An Assessment of Strategies for Positive Library User Experiences: Empirical Study of Academic Libraries in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

The chief focus of this study was to assess the strategies for positive library user experiences in Akwa lbom State. A descriptive suvrey approach was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Akwa lbom State. The population of the study consisted of all librarians in tertiary institutions in Akwa lbom State. A stratified sampling technique was used to select 30 librarians from the University of Uyo, 20 Librarians from Akwa lbom State University, 10 librarians from Akwa lbom State Polytechnic, and 5 librarians from the College of Education. This gave a total of 65 respondents, which made up the sample size used for the study. The instrument used in this study for data collection Was a questionnaire titled "Positive Library User Experience Questionnaire (PLUEQ). " Face and content validation of the instrument Was carried out by an expert for measurement and evaluation to ensure that the instrument has the accuracy, appropriateness, and completeness for the study under consideration. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.80, and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated for this study to appropriate
statistical techniques", such as descriptive statistics. The test for significance Was done at 0.05 alpha levels. The study revealed that the major problem facing academic Libraries in Nigeria is inadequate funding. The issue of poor funding has made academic librar1'es unable to acquire new foreign and in digenous materials ( books and journals) that would have helped propel the efficiency and
effectiveness of their roles. lt Was concluded in the study that if the perceived quality of the library resources is redesigned, and the agenda of ethnographic embraced to the fullest lectures and seminars organized appropriately; the academic library stand ground of quality service. One of the recommendations made, among others, was that the library needs to identity priorities among the demands of users and measure service performance in areas that the users perceive as important.