ABSTRACT

The study examined students ’ use ofreprographic service in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUA) Library Umudike. The specific objectives ofthe study was to identify the various reprographic services used by students in MOUA Library, Umudike; examine the reasons for students ’ use ofreprographic services provided by MOUA Library, Umudike; highlight the frequency at which students use reprographic services in MOUA Library, Umudike;find out thefactors affecting the use ofreprographic services by students in MOUA Library, Umudike, and identify the measuresfor ameliorating the factors affecting the use of reprographic services by students in MOUA Library, Umudike. The research designfor this study is descriptive survey. A sample size of220 students was drawn out ofthe population of 11,256 undergraduate students registered in MOUAU Library in 2017/2018 academic session. The sampling technique used was the simple random sampling technique and a closed-ended questionnaire of Likert four-point scale was used to collect data. Mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis. Frequency tables were used for data presentation. The findings revealed that the major reprographic services used by students in MOUAU Library include; photocopying services, book binding services and computer services. Also, the major reasons for students’ use ofreprographic services provided by MOUAU Library include; to get the material needed to support their academic research followed by to avoid mishandle of library materials, to avoid paying penalty on date due default, to avoid losing oflibrary materials when borrowed and to avoid stealing oflibrary materials. The study also revealed that the factors affecting the use ofreprographic services ' by students ofMOUAU Library include; insufficient reprographic equipment in the library, poor budgetary allocation, inadequate power supply, poor maintenance of available reprographic tools, high cost ofreprographic services and unprofessional attitude ofstaff. The study, therefore, recommends that the government and university authorities should boost the budgetary allocation of the university libraries so as to adequately equip the academic libraries with the requisite reprographic equipment. Also, the library should make the charges/cost/fees charged on reprographic services affordable to students.