Library use as correlates of academic performance of final year undergraduate students in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated library use as correlates of the academic performance of final year undergraduate students in Federal university Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Nigeria. A correlational survey research design was adopted. The study population consisted of 969 final year undergraduate students from the selected faculties in Federal University Oye Ekiti, from which 210 were selected using simple random sampling technique. The research instrument used was self-developed questionnaire titled “Effect of library use in the academic performance of final year undergraduate students in Federal University Oye Ekiti”. Both face and content validation was done on the instrument by experts in the subject areas. Also, it gave a reliability coefficient of Academic Performance ?=0.804 (i.e. 80.4%); Library Use ?=0.825 (i.e. 82.5%). A response rate of 98% was achieved. Data were analyzed using descriptive and correlation, statistics. The study revealed a significant relationship between library use and academic performance (r = 0.007, P < 0.05). Also, the joint contribution of library use on academic performance was insignificant (r = 0.007, P < 0.05). It concluded that contrary to general belief, library use of students on academic performance were high. School management should provide necessary materials in line with the curricular and students’ programmes to the library in order to meet their various information need. Besides, librarians should ensure that library materials are well classified and have their records well-arranged into the public library catalogue for easy identification and accessibility. These actions will attract potential users to the library as they can easily locate their needed resources to meet their information needs.