Library use as Correlate of user Satisfaction amongst Lecturers in University Libraries in South-East Zone of Nigeria

This study was conducted to find out the relationship between library use and lecturers' satisfaction in university libraries in South-East Zone of Nigeria. The population of this study was made up of 112 librarians and 4469 lecturers drawn from eleven (11) universities within the study area. The research design used was a combination of descriptive survey and linear correlation. Two (2) researcher-made rating scales were used for data collection. Census sampling was applied in choosing librarians while stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents from the lecturers’ sub-stratum. Out of the 112 and 447 copies of research instrument administered, 87 and 366 copies were returned by librarians and lecturers, respectively giving a total return-rate of 81.0%. Data was analyzed using a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to ascertain the strength of the relationship between lecturers' library use and their satisfaction (independent and dependent variables, respectively). Results from the correlation coefficient of the two variables showed that there is a weak relationship between library use and the satisfaction derived by faculty members from services received in the university libraries studied. The recommendations made on the basis of these findings include: improvement of the quality of library collections, infrastructure upgrade, diversification of information services and adequate funding of Nigerian university libraries.

Keywords: Library use, User Satisfaction, University Libraries, South-Eastern Nigeria.