CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study

The library has been defined as a school's entire stock of books and other materials resource.  According to Adeyemi (2010), the library is a collection of a wide range of learning and teaching materials that are held in one location and centrally arranged and indexed to assist readers. According to R.A. Egunjobi (2006), a library includes non-print materials such as films, slides, and tapes as well as books and journals. These resources can be categorized into two types: material resources such as books, periodicals, CD Roms, and dissertation abstracts, and human resources such as the librarian and supporting personnel. As a result, Busayo I.O. (2011) considers the school library to be the resource center of any school. A school library is a physical and digital learning area in where reading, inquiry, research, thinking, imagination, and creativity are fundamental to students' information, knowledge journey, and personal, social, and cultural school. This physical and digital location is known by a variety of names, including the School Media Centre, the Centre for Documentation and Information, the Library Resource Centre, and so on. However, the name "school library" is the most widely used and applied to the institution and its duties. It serves as both a service center and a self-development center. It is also the focal point for individual study in schools (Adeyemi,2010). According to Sanusi (2001), secondary schools cannot complete their objectives without the support of relevant and efficient libraries.

The primary mission of these libraries is to aid students by providing studying and reading resources in order to attain the goal of generating well-molded luminaries in their respective fields.

According to Ogunbote and Odunewu (2008), libraries are one of the most important educational services and that every State Ministry of Education should provide finances for the establishment of school libraries and the hiring of library assistants.

It goes without saying that the availability and use of contemporary, well-equipped school libraries is critical to students' academic performance in college. The reasons are not implausible. Regardless of the socioeconomic or educational levels of the adults in the community, a great library that is sufficiently staffed, resourced, and funded can lead to higher student performance (Ogundele & Moronfoye, 2013). In a similar vein, Ogundele and Moronfoye (2013) argue that school libraries can improve students' self-esteem, confidence, independence, and sense of responsibility for their own learning. The role of the school library is critical to learning 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 provides confidence to look for information on their own at various levels. School libraries improve students' understanding and performance while also supporting teaching and learning throughout the school.

On the same issue of the impact of libraries on student performance, Todd and Kuhlthau (2004), emphasize that school libraries assist students access information, stay organized, and provide support to deal with personal concerns or issues, so making them better learners. School libraries play a vital role in closing achievement gaps and assisting at-risk students on their paths to success. In light of the foregoing, the purpose of this study is to assess senior secondary students' use of the school library as well as their academic performance.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Despite the unending significance of school libraries as regards to students' academic performance, the effective and paramount roles played by libraries have been impeded in most public secondary schools in Nigeria. The use or non-use of school libraries by students is a factor affecting the educational attainment of students. Unfortunately, most students, both at secondary and educational levels, are ignorant of the need to utilize libraries in order to aid their academic performance. This is, however, as a result of the fact that students lack adequate knowledge of how to locate or identify the books they need, while many others lack the enthusiasm to study. This menace of inadequate use of libraries has contributed to the mass failure of students in both internal and external examinations in the country. Furthermore, the negative treatment they receive by diligent students from most library staff who are seemingly untrained and lack experience in library attendance has also contributed to the inadequate library use by students.

Above all, the challenge of inadequate funding of libraries by the relevant authorities has resulted in the poor availability of libraries in secondary schools and, where available, there are no adequate material resources as most available are outdated, making them unusable by students.

Hence, the above forms the backdrop for this study as the epistle aims at evaluating the use of the school library and the academic performance of students.

Hence, the above form the backdrop for this study as the epistle aims at evaluating the use of school library and academic performance of students.

1.3 Objective Of The Study

The general object of this study is to evaluate the use of school libraries and the academic performance of secondary school students. Specifically, the study is aimed at;

1. determining if the use of school library facilities by students has a positive impact on their academic performance.

2. Investigating the rate at which students use school library facilities in secondary schools

3. Discuss the factors affecting the adequate availability of school libraries in secondary schools.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

A hypothesis refers to an experimental statement, tentative in nature, showing the relationship between two or more variables. It is open to testing and can be accepted or rejected depending on whether it agrees or disagrees with the statistical test.

The study will test the validity of the following hypothesis:

H01: The use of school library facilities by students has no positive impact on their academic performance.

H02: The rate at which students use school library facilities in secondary schools is low.

1.5 Significance Of The Study

One of the major goals of this research is to educate students about the importance of school libraries in improving academic performance and achieving high academic success in their educational careers. This is because, if students generally imbibe the culture of reading and make use of the library facilities in school, their academic achievement would improve and the seemingly low academic standards in the school system would be remedied.

Teachers would benefit from this study as well, as they would be better aware and exposed to the topic of students' usage and/or non-use of libraries as drivers of their academic performance in school. The study and its recommendations would also provide library attendants with necessary information to assist them in changing some of their negative attitudes and unfriendly dispositions that do not inspire students to come to the library to read or study.

Lastly, this study will serve as a source of information for students and researchers who may be likely to carry out studies on related topics.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This study is limited but focused on determining if the use of school library facilities by students has a positive impact on their academic performance, investigating the rate at which students use school library facilities in secondary schools and discussing the factors affecting the adequate availability of school libraries in secondary schools. Hence, the study is delimited to senior secondary schools in Andoni LGA, Rivers State.

1.7 Limitation Of The Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constrains which include time constrain, financial constrain, language barriers, and attitude of the respondents. However the researcher was able to manage these challenges just to ensure the success of this study.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Library: A building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution.

A School Library: A school library is an information centre located within the school environment where tasks such as identifying and collecting, processing, organizing, storing, preserving, retrieving, and disseminating information pertinent to the needs of members of the school community with a view to satisfying their changing information needs.

Academic Performance: This is the overall outcome of the learning activities of students over a period of learning in a formal school environment.

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