ABSTRACT
The study examined public relations and utilization of information resources in university libraries in Imo State. The study adopted correlation research design. Four research questions and four null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. The study was carried out in Federal University of Technology, Owerri and Imo State University, Owerri. A questionnaire captioned ‘Public Relations and Utilization of Information Resources Questionnaire (PRUIRQ)’ was used for data collection. The population comprised 9414 registered undergraduate students of the two university libraries. Proportionate sampling technique was adopted to select 377 undergraduate students for the study. The data were analyzed using Pearson (r) statistic while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test statistical technique. The research findings showed that there is a moderate, positive and significant relationship between current awareness services provided in the public university libraries in Imo State and the utilization of the information resources. It was also found that the use of library exhibitions and user education has contributed to students’ effective utilization of the information resources in Federal University of Technology, Owerri library and Imo State University library respectively. It was however, recommended that library exhibition method which is not being used in the two university libraries be adopted as another promotional strategy to enhance utilization. It was also recommended that the university libraries should step up the provision of telephone and e-mail reference services to compliment other methods of reference services for enhanced utilization of information resources.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
Title
Page i
Certification ii
Declaration
iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table
of Contents vi
List
of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 6
1.3 Purpose
of the Study 7
1.4 Research
Questions 7
1.5 Hypotheses 8
1.6 Significance
of the Study 8
1.7 Scope
of the Study 9
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW
OF RELATED LITERATURE 10
2.1 Conceptual
Framework 10
2.1.1 Public relations 10
2.1.2
Library public relations 15
2.1.3 Concept
of university libraries 17
2.1.4 Information resources 18
2.1.5 Utilization 23
2.1.6
Contemporary awareness services and
utilization of
information
resources in university libraries 26
2.1.7
Library exhibition and utilization of
information
resources
in university libraries 31
2.1.8
User education and utilization of
information
resources
in university libraries 36
2.1.9
Reference services and utilization of
information
resources
in university libraries 41
2.2 Theoretical
Framework 45
2.2.1 Feedback
theory by Claude Shannon (1948) 45
2.2.2 The
information utilization theory by Curres (1986) 46
2.3 Review
of Empirical Studies 49
2.4 Summary
of Literature Review 56
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 58
3.1 Design
of the Study 58
3.2 Area of
the Study 58
3.3 Population
of the Study 59
3.4 Sample
and Sampling Technique 59
3.5 Instrument
for Data Collection 60
3.6 Validation
of the Instrument 61
3.7 Reliability
of the Instrument 61
3.8 Method
of Data Collection 62
3.9 Method
of Data Analysis 62
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION 63
4.1 Result 63
4.2 Discussion
of Findings 63
CHAPTER 5:
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
of the Findings 73
5.2
Implications of the Study 73
5.3 Conclusion 74
5.4 Recommendations 75
5.5 Limitations
of the Study ` 76
5.6 Suggestions
for Further Studies 77
References
Appendices
LIST OF TABLES
1:
Result of Pearson r correlation
coefficient between
current awareness services and the utilization of
information resources in university libraries in
Imo State 63
2:
Result of t-test significance of
correlation analysis
for the relationship betweencurrent awareness
services and the
utilization of information resources
in university libraries
in Imo State 64
3:
Result of Pearson r correlation coefficient
between library exhibition andthe utilization of
information
resources in university libraries in
Imo State 65
4: Result of t-test significance of
correlation analysis
for the relationship betweenlibrary exhibition and the
utilization of information resources in university
libraries inImo State 65
5:
Result of pearson r correlation
coefficient between user
education and theutilization of information resources
in university
libraries in Imo State 66
6: Result
of t-test significance of correlation analysis
for therelationshipbetween user education and the
utilization of information resources in university
libraries in Imo State 67
7:
Result of pearson r correlation
coefficient between
reference servicesand the utilization of information
resources in university libraries in Imo State 68
8: Result
of t-test significance of correlation analysis
for the relationship betweenreference services and
the utilization of information resources in
university libraries in Imo State 69
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
All over the world, libraries are established to provide
information resources and services to their users. The
library is also one of the organizations that require public relations to
pursue and achieve its objectives. Public relations is a method used by various
organizations especially libraries to communicate ideas so as to promote their
services. It is a management function of continuous effort through which public
and private organizations such as libraries seek to win and retain the
understanding, sympathy, and support of those concerned (Aitufe, 2011). Opara (2013), maintains that public relations
must be a co-ordinated and continuous effort to communicate a positive image of
the library. A well rounded public relations programme will promote the
availability of the library’s resources, and services to the public. Library public
relations is a deliberate, planned and sustained effort to establish and
maintain mutual understanding between the library and the public (users).
