UTILIZATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT MODEL SECONDARY SCHOOL MAKURDI FOR EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

This study examined utilization of school library resources by secondary school students of Government model secondary school Makurdi for effective academic performance. The specific objectives of the study were: determine the type of resources provided in the school library that will encourage it utilization by students, assess the quality of library resources provided for students, find out how regularly students in Government model secondary school Makurdi utilize available school library resources, establish the factors that militate against the provision and utilization of school library resources and suggest strategies that should be adopted to improve utilization of school library resources in Government model secondary school Makurdi, Benue State. The study adopted survey research design; Questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data collection. The population of 1800 students from JSS1 – SSS3 formed the population for the study, Taro Yamane formula was used to determine sample size for the study. The data collected were analyzed using means, tables and standard deviations. The study revealed that: Text Books, audio books, DVDs, CDs , videos, science kits, math manipulative, language arts games, puzzles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and almanacs are provided for students in Government model secondary school Makurdi library, library resources provided for students were of high quality which enable the students to achieve high academic performance, students in Government model secondary school Makurdi utilize library resources frequently, lack of qualified library staff, Inadequate technology infrastructure, pressure to prioritize standardized testing and meet curriculum requirements, and stakeholders perceiving school library resources as less relevant in the digital age are the factors that militate against the provision and use of school library resources while promoting information literacy skills, provision of enough fund for purchase of library resources, hosting library programmes that encourages students to utilize library resources and empowering students to have a voice in library resource selection and programming are the strategies that will be adopted to improve utilization of school library resources in Government model secondary school Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The study recommended that: library professionals should be employed to man libraries as they play a crucial role in inculcating reading habits in students as well as effective services delivery, more technological infrastructure should be provided in schools to enable students have access to more current information on databases that contain school library programmes, schools should organize seminars and programs to enlighten students on the relevant and the use of library resources.