User Education Programmes and the Use of the Library in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University: the State of the Art

Abstract

This paper sets to emphasize the user education programme and the use of thelibrary and study skills as obtainable in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OjukwuUniversity and the strong need to introduce comprehensive and systematiclibrary instruction and user education programmes in Nigerian universities withspecial reference to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. The natureand challenges of user education in Chukwuemeka Ojukwu University arecarefully highlighted. The article outlines the various roles that should be playedby the university administrations, teaching staff, and the library professionals inmaking user education programmes and library instructions effective andefficient. The paper equally attempts to establish what impact a user educationprogramme or use of library and study skills should have on student academiclife and even after university education. This paper also advocates ways ofmaking user education or use of library and study skills being taught under theGeneral Studies Unit compulsory and examinable, and credit earning, toencourage students’ active participation and seriousness. The paper equallyadvocates the urgent need for active support and encouragement from thefaculty members and teaching staff. Finally, the paper suggests the strategies forimproving upon the teaching of user education in Nigerian Universities withspecial attention/reference to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.