A Quantitative Assessment of Information Resource Availability, Service Accessibility, and User Satisfaction in University Libraries

Abstract

University libraries are important in facilitating academic learning, research and dissemination of knowledge. The paper examines the availability, accessibility, and use of information resources and services available in university libraries using a quantitative research methodology. A questionnaire with a 5-point Likert was used to obtain the data among 150 respondents (students, research scholars, and faculty members). The results further show that print material, including textbooks and reference books, is still very available and extensively used, which demonstrates that it is still very relevant in scholarly practices. E-books and E-journals are examples of digital resources, which show a moderate level of accessibility, which underlines the continued transition to the digital learning environment. The library services analysis indicates that the library has the most effective services which include the traditional services such as the circulation and reference services, but the digital services and remote access services need improvement. Statistical analysis indicates that the significant positive correlation exists between availability of resources and their usage, and service effectiveness has a strong impact on the user satisfaction. Also, the variations in the use of resources within the groups of users highlight the value of adjusting the services to address the different academic needs. The research notes the need to enhance the digital infrastructure, increase user services, and create awareness in order to optimize the business in the library. The findings offer an insight to policy makers, library administrators as well as academic institutions which aim at improving service efficiency and user satisfaction.