Awareness and use of OPAC by patrons of Bingham University Library, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study explored awareness and use of online public access catalogue by patrons of Bingham University Library, Karu, Nassarawa State, Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive survey research design using questionnaire as instrument of data collection. Copies of the questionnaire were distributed to 350 patrons (student and staff users) randomly out of which 333 (85%) copies were retrieved and used for the study. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that most of the respondents - 124 (37.2%) - were aware of the OPAC to a very little extent, while 133 (39.9) were not aware of the OPAC services at all, they preferred to physically browse through the library shelves; that 253 (76.0%) of the respondents used the OPAC to a very little extent and this validated the lack of awareness and use of the OPAC. Meanwhile, 62 (18.6%) of the respondent have never used the OPAC It was obvious from the findings that the majority of the respondents were not aware of the existence of the OPAC services neither nor used it hence, the need for this study. The study, therefore, recommended among others that the library should organize orientation and sensitization programmes as measures for creating awareness and encouraging the utilization of the OPAC amongst library users and stakeholders.