Abstract

Author(s): Uwaebuka Wisdom Madu*

The study investigated the influence quality assurance on library patronage among academic staff of federal polytechnics in South-West, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was employed for this study. The population comprised all the academic staff on full-time appointment totaling 2,393. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 957 which formed the sample size of the study. Data collection was done using a questionnaire adapted from LibQUAL instrument. A total of 871 valid copies of questionnaire which were retrieved from 957 copies administered to the respondents representing 91% response rate, were used for data analysis. Data on research questions were analysed using descriptive statistics while hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance using regression analysis.

Findings revealed low level of library patronage among academic staff (x?=2.48,δ=0.811); moderate positive perception of quality assurance among academic staff (x?=2.84,δ=0.751); and significant positive influence of quality assurance on library patronage (R²=0.371; calculated value =0.000>α-level=0.05). The study concluded that effective and efficient engagement of quality assurance mechanisms by polytechnic library managers, personnel and indeed all other relevant stakeholders has the potentials of improving the declining level of library patronage among polytechnic faculty members and indeed all other categories of polytechnic library patrons. Therefore, polytechnic library managers and staff should take deliberate steps to improve the quality of their services delivery particularly on the areas of information resources adequacy and organisation.