Notes

The Study Sought To Assess Library Users Education for Utilization Of Library Resources By Students of Library and Information Science, Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike. The study adopted descriptive survey research design and the population consisted of 375 regular undergraduate students of Library and Information Science which a sample size of 187 consisting 50% of the total population were selected using Stratified random sampling technique. Self-developed questionnaires were distributed among sample undergraduate students. However, only one hundred and eighty one 181 (96.8%) questionnaires were returned in good shape and analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage and mean. The findings of the study revealed that user education positively impacted the undergraduate students’ effective use of library resources and the academic performance. The method employed in teaching user education includes lecture method, Topical guides, Guided tour and Use of distribution of manuals among others. The study identified some problems that includes; Lack of modern technological facilities to deliver the programme, Nonchalant attitude of students towards library instruction, poor monitoring of staff, Unfriendly environment for delivering library instruction, Lack of practical’s and Experiments, Out dated library instruction curriculum, Inadequate durable programme for delivering library instruction, inadequate qualified staff, and Technical nature of library instruction programme. The strategies that can be adopted to enhance the provision of effective user education to undergraduate students as indicated in the findings includes; Provision of modern technological facilities for delivering the programme, Cultivation of positive attitude towards the programme by students, Cultivation of positive attitude towards the programme by librarians, Provision of conducive environment for delivering library instruction programme, Provision of adequate practical or experiments, Updating library instruction programme curriculum, Extension of durable library users’ education programme and adjustment of user education time to suit students, Using technical competent librarians for the programme among others. The study concludes that the library instruction programme is an important means to enable students make judicious use of resources available in University libraries. The user is taught how to identify the purpose, location and use of library resources.