Library Resources and Research Skills of Students in Tertiary Institutions in Borno State

This study investigates the relationship between library resource availability and the research skills of students in tertiary institutions in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Libraries serve as the intellectual infrastructure of academic institutions, providing students with access to scholarly literature, research databases, and information literacy programmes essential for academic inquiry. In Borno State, the aftermath of prolonged insurgency has severely depleted university library resources, hampering the development of research competencies among students. The study employs a descriptive survey design and samples 280 undergraduate students and librarians from two tertiary institutions in Maiduguri. A validated questionnaire and a library resource inventory checklist form the data collection instruments, and analysis employs mean scores and regression analysis. The study is anchored on the Information Literacy Framework of the American Library Association. Findings confirm that students with regular access to well-stocked, staffed, and digitally equipped libraries demonstrate significantly stronger research and information literacy skills than peers in under-resourced library environments. Post-conflict reconstruction of library infrastructure is identified as both an educational and symbolic priority. The study recommends emergency capital investment in library rebuilding in Borno State tertiary institutions, with particular attention to digital resource acquisition and information literacy training for students. Keywords: library resources, research skills, information literacy, tertiary education, Borno State.