USE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN ANDONI LGA OF RIVERS STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of The Study
The library is defined as a school’s entire collection of books and other materials. According to Adeyemi (2010), a library is a collection of a diverse range of learning and teaching materials that are housed in a single location and are centrally organized and indexed to assist readers. A library, according to R.A. Egunjobi (2006), includes non-print materials such as films, slides, and tapes in addition to books and journals. These resources are divided into two categories: material resources (books, periodicals, CD-ROMs, and dissertation abstracts) and human resources (the librarian and support personnel). As a result, Busayo I.O. (2011) considers the school library to be the school’s resource center. A physical and digital school library
Reading, inquiry, research, thinking, imagination, and creativity are fundamental to students’ information and knowledge journeys, as well as their personal, social, and cultural schooling. The School Media Centre, the Centre for Documentation and Information, the Library Resource Centre, and other names have been given to this physical and digital location. The term “school library” is, however, the most commonly used and applied to the institution and its functions. It functions as both a service and a self-development center. It is also the focus of individual studies in schools (Adeyemi, 2010). Secondary schools, according to Sanusi (2001), cannot achieve their goals without the assistance of relevant and efficient libraries.
These libraries’ primary mission is to assist students by
as well as their academic performance.
providing studying and reading resources in order to attain the goal of generating well-molded luminaries in their respective fields.
Libraries are one of the most important educational services, according to Ogunbote and Odunewu (2008), and every State Ministry of Education should provide funds for the establishment of school libraries and the hiring of library assistants.
It goes without saying that having and using modern, well-equipped school libraries is essential for students’ academic performance in college. The explanations are not implausible. Regardless of the adults’ socioeconomic or educational levels, a great library that is adequately staffed, resourced, and funded can lead to higher student performance (Ogundele & Moronfoye, 2013). Similarly, Ogundele and Moronfoye (2013) contend that
School libraries can boost students’ self-esteem, confidence, independence, and sense of ownership over their own education. The school library’s role in learning is critical because it provides the foundation for learning, provides information that can improve people’s lives, encourages students to study, learn, and achieve better results, and gives students confidence to look for information on their own at various levels. School libraries improve students’ comprehension and performance while also assisting with teaching and learning throughout the school.
Todd and Kuhlthau (2004) emphasize, on the same topic of the impact of libraries on student performance, that school libraries help students access information, stay organized, and provide support to deal with personal concerns or issues, thereby making them better learners. School libraries are extremely important. in closing achievement gaps and guiding at-risk students to success. Given the foregoing, the goal of this research is to evaluate senior secondary students’ use of the school library as well as their academic performance.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
Despite the unending importance of school libraries in terms of students’ academic performance, the effective and pivotal roles played by libraries have been hampered in the majority of Nigerian public secondary schools. The use or non-use of school libraries by students influences their educational attainment. Unfortunately, most students, both at the secondary and educational levels, are unaware of the importance of using libraries to improve their academic performance. This is due to the fact that many students lack adequate knowledge of how to locate or identify the books they require, while others lack the motivation to study. This threat of insufficient library use has contributed to widespread student failure in both internal and external assessments.
examinations in the country. Furthermore, the negative treatment they receive from most library staff, who appear untrained and lack experience in library attendance, has contributed to students’ insufficient library use.
Above all, the challenge of insufficient library funding by relevant authorities has resulted in a lack of libraries in secondary schools and, where available, a lack of adequate material resources as most available are outdated, rendering them unusable by students.
As a result, the preceding serves as the backdrop for this study, as the epistle aims to evaluate student academic performance and use of the school library.
As a result, the preceding serves as the backdrop for this study, as the epistle aims to evaluate the use of Students’ academic performance and the school library.
1.3 Objective Of The Study
The overall goal of this research is to assess secondary school students’ use of school libraries and academic performance. The study’s specific goal is to determine whether students’ use of school library facilities has a positive impact on their academic performance.
Investigating the frequency with which students in secondary schools use school libraries
Discuss the factors influencing the adequate availability of secondary school libraries.
1.4 Research Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a tentative experimental statement that shows the relationship between two or more variables. It is testable and can be accepted or rejected based on whether or not it agrees or disagrees with the statistical test.
The following hypothesis will be tested in the study:
H01: Students’ use of school library facilities has no positive effect on their academic performance.
H02: Students in secondary schools do not use school libraries at a high rate.
1.5 Significance Of The Study
One of the primary goals of this research is to educate students about the importance of school libraries in improving academic performance and achieving high academic success throughout their academic careers. This is because if students adopt a reading culture and use the school library, their academic achievement will improve, and the seemingly low academic standards in the school system will be remedied.
Teachers would also benefit from this study because they would be more aware of and exposed to the topic of students’ library usage and/or non-use as drivers of their academic performance in school. The study and its recommendations would also provide library patrons with important information to help them change some of their negative behaviors.
Attitudes and unfriendly dispositions that discourage students from visiting the library to read or study.
Finally, this study will be useful for students and researchers who are planning to conduct research on related topics.
1.6 Scope Of The Study
This study is limited in scope, but it aims to determine whether students’ use of school library facilities improves their academic performance, investigate the rate at which students use school library facilities in secondary schools, and discuss the factors influencing the adequate availability of school libraries in secondary schools. As a result, the research is limited to senior secondary schools in Andoni LGA, Rivers State.
1.7 Limitation Of The Study
The researcher encountered some constraints while conducting this study, including time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and respondents’ attitudes. However, the researcher was able to overcome these obstacles in order to ensure the success of this study.
1.8 Definition Of Terms
A library is a structure or room that houses collections of books, periodicals, and occasionally films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the general public or members of an institution.
A school library is an information center located within the school environment that performs tasks such as identifying and collecting, processing, organizing, storing, preserving, retrieving, and disseminating information relevant to the needs of members of the school community in order to meet their changing information needs.
Academic Performance: This is the overall result of students’ learning activities over a period of time in a formal school environment.
REFERENCE
B. Adeyemi (2010). Teacher-related factors as predictors of students’ achievement in social studies in South West Nigeria. 8(1): 313-332 in the Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology.
I.O. Busayo & Co. (2011). The School Library as a Foundational Step for Children’s Effective Reading Habits. Philosophy and Practice in the Library. Retrieved November 19th, 2013 from http://unlib.edu/LPP
R.A. Egunjobi (2006). The Foundations of Library Practice in Nigeria. Lagos: Higher Education Book Publishers, pp. 44-55.
K. O. Ogunbote and A. O. Odunewu (2008). School Library and Utilization in Ogun State’s Ijebu North Local Government Area. 7:42-57 Nigeria School Library Journal
M. O. Ogundele and S. A. Moronfoye (2013). Kwara State Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria have achieved their academic and infrastructural goals. 10(1&2): 101-120. Journal of Vocational Education & Technology.
Sanusi, United Kingdom (2001). Library Promotional Materials
B. Adeyemi (2010). Teacher-related factors as predictors of students’ achievement in social studies in South West Nigeria. 8(1): 313-332 in the Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology.
and the Use of Information in Nigerian Teacher Education. R.F. Quadri and B.O. Gbadamosi (eds.). Emola Joy, Issues in Library and Information Services, pp. 108-120.
Todd, R. J., and C. Kuhlthau (2004). Part 1 of a two-part series on student learning in Ohio school libraries: How effective school libraries help students. 89-110 in School Libraries Worldwide, 11(1). J. K. Valenza and D. Johnson (2009). Things that keep us awake at night, School Library Journal, 5(3), pp. 21-28.
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