Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2011
Abstract
This study investigates the relative importance of newspaper information, purposes for consultation, types of information sought, the extent and satisfaction derived from the use of library newspaper services, and problems that might constrain students from visiting the newspaper sections of Olabisi Onabanjo University library, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. A survey research design and interviews were used for data collection. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 456 who had used the library newspaper services in the past, of which 92.1% were found usable. The students ranked newspaper information as their third most important source of overall daily information. The respondents opined that they visited the newspaper sections in the library to obtain information and to relieve themselves from stress. The specific information sought from newspapers in decreasing order of importance are information on politics/governments, sporting events, entertainments, health matters, world affairs and their academic work. The major barriers to the use of the newspaper sections are overcrowding, space limitation, non availability of newspapers on time, few copies of newspapers being provided, and non awareness of the newspaper services in the library. The paper concludes that in view of the importance of newspapers to students’ daily information needs and its relevance as source of recreation, library managers in Universities should accord its provision high priority. Specifically, there is the need for the management of Olabisi Onabanjo University library to address the shortcomings identified in newspaper provisions in this study.