Library Orientation, Information Literacy Skills and Research Productivity among Postgraduate Students in Private Universities, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

In contemporary higher education, research productivity remains a critical indicator of scholarly development and academic excellence, particularly for postgraduate students who are expected to produce rigorous and independent research. Yet, despite the expansion of library facilities and electronic resources in Nigerian private universities, many postgraduate students continue to struggle with navigating library systems, identifying credible scholarly materials, applying effective search strategies and using appropriate citation and referencing techniques. In private universities in Osun State, these challenges persist even with the availability of orientation program memes, suggesting that gaps remain in students’ mastery of essential information skills needed for quality research. This situation creates concern regarding the extent to which library orientation and information literacy competencies influence postgraduate students’ research productivity within these institutions. This study therefore examined the effect of library orientation and information literacy skills on the research productivity of postgraduate students in private universities in Osun State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, and a structured questionnaire was administered to postgraduate students across three purposively selected universities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression techniques. The findings revealed that students demonstrated high levels of research productivity (Mean = 3.5), library orientation (Mean = 3.6), and information literacy skills (Mean = 3.7). The study concludes that strengthening library orientation program memes and integrating structured information literacy training into postgraduate curricula are imperative for enhancing research outcomes. It recommends continuous support in citation and referencing, expanded access to electronic resources and stronger collaboration between librarians and academic staff to foster a robust research culture. Top of Form.