Availability and Use of Library Resources for Academic Research Among Secondary School Students in Ebonyi State

This study assesses the availability and utilisation of library resources for academic research among secondary school students in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria. School libraries are essential academic support infrastructure that foster information literacy, independent research skills, and reading culture. In Ebonyi State, many public secondary schools lack functional libraries, and where available, collections are often outdated, incomplete, or inaccessible due to poor management. A descriptive survey design was employed, with data collected from 350 Senior Secondary School students and 30 teacher-librarians across 15 schools in Abakaliki, Afikpo, and Onueke educational zones. Library availability was assessed through an infrastructure checklist, while usage patterns were documented through borrowing records and student self-report questionnaires. The relationship between library usage frequency and academic research quality was assessed using project submission scores rated by subject teachers. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were applied. Results reveal that only 40 percent of sampled schools have functional libraries with current collections. Among schools with functional libraries, students who used library resources weekly demonstrated significantly higher research project scores than infrequent users. The study concludes that library resource availability and usage are significantly associated with academic research quality among secondary students in Ebonyi State. It recommends that the Ebonyi State Secondary Education Board prioritise library establishment and stocking in all public secondary schools and introduce a structured library period into the school timetable to build regular research skill habits among students.

Keywords: library resources, academic research, secondary school, Ebonyi State, information literacy.