Academic Library as Effective Instruments for Achieving Academic Excellence a Case Study of Plateau State Polytechnic
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this research was to examine the Academic library as effective instruments for achieving Academic excellence A case study of Plateau state Polytechnic. Other specific objectives include to:
- Find out the school library resources available in Plateau state Polytechnic.
- Examine how regular students utilize available school library resources in Plateau state Polytechnic.
- Find out why students use library resources in Plateau state Polytechnic.
- Find out how the utilization of library resource has impacted academic performance of students in Plateau state Polytechnic?
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literatures that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Empirical Review and
- Chapter Summary
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Library
Library is a learning institution equipped with treasures of knowledge, maintained, organized and managed by trained personnel to educate the children, men and women continuously and assist in their self-improvement through an effective and prompt dissemination of information embodied in the resources. This is an instrument of self-education, a means of knowledge and factual information, a center of intellectual recreation and a beacon of enlightenment that provides accumulated preserved knowledge of civilization which consequently enriches one’s mental vision and dignifies his habit, behavior, character, taste, attitude, conduct and outlook on life. (Islam, 2004). The international federation of library association (2001) observed that libraries are organizations established, supported and funded by the government either through local, regional or national government or through some other forms of community organization. IFLA further explained that library provides access through a range of resources and services and it is equally available to all members of the community regardless of race, nation, age, gender, religion, language, disability, economic and employment status and educational attainment. According to Ochogwu (2010), library is defined as professionally organized collection of graphic and non-graphic materials for exploitation. It is generally seen as an institution responsible for the acquisition, organization and storage of recorded knowledge in various media for study, research and consultation. Contemporary libraries maintain collections that include not only printed materials such as manuscript, books, newspapers, magazines etc., but also art reproductions, films, sound and video recordings, maps, e-journals, e-box and other media. Libraries provide people with access to the information they need to work, play, learn and govern.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the Academic library as effective instruments for achieving Academic excellence A case study of Plateau state Polytechnic. The lecturers and the students from six (6) selected departments in Plateau state Polytechnic form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
DATA PRESENTATION
The table below shows the summary of the survey. A sample of 388 was calculated for this study. A total of 258 responses were received, while a total of 230 were validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 230 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
In this study, our focus was to examine theAcademic library as effective instruments for achieving Academic excellence A case study of Plateau state Polytechnic. Carefully, the researcher selected six (6) departments in Plateau state Polytechnic as case study. The study specifically was aimed at ascertaining if there is a significant positive relationship between utilization of school library resources and academic performance of students. This study reviewed and anchored its framework on the activity theory.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 230 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are active users of the school library.
The findings revealed that the situation of the few existing school libraries in the selected secondary schools was not satisfactory to facilitate student learning as their condition was poor in terms of places where the books were kept and lack of digital resources. The findings also revealed that libraries were most frequently used by students for their private studies, doing assignment and when preparing for tests/examinations. The findings further revealed that utilization of school library resources have impacted the students’ academic performance in areas of; development of reading habit, getting good grades in assignments, tests and examinations as well as improving their knowledge.
CONCLUSION
Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that the available library resources and facilities in the Plateau state Polytechnic are not enough compared to the number or the population in these schools. Also, school library facilities like accommodation for library, information resources, books, audio-visual materials, etc were lacking in some of the selected secondary schools; the School libraries were manned by non-professional librarians and these librarians do not offer good services since they are not trained; the schools lack both audio-visual and print materials, and the number of books which they have, are not enough to serve the population of the schools; some schools were without the existence of a library and in other to meet up the government standard, they ended up making up something that looks like a library in principals’ offices and classrooms and accessibility becomes difficult to students and teachers. Also, some schools where there are libraries, the books were not properly organized and their books do not measure with the standard requirement for school libraries; no provision was made in the school curriculum to stimulate the use of library except in two of the schools selected which has the use of library in its curriculum and part of its class timetable of study. Investigations revealed that teachers and students show appreciable interest in the use of library but has no body to give them proper direction of where the materials are (User Education). Lack of fund is another issue that is militating against academic library services in Plateau state Polytechnic; the libraries are not open after school hours thereby making it impossible for students and teachers to make use of the library after school hours. Also; the study found out that the learning resources in these schools under study are mainly print materials and most of it was outdated and modern library resources like audio, visual, audio visual material are not available and that makes it impossible for internet resources to be used.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as a team with different partners should establish new school libraries explicitly in network auxiliary schools in the nation in light of the fact that a large portion of them need libraries; they ought to likewise guarantee that the school libraries are well furnished with all essential library facilities.
- The school management should train their Library staff professionally through to enable them work effectively.
- The government should put more effort to build, strengthen and revive school libraries for the purpose of making them useful in enhancing student learning.
- The government should give priority on provision of adequate funds necessary for the provision of current and up to date library resources and also for the employment of qualified librarians.
- The school administration should devise a method of allotting students more time to study in the libraries in order to avoid poor academic performance currently being experienced in schools.
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