Problems of Library User Education in Nigerian Unity Schools

Abstract This study was carried out to determine the strategies that may be adopted for the enhancement of Library User Education for the acquisition of library use skills (LUS) in Unity Schools in South East Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study. Out of a population of 29,358, multiple-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 1,053 comprising 480 JS I students, 469 SS III students and 104 staff from the 12 Unity schools under study. Two research questions guided the study. Questionnaire titled Library User Education Questionnaire (LUEQ) was the instruments for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts. Reliability co-efficient of 0.91 was arrived at using Cronbach Alpha method. Mean and standard deviation were used in the analysis of the research questions. Findings revealed that: lack of confidence in the use of the library, lack of adequately equipped school library and total dependence on class notes and textbooks were the major constraints of library user education in the Unity schools. Strategies suggested to deal with these constraints were found to consist mainly of establishment of modern school libraries, teaching the use of library and provision of library and information resources to Unity school students. The findings of this study have a number of implications for education in general, school librarians, teachers and secondary school curriculum planners in particular. From the above findings it was strongly recommended that due to the immense benefits of LUS acquisition, Government should give urgent attention to the provision of library resources such as establishment of modern school libraries, provision of current library resources among others for the enhancement of library skills acquisition. Library programmes should also be adequately planned, intergrated in the curriculum and executed by librarians and teachers in these schools.