ABSTRACT

The study surveyed the utilization of information materials in national libiary Umuahia, Abia State. The specific objectives ofthe study include; to ascertain the information materials available in national library, Umuahia, to asceitain the extent of patronage to the national library, Umuahia, to determine the challenges ofpatronage of national library utilization and to identify ways to improve the patronage ofthe national library, Umuahia. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population size was 30 staff of the National Library Umuahia, Abia State and no sample size was drawn since the entire population was small. Data were obtained through the use of cpiestionnaire of four point scale. Frequency tables were used for data presentation while mean scores and standard deviation were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that the information materials available in national library, Umuahia include; journals, textbooks, fiction books, nonfiction books, pictures and posters, audio-visual materials, government publications, references materials (abstracts, indexes, encyclopedia, dictionaries, etc.), CD ROMs, online information resources and databases, magazines and newspapers and maps, atlas and globes. The study concluded that the the extent ofusers’ patronage ofthe National Library, Umuahia is veiy high. The result revealed that the most utilized information materials in by users oj the national library, Umuahia include; online information resources and databases, magazines and newspapers, audio-visual materials, journals, government publications, references materials (Abstracts, indexes, encyclopedia, dictionaries, etc.), CD ROMs, textbooks, maps, atlases and globes among others. It was also revealed that the challenges jacing the patronage of the national library, Umuahia include; lack of user education, . poor computer literacy, unstable power supply, inadequate shelves to display materials, poor air conditioning system, and inadequate funding ofthe library. Il is recommended that the government, non-governmental organizations and individual donots should assist in the provision of standard and adequate information materials for the National Libraries in Nigeria. Also, the library should embark on regular current awareness services and user education programme so as to boost information materials utilization