NLN - Nigerbiblios

Nigerbiblios
Volume 24, No. 1 & 2 Jan. - Dec. 2016

Pages 179-194

Patrons Use and Satisfaction with Reference Resources of the National Library of Nigeria

Agu, E. Oyiza

Abstract

This study examines patrons' use and satisfaction with reference resources of the National Library of Nigeria. Four branches of the National Library of Nigeria were used i.e. Abuja, Kaduna, Bauchi and Niger State Branches respectively. The study -aimed at finding out how frequent patrons use the reference resources of the National Library of Nigeria, how frequent patrons' use the reference resources for various purposes and to determine patrons level of satisfaction with the reference resources, find out challenges experienced by patrons in their use of reference resources of National Library of Nigeria. Descriptive survey method was adopted. Population of the study was 500 patrons, the sample size was 500 patrons, the purposive sampling technique was adopted. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation (SD) were used to analyze the data collected. Five hundred copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents while 434 copies were retrieved from the field. Finding from the study indicates that different types of patrons make use of the reference resources of the National Library of Nigeria with Civil Servants as-the highest patrons. The analysis revealed that patrons make frequent use of dictionary, bibliographies and internet/e-resources. Purpose of using the reference resources of the National Library of Nigeria were to obtain information for implementation of government policies for solving assignments, news and for self development. Patrons' level of satisfaction with reference resources was low. Challenges experienced by patrons in their use of reference resources in the National Library of Nigeria, include obsoleteness of the resources, inadequacy of the resources, mutilated contents of the resources and poor state of ICT. Based on the findings, some of the recommendation includes: Acquisition of current and relevant reference resources, provision of ICT facilities and automation of the reference section of the National Library of Nigeria.

Keyword(s)

Patrons, Reference Resources

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