ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF SERIAL PUBLICATIONS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT SA’ADU ZUNGUR UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, BAUCHI.

ABSTRACT This study examined assessing the level of awareness and utilization of serial publications among undergraduate students at Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi. The problem that necessitated this study was the low level of use of academic journals, magazines, and newspapers despite their availability in the university library. Many students either lacked awareness of these resources, faced organizational and access challenges, or relied on non-academic internet sources, which weakened their research capacity. The main objective of the study was to assess students’ awareness, evaluate the extent of utilization, identify challenges, and suggest practical measures to improve engagement with serial publications. The study adopted a survey research design. A sample of 381 respondents was drawn from a population of 8,130 undergraduate students using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, supported by secondary sources such as textbooks, journals, and reports. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed that students at Sa’adu Zungur University demonstrate a relatively high level of awareness and frequently use serial publications for assignments, research projects, and exam preparation. The study further found that most resources are relevant and easy to access due to organized cataloguing systems. However, challenges such as insufficient training, occasional disorganization, and gaps in digital access persist. The study recommended stronger awareness campaigns, collaboration between faculty and librarians, expanded digital access, regular workshops on serial use, and improved funding for subscriptions. These measures would enhance students’ research skills, deepen their engagement with scholarly resources, and foster a more research-oriented academic environment