ABSTRACT
This
study examined the use of the library and students’ academic performance at
University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba. Relevant and extensive literatures were
reviewed in sub-titles. The literature surveyed and explored the works of
scholars and researchers that are in line with the topic of this research. The
descriptive research survey was adopted in order to assess the opinions of
respondents, with the application of the research questionnaire which was used
to collect necessary information from the samples and the sampling technique,
which was a tool used in selecting the appropriate samples of this study. A
total of 120 (one hundred and twenty) respondents, made up of 60 males and 60
females were selected from the University of Lagos and Lagos State University
respectively. Also, 4 (four) null hypotheses were generated and tested
accordingly, with the application of Chi-square statistical in testing
hypothesis one, while the independent t-test statistical tool, was used in
testing hypotheses two, three and four respectively, at the alpha level of
0.05. At the end of the data analysis, the results that were obtained showed
that: there is a significant effect of school libraries on students’ academic
achievement in the school, there is a significant influence of counselling on
students’ use of the school libraries, there is a significant difference
between the academic performance of students who used the libraries and those
who did not use the school libraries and there is no significant gender
difference in the academic performance of students due to the use of the school
libraries. Also, it was recommended that school counselors should be up and
doing in tackling the issue of non-use of the school libraries by many students
in the tertiary institutions. This is because, counseling is found to be a tool
for helping students to achieve their set goals in their academics. Counsellors
in the University of Lagos, should ensure that they assist the students who
lack the interest and ability to use the libraries to augment their personal
reading/studies at home or in the hostels. Through counseling, these students
would be able to know the importance of using the libraries to achieve high
academic performance in the school.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
to the Study
1.2
Statement
of the Problem
1.3
Purpose
of the Study
1.4
Research
Questions
1.5
Hypotheses
of the Study
1.6
Significance
of the Study
1.7
Scope
of the Study
1.8
Theoretical
Framework
1.9
Definition
of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Impact of School
Libraries on Students’ Academic Achievement
2.2 Impact of Information and Technology on
students’ Use of Libraries
2.3 The Effect of New Learning Environment on
Students’ Use of Libraries
2.4 Changing Role of School Libraries and
Students’ Performance
2.5 Research on the Role of Libraries in
Students’ Learning Achievement
2.6 Students’ Academic Attainment Through the Use
of Libraries
2.7 Linking Reading Literacy to The Use of
School
Libraries
2.8 Broader Learning Through the Use of School
Libraries
2.9 The Impact of School Libraries on special
Group of Students
2.10 Strengths and
Weaknesses in the Research on School Libraries and Students’ Academic
Achievement
2.11 Appraisal of
Literature Reviewed
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sampling Technique
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Research Instrument
3.6 Validity of the Instrument
3.7 Reliability of Instrument
3.8 Procedure for Data Collection
3.9 Procedure for Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Descriptive
Analyses of Data According to Course, Department, Level of Studentship, Age,
Religion, Type of Studentship and Marital Status
4.3 Hypotheses
Testing
4.4 Summary
of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Introduction
5.2 Discussion
of Findings
5.3 Summary
5.4 Conclusion
5.5 Recommendations
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
Libraries are collections of books, manuscripts, journals,
and other sources of recorded information. They commonly include reference
works, such as encyclopedias that provide factual information and indexes that
help users find information in other sources; creative works including poetry,
novels, short stories, music scores, and photographs; non-fiction, such as
biographies, histories and other factual reports; and periodical publications,
including magazines, scholarly journals, and books published as part of a
series. As home use of records, CD-ROMs and audiotapes and video tapes have
increased, library collections have begun to include them and other forms of
media, too (Mohammed and Makki, 1997).
Onuoah (2000), states that there is a positive
relationship between school libraries and students’ learning outcomes.
According to him, the test scores of students who used the libraries frequently
are higher than those who did not use the libraries frequently. Most students
do not use the libraries these days because of many factors which include lack
of knowledge of the use of the catalogue which helps the library users to
locate or identify the materials needed; lack of orientations or seminars for
students on the use of libraries. Therefore, Adeoye (1999) in his study on the
impact of the school libraries on students’ academic achievement; found that,
in most cases, learning achievement is dependent on the students’ use of the
libraries and positive study habits.
Majority of Nigerian students do not have the habits of
regular use of the school libraries. According to Ayo (1997), the advent of the
Information Communication Technology (ICT), has caused many students to get
whatever materials they need from the internet instead of using the libraries
often.
