Utilisation of Online Catalogue Services by Students of Federal University of Technology Owerri

This study assessed the utilisation of online catalogue services by undergraduate students at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, in Imo State, South East Nigeria. Online catalogues are the primary discovery tool through which library users identify and locate materials in academic library collections, and their effective use is directly linked to the quality of student research experiences. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected from 290 students across six schools using a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that fewer than half of the respondents used the online catalogue regularly, with the majority relying instead on direct shelf-browsing or recommendations from peers and lecturers. Common difficulties included slow system response, unfamiliarity with search operators, and lack of clear guidance on navigating the catalogue interface. The study recommended that the library mount regular online catalogue orientation workshops, post instructional videos on the university website, and upgrade server capacity to improve catalogue response speed. Keywords: online catalogue, utilisation, undergraduate students, Federal University of Technology Owerri, library services.