Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
The study investigated reference services accessibility and users’ satisfaction in university libraries in Benue State, Nigeria. Four specific objectives with corresponding research questions guided the study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was 3,851 400 level library registered undergraduate library users in universities in Benue State. The sample size of 362 undergraduate users was selected. The instrument for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire titled, “Reference Service Accessibility and Undergraduate Satisfaction Questionnaire (RSAUSQ). The questionnaire was validated by three experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was established using Cronbach Alpha method and a reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained. Data collected were analyzed using Frequency Counts, Percentages, Means and Standard Deviation to answer research questions. Findings of the study revealed that Selective Dissemination of Information, orientation services, library tour, library instruction, current awareness service, inter library loan services and ready reference questions among others are highly accessed in university libraries in Benue State, Nigeria. The findings also revealed that users are satisfied with access to reference services provided in university libraries Benue State to a high extent. In addition, it was revealed that the challenges that affect users’ satisfaction with reference services provided are epileptic power supply, poor ICT infrastructure, absence of well-defined and uniform library policies on reference services, irrelevant reference collections, lack of information literacy skills and inadequate qualified reference librarians among others. The study concluded that, reference services are highly accessed in university libraries in Benue State and this has enhanced users’ satisfaction with the services. However, there are specific areas where user satisfaction remains relatively low Therefore, the study recommended among others that University libraries should make efforts to increase access to underutilized reference services by raising awareness among users about these services through promotional campaigns, workshops, and user education programs and also ensure adequate provision of alternative sources of power to enhance users’ accessibility and satisfaction with the reference services they provide.