Public relations activities help to provide a coordinated effort to communicate
a positive image of the library and promote the availability of the library’s
materials, programmes and services (Dodsworth, 2014). The importance of public
relations activities cannot be overlooked in any library, especially in
University libraries. According to Dodsworth, university libraries assist the
universities in the discharge of their functions by acquiring all relevant
information resources necessary for sustaining the teaching, learning, research
and public services functions of their universities. This is to say that the
objectives of any university institution cannot be achieved without public
relations. It is the library’s responsibility to provide better services to its
client, to make sure that information sources and services are well utilized
for users’ benefit. Hence, public relation activities in university libraries are
very crucial for effective utilization of information resources by the users.
University libraries help the universities in the
discharge of their statuary functions by acquiring all relevant information
resources necessary for sustaining the teaching, learning, research and public
services functions of their institutions (Dodsworth,
2014). This implies that the objectives of any
university institution cannot be achieved in isolation without public
relations. To enhance proper and effective utilization of information resources
by users, University libraries must develop public relation promotional strategies
such as; Library Exhibition, Current Awareness Services, User Education,
Reference Services; Notice Board, Library Publication, Library Extension
Services, Branding of Library/Information Services, Advocacy and Lobbing for
Libraries/Information Agencies etc, but the study will focus only on the first
four PR strategies.
Utilization is the
act of making practical and effective use of something. Uhegbu (2010) noted
that utilization is the actual putting into appropriate use of something. It is
the process of making use of something that is available. According to him,
utilization is governed by several principles such as: goal identification and
availability. All university libraries have a variety of information resources
(print and non-print materials) which are utilized by the patrons. Information
resources can be effectively utilized if there is a healthy user understanding,
goal identification, efficient communication channel and user satisfaction.
According to Kantumoya as cited by Uhegbu (2010) utilization of information
resources is governed by their availability. Availability of information is
meaningless when those who want to make use of it cannot have access to it.
University
libraries have a variety of information resources (print and non-print
materials) which are utilized by their patrons. Onwubiko and Uzoigwe (2012),
see information resources as the totality of information material that forms a
library collection. The print materials are in the form of books (monographs)
and serials, where as the non-print materials are in the form of audio-visual materials
(multi-media resources). Effective library services are only possible when
there is qualitative and quantitative adequacy of relevant information
resources. Anyanwu, Zander and Amadi (2016) agree that information resources of
the university library should among others include print and non- print
materials. The print materials include books, textbooks, monographs, treatise,
encyclopedia, dictionaries, yearbooks, handbooks, and manuals, biographies,
bibliographies, periodical indexes, abstracts, map and atlases, gazetteers,
government publication and periodicals as well as library publications such as
annual reports, library bulletin and magazines.
The non-print materials include contents that are born digital and those
that have been digitized. They include library mobile collection and databases
for e-books and e-journals, online public access catalogue, CD-ROM databases,
still pictures, moving images, sound recordings, etc.
To enhance
adequate and effective utilization of information resources by users,
university libraries must develop promotional strategies to reach out to
current and potential users (Schmidt, 2015). University libraries need to do
more to publicize their services and collections in order to enhance their
utilization. One of the major ways of doing such is through exhibitions.
Exhibitions are tools that enable the libraries to sensitize the public on the
need for services provided, forming a crucial element of a librarian’s
publicity campaign. Exhibitions play advocacy role in library services and
developing a community of users (Dent, 2010). Whittaker (2016) suggests that
for libraries, particularly in the higher education sector, special collections
are a way of a library offering something unique and individual to the
customer. Exhibiting these collections is another way of saying that uniqueness
is increasing use of a collection and of the library services (Whittaker, 2016).
Furthermore, university libraries should explore other means of creating
awareness and communicating the existence of available information resources to
their users. In this regard, the reference librarian has a role to play in
informing the public about the various services of the library through user
education and the provision of current awareness services. User education as an
element of public relations is described by Fleming (2010) “as various programs
of academic instruction, education and exploration provided by libraries to
users to enable them make more effective, efficient and independent use of information
resources as provided. On the contrary, current awareness service is the
provision of information on recently acquired materials to library users to
enhance the utilization of the information resources.
