Title: Service Attributes And Patronage Of Library And Information Resources By Undergraduates In Universities In Delta State
Authors: ENAMUOTOR, Blessing Oghenerukevwe and Dr M. O. OGBOMO
Volume: 8
Issue: 7
Pages: 55-70
Publication Date: 2024/07/28
Abstract:
This study examined the service attributes and patronage of information resources by undergraduates in universities in Delta State. A total of five research questions and five null hypotheses guided the study. The research design adopted in this study was correlational. The study population consisted of 14,002 registered undergraduates' library users. 390 undergraduate students constituted the sample size. The researcher approached the supervisor and others lecturers for the instrument's validation. The reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha which yielded a reliability index of 0.755 for the intangibility, 0.820, variability, 0.767 perishability, 0.728 for the inseparability and 0.859 for the patronage of libraries and information resources. 390 copies of the questionnaire were administered. All the formulated research questions were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and coefficient of determination while hypotheses were tested using linear and multiple linear regression. Based on the result the following findings were made among others; that the intangibility of information resources significantly predicts patronage among undergraduates; that the variability of information resources significantly predicts patronage among undergraduates; that the information resources perishability significantly predicts patronage among undergraduates; that the inseparability of information resources significantly predicts patronage among undergraduates and that intangibility, variability, perishability and inseparability may jointly influence patronage of information resources among undergraduates in universities in Delta State. Based on the findings conclusion was drawn; service attribute jointly predicts undergraduates' patronage of information resources. The study highlighted that the intangibility significantly predicts patronage of information resource of undergraduates. In line with the conclusion, it was recommended among others; that management of universities and library administrators should focus on enhancing those service attributes capacity of information resources used by undergraduate and management boards of universities and libraries should organize capacity building programmes for undergraduate in orienting them on the efficacy of library use to ensure that the high attributes can help improve user patronage.