School Library Roles in Early Reading Development of Primary School Pupils in Anambra West LGA., Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the early reading impediments on the use of library resources among primary school pupils in Anambra West Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. The study adopts the descriptive survey research design. Sample size was 269 pupils of the selected schools. Instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Data collected was analysed with mean (X) scores and presented in tables. The findings of the study revealed that not starting school early enough causes early reading impediment, lack of school libraries with quality resources among others have been identified as causes of early reading impediment. Based on the findings, the implications of the study were pointed out, among them is that a child should be sent to school being the right time, at a stage in the child’s life when he or she can easily pick what is being taught in the school, if school libraries are established in the primary schools in Anambra West L.G.A, and properly equipped with the required library resources. It was recommended that the child should be sent to school early enough and not when the child is nine or ten years old. It also revealed that library materials should be provided and teachers should make out time to teach the children how to use the library from their early stages in life.