TEACHERS’ UTILIZATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN IDAH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE

ABSTRACT

This study is centered on the utilization of secondary school libraries by teachers in Idah Local Government Council of Kogi State. A survey method was adopted for the study with questionnaire constructed, validated and used for the collection of data related to the research questions formulated to guide the study. The population of the study was 182 teachers and library staff from the seven (7) secondary schools in the Local Government Area. There was no sampling procedure as the population was considered small. Interview and observation was also used to collect data where questionnaire could not be used. Simple percentages and means were used for data presentation and analysis. The researcher in the course of this study found out that the school libraries have limited resources, by way of personnel library material resources, funding and accommodation and that teachers do not patronize the school libraries despite their claims as t o the importance of school libraries. Teacher librarians were not employed in most of the schools under investigation except two schools, St. Peter’s College and Idah Secondary Commercial College where teacher librarians were in charge. Another finding made by the researcher is that teachers encounter many problems in using libraries among these are poor organization of books on the shelves and the opening hours of the school libraries based on the aforementioned findings, the researcher recommended that there is proper need for effective teacher orientation an the use of library, improvement of funding and staffing and provision of standard library accommodation, materials and furniture to enhance teachers’ utilization of school libraries.