AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES AS DETERMINANTS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN ABUJA METROPOLIS FOR SUSTANAIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research was undertaken to determine if the availability and effective utilization of school libraries significantly influence academic achievement of the students. Five questions were formulated to guide the research. Two schools were chosen purposefully from four out of the six area councils in Abuja metropolis, making a total of eight schools , out of which four have a standard library while the other four are wvithout a school library.The population of 13,461 from which a sample size of 473 was derived by the application of Bill Golden statistically formula.The survey and ex post factor design was adopted and a selfdeveloped questionnaire [AUSLDAASQI was used to elicit information from the respondents. Secondary data WAEC results of the sampled schools with and without school libraries was collated and analyzed. Frequency table and percentages were used to analyze the biodata of the respondents, mean value was used to answer the research questions.For achievement test,differential statistics was used to analyze the scores,average percentage above 50% was accepted while those below 50% was rejected. Findings reveal that there is significant influence of utilization of school library on academic achievement of the students in the arts (English Language) and the social sciences (economic) While sciences (mathematics) was not significantly influenced.. It therefore recommends the establishment of school library with up-to-date information resources and recruitment of qualified librarians to manage the libraries as a criterion for the approval of any secondary school programme in FCT Abuja and Nigeria amongother recommendations