ABSTRACT

The aim of this study -was to assess the use ofpublic library services by secondary school students in Umuahia North Local Government Area ofAbia state. The research design used was a descriptive survey. The population of the study is 1,229 for JSS 3 and 771 for SS 3. The statistics comprises the number of students in JSS 3 and SS 3 in twenty one government secondary schools in umuahia north local government area ofAbia state. A sample of320 was takenfrom the population ofJSS 3 and SS 3 offoursecondary schools in Umuahia north namely, Secondary Technical school Afaraukwu 1, Ohuhu Community Secondary School, Afuguri Girls Secondary school and Ossah Community Secondary School. A likert-four point rating scale was used as data collection instruments. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean scores with the use ofStatistical Packagefor Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The study found that the students utilize reference service, library loan, referralservice, current awareness services and reader’s services in Abia state library board. Furthermore, the studyfound out that inadequate reference materials to carterforthe information need ofthe students, the indexes and abstracts are old and it contains information that is irrelevant to the secondary school students which, lack ofsufficient copies ofsome information materials which makes it difficult for the library to give out their own copy on loan, the library does not have enough current information material to ensure that its current awareness service isfullyfunctional, the library does not have adeqziate staffto handle its selective dissemination ofinformation (SDI) service and the library do not have enough chairs, tables and a well air conditioned roomfor the students to relax and read the selected book oftheir choice are the difficultiesfaced by the students in using public library services. The recommendations made were the library should acquire sufficient reference materialsfor the students, acquisition of current indexes and abstracts so that the students can get current information, the library should acquire more copies ofeach information material to enable them give it out on loan, there should be proper communication network between public libraries (i.e. production of union catalogue) to ensure that each public library is updated on what is in each other’s holdings so that resources will be shared among them in an effective manner and the Library should provide relevant and current information materials to keep its clientele up-to-date with the latest information in theirfield ofstudy. Also the library should employ more staffs to ensure that the information need of the profiled student or group of students should be delivered on time and the library should provide more chairs, table and air conditioned rooms for the student to be able to relax and read their selected choice of information material.