Effectiveness of Library Orientation Programmes in Promoting Library Use Among New Students of Obafemi Awolowo University

This study assessed the effectiveness of library orientation programmes in promoting library use among newly admitted students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in Osun State, South West Nigeria. Library orientation is a foundational strategy for introducing students to library resources and services, and its quality has direct implications for subsequent patterns of library use. The study used a descriptive survey design, with a questionnaire administered to 310 first-year students who had attended orientation in the current academic session. Findings indicated that most students considered the orientation informative but that the single-session format was insufficient for building long-term library use habits. Students also reported poor retention of information presented during orientation and indicated a preference for interactive, hands-on formats over lecture-style presentations. The study recommended the adoption of multi-session orientation models incorporating practical demonstrations, the development of digital orientation guides accessible on mobile devices, and periodic refresher sessions throughout the first year. Keywords: library orientation, library use, Obafemi Awolowo University, academic library, student engagement.