Collection Development Policy Reflections of Information Needs of Library Users: A Case of University Libraries in Akwa Ibom State

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of three selected variables of collection development policy (community analysis, budgetary allocation and collection evaluation) on users’ information needs university libraries in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design. The sample of the study was 38 academic librarians drawn for two public university libraries in Akwa Ibom StateUniversity of Uyo and Akwa Ibom State University. A researcher-developed questionnaire–Collection Development Policy and Information Needs Questionnaire’ (CDPINQ) was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using Mean and Standard Deviation to answer the research questions and Chi-square (X2) to test the hypotheses. The findings from data analysis showed that the users’ information needs in university libraries in Akwa Ibom State have significant influence on collection development policy variables of community analysis, budgetary allocation and collection evaluation. Consequently, it is recommended among others that university libraries should incorporate user surveys in collection development in order to ensure that the students information needs are adequately met.