Also, most of the information materials in most Nigeria
school libraries are regarded as out-dated. So, students prefer to use internet
materials which they think are more current in information outflow than the
school libraries. As Adeleke (2001) puts it, many factors contribute to the
low-use of the libraries by many Nigerian students. The factors are: short
supply of experiences library specialists; lack of funds to provide adequate
and up-to-date books, encydopedia and other materials in the school libraries,
none organization of orientation course for students and so on (Adeleke, 1990).
According to Adeleke, these factors have led to the low standards of education
and poor academic performance of students in Nigeria.
Research findings carried out by Perkins (2001) and Atkins
(2002), consistently showed that there is a strong relationship between library
use and students’ academic success, at all ages, from the primary school right
through the university level. Students who read a lot, using the libraries, and
who understand what they read, usually attain good grades. According to Ninio
(2000), the relationship between reading and learning begins even earlier in
the pre-primary school years, children who are exposed to story book reading
before they go to school, tend to have larger vocabularies, greater general
knowledge and better conceptual development than their peers who do not read. In
addition, they learn to read and write more easily and quickly than their
counterparts who do not read often.
Reading habit is formed right from childhood (Mbise, 1995).
Therefore, students, who do not form the habit of reading, would not read in
the school libraries, even if they are forced to go there and read, hence the
low performance of students who do not use the libraries regularly. Smith (2001),
carried out a study, in which the academic achievement of students who
frequently use the libraries is compared with those who do not use the
libraries. According to the outcome, the students who frequently read in the
libraries and carry out researches, performed better than those who do not or
who use the libraries sparingly. Hunter (1999), opines that adequate and
frequent use of the libraries has yielded a high academic success amongst
students. For instance, in the school libraries, students discover more recent
information and gain a lot of knowledge through current and good materials that
they find in the libraries.
According to Anyadike (2000), in a related study on the
relationship between the use of library facilities and students’ academic
performance, found out that students perform better when they frequently use
the school libraries than when they do not. With these finding, Anyadike
recommended that students should constantly use the library facilities in order
to maximize high academic achievement or excellence in their academic endeavours.
The studies of library system in the United States by
(Allport, 2000), Alban and Lance (2005), revealed that professionally trained
school library media specialists have positive effect on students’ academic
performance; and that library media specialists need teachers’ and principals’
support in order to be most effective; and that support staff is essential if
library media specialists are to fully affect students’ academic achievement in
at school. Other findings showed that library media specialists serve as both
teachers and students, and in-service providers for teachers and effective
library specialists play a key role in expanding access to information
technology beyond the library and in the classroom (Lance, 2002).
The functions of the schools counselors are paramount, if
the use of the libraries should have any significant effects of their academic
performance in schools. For instance, the school counselors are regarded as
experts who are deep rooted in changing the negative characters or attitudes of
individuals or group of individuals and lead them to the correct ways of
behaviours for positive results through the application of guidance and counselling
technique. In this regard the school counselors play the role of advising and
instructing the students on the proper ways of effective initialization of the
library materials for high academic achievement in the school (Anyanwu, 2004).
Furthermore, counselors need to organize orientation
courses, seminars and workshops in order to properly apply their counselling
strategies in changing the negative attitude of students toward the use of the
libraries in our tertiary institutions.
1.2
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
The use or non-use of the school libraries by students is
a factor affecting the educational attainment of students. For instance, the
library is meant to help students maximize their academic performance so that
they would be successful individuals in the society. Unfortunately, most
students do not see the need to sit down in the library to read or to carry out
research that would be beneficial to their academic career. This is because,
most students do not know how to make use of the library materials or how to
locate or identify the kind of books they want to read, while many more hate
sitting down for hours reading or studying in the library; yet others prefer
‘jisting’ away their times outside the libraries than keeping quiet and
studying in the library.
These perceived factors, are responsible for the negative
or poor academic performance and general low educational standards and the
attendant massive and persistent examination malpractices in Nigerian schools
these day (Anyanwu, 2003). The poorly or inadequate or non-use of the libraries
and their facilities by most students is also, part of the problem of mass
failure of students in both internal and external organized examinations in the
country.
Also, another important factor in the none or inadequate
use of the libraries by many students is caused by the negative treatment they
receive from most library staff who are seemingly untrained, and therefore lack
the knowledge and experience in library attendance and the use of it. These
inadequacies on the part of the library attendants or staff, often translate in
the students’ phobia in even entering the library not to talk of sitting and
reading in it.
