A comparative assessment of disruptive behaviors among users in selected university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study engaged the use of a survey research method. The target population for the study consists of 150 staff from various divisions in three selected university libraries in Kwara State. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for this study. This means only staff with experiences on the various accounts of disruptive behaviours that users exhibit in their libraries were considered most suitable to participate in the study. They are the staff in readers’ services, serials, reference units, and electronic library responsible for the caring, security, and custody of library materials and facilities. A structured questionnaire was used to generate information. Before the instrument was used, it went through face validation and reliability test. Using the Cronbach alpha method, the result of the reliability test yielded r=.074. A total of 62 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to selected staff, out of which 57(92%) were completed and retrieved representing a high return rate. The data generated were analyzed with SPSS, using tables, simple percentages, and frequency count. All of the values were calculated such that they enhance a better understanding of the proportions in terms of particular responses. The findings revealed that the most practiced disruptive behaviours exhibited by users in the libraries were incessant noisemaking, theft and mutilation of library materials as well as struggle, fight, and misuse of library space. The perceived factors influencing users into exhibiting disruptive behaviours among others revealed a lot of security breaches as a result of non-installation of CCTV around and in the library for effective surveillances and negligence on the part of both the security personnel and library staff in observing constant supervision. Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that disruptive behaviours have been identified to have negative impact on the orderly use of the selected university libraries as learning environments. One of the recommendations is that, instead of relying only on manual method of monitoring, the use of electronic surveillance camera also known as closed-circuit television (CCTV) system for close surveillance within and outside the library premises should be considered to effectively monitor the users as a way of being proactive in disruptive behaviours containment.