READING HABIT AS DETERMINANT OF LIBRARY USAGE AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN OYO STATE

Abstract

This study examined reading habit as determinant of library usage in private universities in Oyo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study include to evaluate the effects of students reading habit on library usage among students of private universities in Oyo State, Nigeria. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design which involved the use of questionnaire as the instrument for research data collection. The target population of the study comprised of 8020 library users who are undergraduates of the Ajayi Crowther University Library and Lead City University Library, while 481 of the undergraduates were selected based on the sample size calculation of “Taro Yamane” at confidence level of 95% and P=0.5. Data was gathered through a structured questionnaire which was analyzed with the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The First, and second research questions were analysed using descriptive statistics, while the research hypothesis was analysed using correlation analysis. The study established that good reading habits had significant effect on library usage among undergraduates of private universities in Oyo State. The study recommended that undergraduates should consider the university library as a place where they can actively engage themselves and enhance their knowledge as this would turn them into active library users.it also recommended that university libraries in Oyo State need to provide current and adequate information materials for the use of undergraduates. Therefore, libraries cannot afford to slack in their responsibilities.