This study is therefore, set to examine the effects of
school libraries on the academic performance of students and its implication
for counselling.
Most tertiary institutions, especially, the University of
Lagos, do not have library counselors who know how to help students and library
staff develop positive attitudes towards the use of the libraries and its
attendant benefits. Due to the non-employment of the school library counselors,
students who have negative attitude towards the use of the libraries, are not
helped out 0f their academic predicaments, and this has continuously affected
the academic achievement of many students at University of Lagos and other
Universities in Nigeria.
1.3
PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The following were the specific objectives of the study:
a.
To
find out whether counselling influences students’ use of libraries.
b.
To
find out whether the use of the library(ies) affects the students’ academic
performance of students’ who use the libraries and those who do not.
c.
To
assess whether there is any difference between the academic performance of
students’ who use the libraries and those who do not.
d.
To
investigate whether there is gender difference in the academic performance of
students due to the use of libraries.
1.4
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The following research questions were raised in this
study:
a.
Will
the use of libraries affect the academic performance of students?
b.
To
what extent will counselling affect the students’ use of the libraries?
c.
Is
there any difference in the academic performance of students who use the
library and those who do not?
d.
Will
there be any gender difference in the academic performance of students due to
the use of library(ies)?
1.5
HYPOTHESES
OF THE STUDY
The following research hypotheses were tested in the
study:
a.
There
will be no significant effect of school libraries on students’ academic
achievement.
b.
There
will be no significance influence of counselling on students’ use of the
libraries.
c.
There
will be no significant difference between academic performance of students’ who
used the libraries and those who did not.
d.
There
will be no significant gender difference in the academic performance of
students’ due to the use of the libraries.
1.6
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The following individuals would benefit from this study:
Students: One of the major significance of the study is to bring to
light the importance of school libraries in enhancing students’ academic
performance thus achieving high academic success in their educational career.
This is because, if students generally imbibe the culture of reading and making
use of the library facilities in the school, their academic achievement would
be improved and the seemingly low academic standards in the school system will
be remedied. The findings and recommendations of this Study would help students
to be enlightened on the issue of using the library facilities in order to
maximize their academic success in their academic pursuit in the schools
Teachers: Not only the students will be benefiting from the
recommendations and finding of this study, teachers would also find this study
very informative, as they would be better informed and exposed to the issue of
students’ use and or non-use of the libraries as determinants of their academic
performance in the school. This study will help teacher greatly because, if
students, through this study, learn how to make proper use of the libraries and
the maximization of their educational standards are assured, teachers’ work
will be easier and the glory will also go to them.
Parents: Parents would benefit from the study because they would
be able to understand the benefits inherent in the use of the libraries and the
consequence in the none or inadequate use of it by their children in the
school. This study will be educative and informative to the parents because the
knowledge they would gain from this study will assist them to measure their
children’s performance in line with use of the libraries.
The Public: Also, this study will be beneficial to the general
public, who would be generally informed on the attitudes of students towards
the use the libraries in the schools. This study will also serve as a reference
material to both new and old researchers and scholars on the issue of
libraries. Library staff, the school library attendants would benefit from the
finding and recommendations of this study, because, it will help them to carry
out their duties effectively in a way that students will be encouraged and
drawn to the libraries more frequently.
The Library Attendants: With the study and its recommendations, the library
attendants would be able to get necessary information that would assist them in
changing some of their negative attitudes and unfriendly dispositions that do
not give students the zeal to come to the library to read or study. The
recommendations of study will urge the library authorities to put in place a
training and development programme that would help the library attendants to
sit up and do their work diligently, for the benefit of the library users,
especially, the students.
The
School Authorities: The content, the finding and the
recommendations of this study would be very expository and important to the
school management, especially at the University of Lagos. This is because, the
recommendations of this study if heeded and implemented by the managers of the
institution, most especially, the school authorities at the Faculty of
Education, it will go a long way in helping the authorities to look into the
issue of low use of the library facilities by the students and its attendant
negative effects on the general standards of University of Education and more
importantly, on students’ academic achievement. Will be able to device means of
organizing orientation courses, seminars and workshops on the essence of using
the libraries and the improvement students’ academic performance in school.
1.7
SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The study attempts to examine the effects of school
libraries on students’ academic performance and the implication for
counselling. The study will involve the undergraduate students at the Faulty of
Education of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba Lagos. It will cover the
students at 300 and 400 levels in the faculty.
