GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT

The study was to investigate on the informational guide and students’ utilization of information services in University of California libraries. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in University of California. The population of the study consisted of 422 registered undergraduate students in faculty of education. The sample of the study was 422 registered undergraduate students in faculty of education, University libraries made up 260 females and 162 males. The instrument used in this study for data collection was a questionnaire titled "Informational Guide and Students’ Utilization of Information Services Questionnaire (IGSUISQ)". Face and content validation of the instrument was carried out by an expert in testing, 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 percentage analysis. The test for significance was done at 0.05 alpha levels. The study concluded that informational guide foster independent and critical thinking. It solves wayfinding problem in unfamiliar environment, it helps library user to use the appropriate data, tools and facilities of the library, bringing about coordination in academic libraries and aid students in wayfinding and effective retrieval of the needed information. Hence, library signage has great influence on students’ utilization of information services in the University of California libraries. One of the recommendations made was that the government should increase budgetary allocation to universities to ensure adequate fund for provision of library signage in academic libraries.

KEYWORDS: Informational Guide, Students’ Utilization, Information Services, University of California Libraries