Demographic Characteristics and Library Anxiety as Perceived Factors Affecting Library Utilisation Among Students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Demographic characteristics and library anxiety have been observed to contribute to library utilisation among the students, particularly those in polytechnics. Knowing whether the observed problems are applicable to students of Kwara State Polytechnic underscores why this study examines demographic characteristics and library anxiety as perceived factors affecting library utilisation among students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted in this study. This study’s population is 25,703 students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Nigeria. Krejcie and Morgan sampling table was used to determine 377 sampling size. Questionnaire designed with Google Form was used to gather data from the respondents. From the 377 responses expected, only 293 responses were received, representing 79.11% response rate. Data collected were analysed in frequency, simple percentages and mean. On the demographic characteristics affecting library utilisation among the respondents, findings revealed a moderate level of place of residence (x? = 2.75). On the library anxiety, findings revealed students’ anxiety of not seeing relevant and up-to-date information materials in the library (????? = 2.75), not knowing the first person to meet in the library (????? = 2.70) and frustrated with searching for information in the library (????? = 2.66). This study concluded that demographic characteristics and library anxiety moderately affected library utilisation among the users of Kwara State Polytechnic Library. One of the recommendations of this study is that Kwara State Government, parents, bodies, agencies and institutions should collaborate on making libraries available in primary and secondary schools.