Perceived quality and extent of utilization of library resources and services among college students of University of the Philippines Visayas, Miag-ao Campus

Abstract

In today’s trend of diminishing usage of libraries, particularly in academic institutions, poor quality of library collections and services might not only be the factors associated with this. The emerging acceleration in use of the internet and its convenience and all-around accessibility among others could be a predominant cause for this trend. But before any valid conclusions could be made, we ought to ask; “Are our academic libraries presently guaranteed to have a level of quality collections and services at least by clientele perceptions?”

The UP Visayas, Miag-ao Campus has had good academic output as may have been influenced by its library, but does it really have the quality resources as perceived by students and with an extent of utilization despite other alternative information resources?

This study therefore aimed to describe the perceived quality of library resources and services by the students, the extent of utilization of library resources and services of the students, to determine if there is a relationship between student’s profile and Both male and female respondents perceived the library resources as good to very good when it comes to quality. The college where the respondents belonged is not significantly associated with their perception on quality of library resources. Perception of students according to year level is significantly related on the following resources: general reference books, subject reference resources, Filipiniana collections and reserve books.

Only on the Filipiniana resources was gender significantly related to the extent of utilization. Affiliation to either of the three different colleges of the respondents had no relationship on the extent of utilization of library resources. As to the year levels of the students, only on theses and dissertations was there a significant relationship with the extent of utilization of library resources.

Extent of utilization of library services was not significantly related to the gender college and year level of students at which they belonged.

Perception of students on the quality of general reference, Filipiniana, reserve books, serials collections, theses and dissertations, and e-resources was significantly related to their extent of utilization of library resources. Perceptions on the quality of almost all of the library services were significantly related to the extent of utilization, except perceptions on quality of media services.

UP students are resourceful and still continue to explore and discover more information not only within UP campus but also from other institutions where they can get other information needed. Out of the 163 respondents who utilized other materials outside the University Library, 123 or an equivalent to 75 percent of them expressed that they want more resources that are available in the UP Visayas main library, 112 students or (68.7 percent) they prefer to use internet, 81 students or (49.7 percent) used other resources because the resources that they were looking for were not typically found in UP Visayas main library.