Attitude of Students towards the Use of Library Facilities: A Case Study

Abstract

Academic libraries are valuable facilities in any learning institution because they provide an environment for students to advance their knowledge.Libraries are also valuable to teaching staff (faculty) because they provide an enabling research environment (Saunders 2015).Therefore, they are considered the "heart" of a learning institution.Libraries must be structured to support these learning needs.Nonetheless, an interesting observation is that there is an underutilisation of the library facilities in most institutions (Chen 2015;Ibrahim & Sakiyo 2015), which is counterproductive to the goals and objectives of the library department with regard to enhancing access to information.Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the irregular patterns of library resource usage in learning institutions.However, these suggestions are not one-size-fits-all solutions for library use issues in different settings and contexts.Given the integral role of universities in the higher education system, educational institutions should ensure that library services are optimal for its student and faculty population.This feat can only be achieved by understanding the perceptions and needs of students regarding the library.This paper examines the attitudes of university students towards the use of library services. Statement of the ProblemThe library is an important learning resource in any academic institution.Recent trends and advancements in technology have led to the modernisation of library services, including the development of vast online databases with a wealth of information to guide learning and research (Delaney & Bates 2015).However, despite these developments, the utilization of library services is not optimal in most learning institutions, which limits the realization of educational benefits that accrue from library use.There is a scarcity of information regarding the attitudes and perceptions of library services among university students.Information providers need to comprehend the specific needs of prospective library users to meet them.Without this knowledge, it is impossible to optimise the services provided by the library for the benefit of institutional academic programs.Therefore, this study strives to unravel the attitudes of university students towards library services.

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