1.8
THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
Several recent trends suggest that a review of the
literature on the impact of school libraries on student achievement in a
Nigeria context is urgently needed. The context in which school librarians and
teacher librarians operate today has changed significantly over the past couple
of decades, with consequent implications for student learning. In particular,
there has been an apparent decline in the numbers of qualified teacher
librarians employed in school libraries in public schools in Nigeria; an
explosion in information production and the development of Information
Communication Technologies (ICTs); changes in educational philosophy and
practice, including a greater focus on learning outcomes, inquiry- based
learning, evidence-based practice and school accountability; and changes in the
nature and role of the teacher librarian as a result of these developments
(Alozie, 1990).
Although a substantial body of research since 1990 shows a
positive relationship between school libraries and student achievement, many of
these studies are based on oversea data practitioners. In Nigeria, a strong
case for recognizing the positive impact of school libraries on students learning.
However, it is important to know how applicable the existing research is to
Nigeria context and what kind of additional research might be needed to
demonstrate the positive relationship between school libraries and student
achievement (Munde, 2000).
The review focuses on studies conducted since 1990, which
show that school libraries can have a positive impact on student achievement
whether such achievement is measured in terms of reading scores, literacy or
learning more generally in the following key ways:
·
A
strong library programme that is adequately staffed, resourced and funded can
lead to higher student achievement regardless of the socioeconomic or
educational levels of the adults in the community.
·
A
strong computer network connecting the library’s resources to the classroom and
laboratories has an impact on student achievement.
·
The
quality of the collections has an impact on student learning.
·
Collaborative
relationships between classroom teachers and school librarians have a
significant impact on learning, particularly in relation to the planning of
instructional units, resource collection development, and the provision of
professional development for teachers.
·
A
print-rich environment leads to more reading, and free voluntary reading is the
best predictor of comprehension, vocabulary growth, spelling and grammatical
ability, and writing style.
·
Integrating
information literacy into the curriculum can improve students’ mastery of both
content and information seeking skills, and that
·
Libraries
can make a positive difference to students’ self-esteem, confidence,
independence and sense of responsibility in regard to their own learning.
Ayo (2002) theorized that, literature search has also
revealed several gaps in the research. A lack of systematically aggregated
national data makes it difficult to gain an accurate picture of national trends
in Australia in relation to the staffing of school libraries. Much of the
research that has been done so far has focused on the primary, rather than the
secondary school setting, and yet there is some evidence to suggest that the
impact of the school library diminishes as students move through high school.
It would be useful to investigate student usage patterns in relation to school
libraries in Nigeria. Knowing why students come to the library for example, to
what extent they are motivated by a need to uses information for a project, a
desire for leisure reading material, a desire to use computer games or gain
access to the internet, a desire to gain work related skills by assisting
staff, a need for a sanctuary from the rigors of the schoolyard could help
school library staff to cater better for student needs and, as existing
research suggests, potentially make a difference in terms of information skills
acquisition, reading literacy skills computer literacy or improved self-esteem.
In terms of professional expertise, more research is
needed to determine the extent to which the success of a school library program
is due to the librarian’s personal attributes or training and experience. Also
missing from the research is evidence about the relative roles of teachers and
school librarians and their effectiveness in providing information literacy.
A significant gap in the research is the lack of specific
evidence linking the role of school librarians to student acquisition of
information literacy skills. A substantial body of literature urges the
importance of the librarian’s role in this regard, which offers information
skills models and instructional strategies for the development of information
literacy skills, and provides information literacy standards. More evidence is
needed to determine precisely how the school librarian contributes to the
information skills acquisition of students and the relationship between information
literacy and learning.
1.9
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Operational terms and ambiguous words were accordingly
defined in this study in the following dimensions:
1.
School
Library:
School library is room or building
for a collection of books kept there for reading;. It is also writing and
reading room in an institution or school.
2.
Academic
Performance: This
is the overall outcome of learning activities of students over a period of
learning in a formal school environment.
3.
Counsellor:
This is a professional adviser; an expert
in solving people problems through counselling techniques.
4.
Manuscripts: this refers to book and so on, as
first written out or typed.
5.
Journals: This means daily newspaper; other
periodicals. It also means daily record of news, events, business accounts
e.t.c.
6.
Biography: This means person’s life-history
written by another person; it is also a branch of literature dealing with the
lives of persons.
7.
Librarian: A worker or personnel that stay in
the library room to lend books and other library materials to individuals for
reading and writing. A librarian is a staff employed by the school authorities
to oversee activities in the library.
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