INFLUENCE OF LIBRARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OBIO/AKPOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study Over the past six decades, libraries in both secondary and postsecondary educational institutions have undergone notable evolution. Since the 1950s, Africa has seen the establishment of nearly 30,000 new secondary school libraries. In Nigeria, numerous library development initiatives and collection improvement programs, supported by the federal government, have significantly enhanced the quality of libraries in both primary and secondary schools. Education is widely acknowledged to take place primarily within institutional settings such as schools. Among the essential support services in any education system, from basic to tertiary level, library services are considered indispensable. The presence of a library within a school greatly facilitates the smooth execution of educational curricula, thereby aiding in the achievement of educational goals and objectives (Anyawu, Obichere & OssaiOnah, 2021). The World Bank (2018) emphasized that a functional school library enhances student learning by increasing access to reading opportunities, which positively impacts their knowledge acquisition, writing skills, reading proficiency, and communication abilities. Fakomogbon, Bada, and Omiola (2018) suggested that libraries are crucial in today’s educational system due to constantly evolving curricula. Libraries help both students and educators stay abreast of current educational trends and resources. Furthermore, research has shown that students who engage with library resources are more likely to perform well academically. Ginika (2017), for instance, found that providing access to library services significantly increased student library usage. He asserted that classroom teaching alone is insufficient; students must utilize libraries, including digital resources, to reinforce and expand their understanding of academic content. Adeyemi (2021) highlighted that frequent use of library resources correlates with enhanced intellectual development among students. School libraries aim to meet students’ information needs by providing easily accessible reading materials. Vent (2016) also found a strong link between available library resources and students' learning outcomes. Farmer (2020) concluded that the importance of school libraries should not be underestimated, noting their vital contribution to student academic success. Despite these benefits, observations and prior research indicate that many secondary school students in Nigeria struggle to gain admission to preferred tertiary institutions due to poor academic results. This educational underachievement is often linked to inadequate learning environments, especially the absence or poor state of library services. Academic performance—seen as a key indicator of educational progress—is directly influenced by a student’s ability to complete learning tasks and assignments. Grades, which serve as the primary metric for academic success, reflect a student’s ability to learn, retain, and recall information, as well as to articulate it effectively in both oral and written forms. Nnadozie (2020) categorized library services into two types: technical services and readers' services. Library services encompass all forms of assistance provided to users in accessing and utilizing library resources. These services significantly affect users’ intellectual, emotional, and overall development. Library services may be direct or indirect and can be targeted at individuals or groups. Due to the importance of these services in shaping educational outcomes, this research aims to explore theinfluence of library resources and services on academic performance of secondary school students in Obio/Akpor local government area, Rivers state . 1.2 Statement of the Problem According to a World Bank (2018) study, one of the key challenges facing school libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa is the shortage of qualified librarians and inadequate library resources. In South Africa, access to a variety of up-to-date materials and resources in school libraries remains limited. Similarly, Benard, Ronald, Dulle, and Frankwell (2021) discovered that Tanzanian secondary school students encounter several difficulties when using school libraries. These include limited opening hours, outdated materials, and a lack of professional library staff. In the Nigerian context, although libraries are recognized as a fundamental part of the educational system—highlighted in the National Policy on Education (2004)—scholars have noted several issues affecting the availability and quality of library services in secondary schools (Adeyemi, 2021). One major challenge is inadequate funding, which has negatively impacted the development and functionality of school libraries, particularly in public schools. Adeyemi (2021) observed that funding for secondary school libraries is often overlooked, with most schools depending entirely on government financial support. Another issue facing school libraries in Nigeria is the lack of competent staff. Many schools employ unqualified personnel in place of trained teacher-librarians. These individuals often lack the expertise necessary for effective library management, which limits students’ ability to fully benefit from available resources. This situation hinders the optimal use of school libraries. While some researchers have shown that proper library usage positively influences students' academic performance (Farmer, 2020), there remain considerable challenges that must be addressed to fully realize these benefits. Despite existing studies conducted in various parts of Nigeria, there is limited research focused on Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Additionally, whereas earlier studies mainly gathered data from students, this research will involve teachers as the primary respondents. Therefore, this study seeks to examine influence of library resources and services on academic performance of secondary school students in Obio/Akpor local government area, Rivers state, filling a gap in both geographical and respondent coverage in previous research efforts. 1.3 Purpose of the Study The general objective of the study is to examine the impact of library resources and services on student's academic achievement at secondary school level in Obio/Akpor LGA;Rivers State. Specifically, the study will be guided by the following: i.To examine the library resources and services provided by secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA. ii. To find out the extent to which students make use of the library resources and services in secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA. iii. To investigate the impact of the library services and resources on students' academic achievement in Obio/Akpor LGA. iv. To assess the challenges in the provision of library resources and services in secondary school in Obio/Akpor LGA. v.To identify the strategies that can be used to enhance library resources and services in Obio/Akpor LGA. 1.4 Research Questions The following questions have been prepared for the study: i. What are the library resources and services provided by secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA? ii. To what extent do students make use of the library resources and services in secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA? iii. What is the impact of the library services and resources on students' academic achievement in Obio/Akpor LGA? iv. What are the challenges in the provision of library resources and services in secondary school in Obio/Akpor LGA? v. What are the strategies that can be used to enhance library resources and services in Obio/Akpor LGA? 1.5 Hypotheses The following hypotheses have been formulated for the study: H01: There is no provision of library resources and services in secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA. H02: The extent to which students make use of the library resources and services in Obio/Akpor LGA is low. H03: Library resources and services do not have a positive impact on students' academic achievement in Obio/Akpor LGA. 1.6 Significance of the Study A vivid understanding on the impact of library resources and services on student's academic achievement, its importance and need for availability and utilization by students as well as the significant role it places in the academic achievement of students would be of immense relevant to managements of schools, the government, researchers, students and all the various bodies that comes to play when talking of library resources and student academic achievement. The outcome of the study will help students to strategize and reconstruct their attitude regarding the utilization of available library resources in their schools. It will also push them further to identify the exciting benefits that comes when school library resources are utilized by study 1.7 Scope of the Study This study will investigate influence of library resources and services on academic performance of secondary school students in Obio/Akpor local government area, Rivers state. The study will also find out the extent at which students make use of the library resources and services in secondary schools in Obio/Akpor LGA. The study will further investigate the impact of the library services and resources on student's academic achievement in Obio/Akpor LGA. More so, the study will assess the challenges in the provision of library resources in secondary school in Obio/Akpor LGA. Lastly, the study will identify the strategies that can be used to enhance library resources and services in Obio/Akpor LGA. Hence this study will be delimited to Obio/Akpor LGA 1.8 Definition of terms Library resources: those materials, both print and non-print, found in school libraries which support curricular and personal information needs Students: a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education. Academic achievements: performance outcomes that indicate the extent to which a person has accomplished specific goals that were the focus of activities in instructional environments, specifically in school, college, and university.