Title: SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RURAL AREAS: IS THE LIBRARY SERVING HER PURPOSE?
Authors:
Benjamin Kenechukwu NWOBU and Nweke Angela CHINWENDU
Abstract:
This study examines the state of school library in two rural communities in South-South of Nigeria (Ewossa and Agbarho communities in Edo and Delta State of Nigeria) and the level of services provided to ascertain if they are rendering the required services for the students they are established to serve. The sample size for the study is 350 Senior Secondary school students in the 5 secondary schools with libraries in the two rural communities. Findings revealed that a (students) in this study are aware of user registration service and user education service of their library while they are unaware of some important services provided by the library such as Lending Services, Reference Services, Selective Dissemination of Information, Internet and Electronic Services as they are not being offered to the students at all; school libraries profoundly assists students with books in preparation for their exams, do their assignments, improve on their vocabulary among others. Findings also revealed that the major challenge the students face when using the library are lack of adequate library resources (Textbooks, visual and audio visual materials), too many outdated books in their library, erratic power supply with and inadequate space among others. The following among others were suggested to ensure the availability of school libraries in rural communities and to improve on their roles and services: The Nigerian government should make setting up a school library an important criterion for the establishment of secondary schools in Nigeria; secondary schools in the rural parts of Nigeria should be fully stocked with relevant textbooks and other audio visual resources to aid the learning needs of the students; school libraries and librarians in the rural parts should improve in their services in the areas of lending service, reference service, selective dissemination of information, internet and electronic service because the students are not too familiar with these services in their school libraries.
Keywords: Secondary Schools, Rural Areas, School Library, Students.
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