RELATIONSHIP AMONG AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION SERVICES BY USERS OF BORNO STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study determined the relationship among availability, accessibility and utilization of information services by users of Borno State Public Library. Descriptive survey research method was adopted for the study and a convenient sample size of seven hundred and one (701) users was drawn from a target population for the study was six thousand, one hundred and thirty-five (6,135) users of the library under study, data used was collected using a self-designed questionnaire. Out of the 701 questionnaires administered to the respondent, 677 (96.6%) copies were duly completed, returned and found valid for the analysis. The results indicated that only inter library lending, reference services and current awareness services were the information services available for users, the information services were accessible to the low extent and the extent to which users utilize the information services was to the low extent in Borno State Public Library, the availability of information services has significant relationship with extent of accessibility in Borno State Public Library and the extent of accessibility has significant relationship with the extent of utilization of information services in Borno State Public Library. The study recommended among others that the library management of Borno state public library should provide more and quality information services so as to encourage utilization by users of the library and the state government should provide fund or organize training and workshops to the library staff in order to improve service delivery.