Enhancing Quality Learning: The Impact of School Library Services to Students in Nigeria

In this study, we examined the state of school libraries in Nigerian secondary schools and attempted to find out why there are no libraries in some of the schools. In a survey of 356 Federal University, Otuoke in Bayelsa State students, respondents were asked two questions: 1) the state of school libraries in the secondary school they graduated from; and for those reporting no school library, 2) perceived reasons why there is no school library. The results revealed that all most half of the respondents had no school library in their secondary schools. Reasons for this absence included the Nigerian government's nonchalant attitude towards village schools, lack of adequate space for libraries in school premises, lack of funding, and school managements' forceful selling of books to primary and secondary students. For students who had school libraries, the results suggested that students did not patronize those libraries because of improper orientation to the library value and obsolete collection. Students who used school libraries in their secondary schools disclosed that use of the library enhanced their reading habits and enabled them to make career choices and locate library materials easily. The findings will inform education authorities and school administrators on the need to establish school libraries in secondary schools.