Lecturers’ Opinion on the Use of Library Information Resources and Facilities in Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The rallying point of academic activities in any higher institution of learning
is the library. It serves like the lubricant of a functional engine that makes the
system work. Therefore, the focus of this study is to examine the
worthwhileliness and the use of library resources and facilities by lecturers
in Federal Polytechnic Ede for academic activities. It showed the information
resources mostly preferred by the polytechnic lecturers. Various channels
through which the resources are obtained in the library as well as the
challenges encountered during their utilization for study, teaching and
research. The study adopts a survey research method and utilizes a
questionnaire, complemented with unstructured interviews and observation
to generate data. The data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics
of frequency table and simple percentage. The copies of questionnaire designed
for the study were administered to respondents which cut across all ranks of
lecturers in the Polytechnic while only 86% were returned and found useful.
The study reveals that 30.4% of Federal Polytechnic lecturers hardly use the
library while 69.8% of them use it at various frequencies. Regarding
respondent choice of information resources for teaching and research, the
study also finds out that 36.2% of lecturers used textbooks while 37.29% and
2.3% of them consult journals and E-resources respectively. In order to
enhance maximum utilization of library resources by the polytechnic, there is
need to provide adequate E-resources and audio-visual materials. More funds
should also be released for on-line journal subscription and provision of
adequate facilities. The study suggests that the polytechnic library should
organize user education programmes for lecturers to enhance better use of
polytechnic library resources, services and facilities.