Vol. 9(2), pp. 62�67. February, 2021. 

ISSN: 2360-7858

DOI: 10.14662/IJALIS2021.035

 

Full Length Research

 

Abstract

This was a cross-sectional survey of availability and accessibility of information resources among undergraduate students of the University of Calabar using a self-administered questionnaire.  Of the 155 respondents, which cut across several faculties,   male accounted for 80 while female were 75 giving an approximately equal gender ratio.  Majority of the students were within the 21-25 years age group (n= 64; 41.3%); this was followed by the 26-30 years (n=46; 29.6%). First year students were observed to use the library more, followed by the 400 Level students and then the 500 level undergraduate students. More students (n=84; 54.2%) agreed that print information resources were not readily available with reference to their discipline than those who disagreed (n=58; 37.4%).  Similarly, 73 (47.1%) of the students agreed that information resources were not easily accessible against 71 (45.8%) students who disagreed.  On the effect of non-availability and inaccessibility, over half (n=84; 54.2%) of the respondents agreed that their usage of the library was negatively affected while the remaining 71 (45.8%) disagreed with the statement.  The results of the study showed that students of the University of Calabar also experience the problems of non-availability and inaccessibility to print information resources in the course of their use of the university library.  It is recommended that the University should sustain and place more emphasis on educating the students, especially freshmen and women, on needed skills in using the library. In addition, regular workshop for both faculty members and students to update them on newly subscribed online databases, e-books, e-journals and print materials in the library�s collection, as well as the skills needed to access them is advised.

 

Keywords: Availability, Accessibility, Print Information Resources

	Cite This Article As: Osunde, P.E (2021). A Survey of Availability and Accessibility of Print Information Resources by undergraduate Students of the University of Calabar, Calabar, South-South Nigeria. Inter. J. Acad. Lib. Info. Sci. 9(2): 62-67