OF TABLE

Pages

4.1       Summary of frequency count, mean and standard deviation

            on Students’ Use of Abstracts to Access Library Resources                         81

4.2       Summary of t-test analysis on students’ use of abstracts to

            access library resources                                                                                  82

4.3       Summary of frequency count, mean and standard deviation on

students’ use of bibliographies to access library resources                             83       

4.4       Summary of t-test analysis on students’ use of bibliographies to

access library resources                                                                                   84

4.5       Summary of frequency count, mean and standard deviation on

students’ use of catalogues to access library resources                                  85       

4.6       Summary of t-test analysis on students’ use of catalogues to

access library resources                                                                                  86

4.7       Summary of frequency count, mean and standard deviation on

students’ use of indexes to access library resources                                      87

4.8       Summary of -test analysis on students’ use of indexes to

access library resources                                                                                  88       

4.9       Summary of frequency count, mean and standard deviation on

challenges encountered using IRDs to access library resources                    89

                                                          LIST OF FIGURES

                                                                                                                        Pages

2.1       Model of Shannon and Weaver Information Theory                         47                                                                       

2.2       Modified model of Shannon and Weaver Information

Theory, as it is related to the study                                                     47