Influence of Resource Availability on Library Patronage by Undergraduates in Private Universities in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Library patronage is a measure of user satisfaction. The study examined library patronage of undergraduates in private universities in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study employed survey design and questionnaire was used for the data collection. The population of the study comprised 5,616 undergraduates. Three hundred and sixty-five (365) respondents were sampled based on Research Advisor’s Table for determining sample size. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that undergraduates in private universities often patronized the university libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria. Subject specific materials (x̅= 2.52) were mostly consulted, followed by project and dissertations (x̅=2.44) and reference materials (x̅=2.18). The finding also revealed that resource availability had a significant influence on library patronage of undergraduates (R2= 0.073, t(300) = 4.873, p < 0.05). The study recommended that the library management should take proactive measures to improve library resources underutilized by the students under study. Keywords: Library patronage, private university, resource availability, undergraduates.