Factors affecting the use of Uganda Management Institute Library Services

Abstract

The study was conducted to find out factors that affect students to use of the Uganda Management Institute Library Services. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine whether students reading culture affects the use of UMI library services, to establish whether the library environment affects the use of library services and to examine the role of library rules and regulations on the use of UMI library services. A sample of 329 respondents was selected for the study using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The study sample targeted 10 Library Staff and 319 Students. The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and documentary analysis. The data was analyzed quantitatively using regression analysis and qualitatively using thematic and content analysis. The findings of the study revealed that students’ reading culture determines the use of UMI library services. In addition, the library rules and regulations had a major role it played towards use of the library services. Factors like opening and closing hours, availability of up- to-date of reading materials, and knowledge of the library staff help the students to use library services. However, results indicated that the library environment at UMI affected the use of UMI library services. It was also evident that the PhD students when compared with other student categories generally had a poor attitude on the library services. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that the Institute innovates strategies that will encourage more than 50% of students to use the library, prioritize interests of PhD students as well as assess student information needs to cover the different information formats.