INFORMATION NEEDS AND SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF LECTURERS IN BAYELSA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, YENAGOA

Abstract

This study focused on the information needs and seeking behaviour of lecturers in Bayelsa
Medical University. Four specific objectives and four research questions guided the study.
Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study
comprises of 28 lecturers registered with the University Library’ as users. Enumeration
sampling technique was employed to select the entire population as sample. The researcher
developed a questionnaire titled “Information Needs and Seeking Behaviour of Lecturers
Questionnaire” (INSBLQ) to collect data for the study and the response format the data was
analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count and simple percentage. The
findings of the study were: the information needs of lecturers of the Bayelsa Medical
University are educational, research and personal information; the information sources of
lecturers of the Bayelsa Medical University are both print and non-print and electronic
information resources; the extent of lecturers' use of the Bayelsa Medical University are both
regular and occasional: Inadequate sources of information in the teaching areas of the
lecturers were the challenges lecturers encounter in utilizing the library resources in Bayelsa
Medical University. Based on the findings, the study recommended that: the university library
should prioritize expanding its digital collection, focusing on e-journals, databases, and
online textbooks pertinent to medical sciences and related fields; and fostering a culture of
information sharing and collaboration among lecturers is recommended.
Keywords: Information needs, Seeking behaviour, Lecturers, Library, Bayelsa Medical
University