Ways of Improving the Use of School Library by Secondary School Students
Chapter One
Research Objectives
This study was basically expected to achieve the following objectives:
To identify ways of improving the use of library by students
To assess whether the improved use of library by students of St Paul’s international secondary school enhanced their performance in reading comprehension.
To determine whether non use of the library by students of St Paul’s international secondary school affected their reading comprehension skills.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERAURE
Introduction
This chapter focused attention on the pool of scholarly contributions, works and studies that the concerns of this study seek to address will reflect upon. Specifically, an attempt has been made to investigate how and whether or otherwise, the use of secondary school libraries of two sister schools (St Pual’s international secondary school) facilitated amproved reading comprehension performance of students. In this regard, the chapter reviewed the importance of secondary school library to teaching reading comprehension; the frequency of visits to the library and performance in reading comprehension; the application of reading comprehension skills and reading comprehension performance; the relevance of extensive reading to reading comprehension performance; the theoretical framework; the gains from review of related literatures; and finally a summary of the chapter.
The Importance of Library to Teaching Reading Comprehension
A library generally refers to a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing, for the purpose of academic research and development. This may be a physical building, a room or a virtual space. A library‟s collection may include books, periodicals, newspapers manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, video tapes, DVDs, Discs, e-books, databases, etc. Given the nature of libraries and the various functions they perform, are categorized into different types. These include private library, public library, school library, mobile library, academic library, etc.(Buks, 1990).
The Junior class Library, which is one of the libraries selected in respect of this study, has the following sections:- (Isa Kaita Library Complex Handbook, Senior class 1999)
Science and Technology Section
Serials Section
Humanities Section
Newspaper Section
Reserve Section
Internet Services Section
Cataloguing Section
Reference Materials Section
Media Section
Senior class has the following sections in the library:
Circulation Section (Customer services)
Serials Section
Reference Section
Reserve Section
Cataloging/Classification Section
E-library
Business Centre
A library remains the best place where a student can enjoy a calm and quiet reading. Yet, not everyone understands or appreciates the value amportance of libraries. Fosudo (2010) opined that the acquisition of reading skills has a beneficial effect on all school subjects, while poor reading skills can make a student to develop a poor attitude toward studies. This view supports the importance of reading from the library which offers students the opportunity and best environment for reading that can aid comprehension in other subjects. This view is related by Todd (2002 .12) when he posits that:
In schools with good libraries and full time librarians, students perform better at higher levels in reading comprehension, an knowledge and use of reference materials than students in schools with minimal or no library service.
The above argument further supports the fundamental necessity for good, well – equipped and well – staffed and efficient library in any good educational school. No matter the status of a school, a good library remains essential to the accomplishment of its educational objectives.
In the realization of these objectives, organizations such as the National Library of Nigeria and the Nigerian Book Development Council have championed the promotion of effective reading habits in Nigeria (Dike 1999). According to the same report, the National Library of Nigeria has been sponsoring a readership promotion campaign in the country based on the following objectives:
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter brings to fore the procedure employed in carrying out the research. It gives insight into the design of the research, the population, the sampled population, the instruments used, the systematic procedure of collecting data, how the data collected was analyzed and then the summary of the chapter
The Research Design
This study adopts survey design. This is because it provides the opportunity for researchers to get a first hand observation of variables in a study. According to this view, it also helps in the process of comparisons, evaluation of existing condition and collection of factual information (Hassan, 1995).
Population of the Study
There are about one thousand, three hundred and fifty-two (1,352) students in St Pual’s international secondary school based on current available records.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter centres on the presentation and analysis of data collected from the reading profile register, questionnaires and examinations score sheets of students. The need to analyse the data was drawn from the assumption on, whether student use of library enhances their performances in reading comprehension tests.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary
This study focuses on “Assessment of use of library and performance in reading comprehension in two secondary school in Owerri”. It is based on protracted argument as to whether students who use the library improvedly or occasionally or never use it, would perform better in reading comprehension or not. The need for the study became urgent due to mass failure of students in reading comprehension component. Based on these, three research questions were raised to assess the students‟ performance.
These are:
Does the improved use of library by students of St Pual’s international secondary school enhance their performances in reading comprehension?
Does the occasional visit to library of students of St Pual’s international secondary school affect their performances in reading comprehension?
Do students of St Pual’s international secondary school that never visit the library perform well in reading comprehension?
Two research instruments were used to gather data: Reading examination and questionnaire. Three null hypotheses were raised and tested. Below are the general findings from this thorough investigation.
Improved use of library enhances reading comprehension skills.
Occasional use of library by students is not a healthy habit of developing reading comprehension skills. iii. When students do not use library in study, it greatly paralyzed their reading comprehension skills.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of this study, has been observed that students that cultivated the culture of free extensive reading from the secondary school library equipped themselves with a broad background knowledge and experience that facilitated higher level of performance in reading comprehension. If only teachers could encourage and motivate students to read more and more, varied reading materials from the secondary school library, they would develop a richer and broader background knowledge and experience. This has a greater advantage of developing their schemata which is a veritable launching pad in the acquisition of new knowledge especially in the area of reading comprehension for maximum output.
However, a new negative trend, perhaps a time-bomb, is the dwindling significance of the value of the secondary school library. Most students see the secondary school library as only a convenient place to read their notebooks at the approach of examinations.
This trend must be reversed, if student are to derive maximum benefit from the rich treasures which a well-equipped modern library can offer.
Recommendations
The study has so far shown that free extensive reading from the secondary school library greatly equips students with a rich and broad background knowledge that can facilitate reading comprehension performance. Based on the findings of the study therefore, the study recommends the following.
Teachers should encourage and motivate students to develop a sustained interest in the use of their secondary school libraries.
Teachers should give specific assignments that can necessitate students to read varied reading of materials from the library other than their areas of specialization. This will help to develop their schemata.
The literature component of the use of English syllabus in the target secondary school should be retained. This is because some of the teachers in the school have called for its being deleted on ground that literature is irrelevant to science students. It is the assumption of this study that NBTE (1999) that drafted the syllabus aimed at developing the student schemata by the inclusion of literature in English component which was neglected by most teachers in the schools as irrelevant.
The secondary school libraries should be equipped with current works and facilities to attract more users.
The library services and attitude of the library staff should all be improved to attract more users.
There should be a provision of modern and comfortable seats in the secondary school libraries, especially in Senior class which is suggested here, in this regard.
There is a campaign effort and orientation of students toward the value and use of the secondary school libraries.
Suggestions for further Studies
The following suggestions can be considered for further study in the related field of this study.
The effect of the use of library on the reading comprehension performance of lower primary school students.
Relationship between the use of school library an internet facilities in tertiary schools.
Effect of use of library and the writing ability of students at the secondary school level.
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