RECENCY AND MUTILATION AS FACTORS AFFECTING USE OF LIBRARY BY THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF TWO FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study focused on recency and mutilation as factors affecting use of library by the undergraduate students of two Universities in North-Central Nigeria!It adopted a descriptive survey design and had @ population of 11,732: undergraduate students from two selected federal universitiesin: north-Central\ Nigeria.’ The study used proportionate ‘stratified random sampling:-technique:to sample 500: undergraduate students, Five: hundred (500) copies) of questionnaire: were distributed and four hundred and twenty nine (429) returned; representing areturn rate of 86%: The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentages as wellasmeanand standard deviation frequency! The decision rule for research questions one through three was based on whether'the mean score value was lower than or iabove/the criterion mean value of 2.50 benich-mark: Thé findings of the study revealed that the use of library resources among undergraduate students is relatively low, Mittilationof library resources negatively affect undergraduate students use of library! Theistudy also revealed that the libraries studied have noup-to-date textbooks and journals but have Internet facilities. Finally, the study recommended that library:management should source funds from various levels of government.and non-governmental organisation in order to equip'the libraries with current textbooks, journals and internet facilities in the two universities in North-central Nigeria.