FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES: THE CASE OF SELECTED ETHIOPIAN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION LIBRARIES

Abstract

Libraries are sources of information and knowledge; improving utilization of libraries gives academic institutions to influence learning, research, and teaching. This study assesses the factors that affect the utilization of library and information services in higher public learning institutions. More specifically, the study was meant: to determine the level of awareness and availability of users on the library resources and information service utilization, to assess the effects of users library/information literacy skill and information communication technologies on the use of resource and services and to identify factors that affect library service and resources utilization to achieve quality education. The study employed survey design undertake this study with 384 respondents taken as sample size; the respondents were drawn from Haramaya and Diredawa universities, which consist of undergraduate graduating class, postgraduate students and librarian. The simple random and purposive sampling the technique was used to select study samples and study areas respectively.The data collections tools used were questioners, interview and observation while data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.The results of the study states that library resources and information service were not well used by users, and majority of the respondents used the resources rarely which show that utilization of library resources by users was very low. Also, it was found by the study that, most common problems facing users when using library resources were lack of information literacy skill, difficulty to use ICT facilities, lack of awareness of the available resource and service and insufficient of the resources were major problems. The correlation between awareness and service quality was 0.416, availability and service quality was 0.355 and awareness and availability 0.281 at DDU whereas at HU on the same variable obtained 0.716, 0.475 and 0.838. This shows awareness of users and availability of resource had low contribution to service quality utilization at DDUrelative toHU and the dependent variable accounted by the independent variable with 22.6% at HU whereas at DDU 53.9%.Thus it is recommended the concerned stockholder should use the results of this study to overcome some challenges raised. This could be done by providing enough awareness of the available resource, providing information literacy the program, give training about ICT facilities in universities and make stable the environmental factor in order to ensure optimal use of library resource and service.