No matter how efficient university
libraries respond to the needs of their users, their information resources
cannot be fully utilized without an aggressive, systematic and determined
programme of publicity to stimulate, inform and attract the library users.
University libraries must convey signals and project their images to their
users via public relations to reflect what they are and what they do. Against
this backdrop, this study sets out to find the relationship between public
relations and utilization of information resources in university libraries.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Over
the years, university libraries, particularly those in Nigeria have adopted
public relations practices in their libraries with the aim of enhancing the
utilization of information resources by library users. These
public relations activities range from current awareness services/selective
dissemination of information, exhibitions and reference services, among others.
There may be also certain promotional strategies and publicity campaigns (public
relations activities) not being adopted by university libraries in promoting
the utilization of information resources in their libraries. This might have
contributed to low level utilization of information resources in the library.
According to Schmidt (2015), university libraries are not doing enough to
project their images to their users through the type of public relations
practices that accurately reflect what they are and what they do for enhanced
utilization of information resources. This is manifested in the low level of
utilization of library information resources such as books, monographs,
encyclopedia, handbooks, and manuals, biographies, bibliographies, indexes,
abstracts, periodicals, annual reports, library bulletins and magazines, online-journals,
e-books, etc. The underutilization of these information
resources could be as a result of the type of library public relation
activities which might not have inculcated the required reading culture and
skills in the library users for effective utilization of information resources
as well as providing adequate awareness on the importance of library
information resources to their studies. Therefore, it is imperative to
ascertain the relationship between public relation activities in university
libraries and utilization of information resources by library users.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
general purpose of the study was to ascertain the relationship between public relations
and the utilization of information resources in University libraries in Imo
State. Specifically, the objectives sought to:
1. determine
the relationship between current
awareness services and the utilization of information resources in university libraries.
2. ascertain
the relationship between library exhibitions and utilization of information resources
in university libraries.
3. examine
the relationship between user education and the utilization of information
resources in university libraries.
4. determine
the relationship between reference services and the utilization of information
resources in university libraries.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The
following research questions guided the study.
1. What
is the relationship between current awareness services and the utilization of
information resources in university libraries?
2. What
is the relationship between library exhibitions and the utilization of
information resources in university libraries?
3. What
is the relationship between user education and the utilization of information
resources in university libraries?
4. What
is the relationship between reference services and the utilization of
information resources in university libraries?
1.5
HYPOTHESES
The
following null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance.
H01: There is no significant relationship between current awareness
services and utilization of information resources in university libraries.
H02: There is no significant relationship between library exhibitions
and utilization of information resources in university libraries.
H03: There is no significant relationship between user education and
utilization of information resources in university libraries.
H04: There is no significant relationship between reference services
and utilization of information resources in university libraries.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
results of this study will be of benefit to the library managements,
librarians/library staff, library schools and researchers.
The
findings of the study would enable library management to adopt effective public
relations techniques indicated by the findings such as; current awareness
services, library exhibition, user education and reference service in other to
deliver more efficient and effective library services to their users that will
promote library collection, increase awareness and enhance the education of student.
With
regard to the librarians/library staff, the result of this study would enable
them to know that, the information resources of the library will not be fully
utilized without an aggressive and determined programme of publicity that can stimulate,
inform and attract the library users.
The findings of the study would enable the library
schools/library science educators to understand the need to place much emphasis
on the teaching of public relations (use of library, current awareness services,
reference service, etc.), bearing in mind its importance in creating awareness
of available library materials and promoting utilization of information
resources.
The
researchers and other scholars, this study would contribute to both literature
and empirical evidence in the field so that they can have a robust literature
base to consult in the course of doing research in this area.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
research was aimed at ascertaining the relationship between library public
relations and the utilization of information resources. It was limited to two
public universities in Imo state, namely; Imo State University and Federal
University of Technology, Owerri. It covered library information
resources such as books, monographs, encyclopedia,
handbooks, and manuals, biographies, bibliographies, indexes, abstracts,
periodicals, annual reports, library bulletins and magazines, online-journals,
e-books, etc. Library public relation activities such as
current awareness services, library exhibitions, user education as well as reference
services were also covered in this study.
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