Perceptions and Use of Library Resources Among Students in Selected Junior High Schools in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Library use in Ghana is found to be poor, especially among junior high students. The limited use of the library mostly stems from the fact that students’ decisions to utilize the library or not are largely influenced by their opinions of libraries, in addition to the availability of library resources. Perceptions people hold are very powerful because they affect how they relate to and use particular objects. However, research examining junior high school students’ perceptions about libraries in Ghana is limited. The current study explores perceptions and use of library resources among 150 students selected from 2 junior high schools in Accra. Findings showed that the students use the school library very frequently, with the majority indicating usage during break time. Additionally, visiting the school library to read remains the dominant purpose of using school libraries among the students. They also reported a high level of satisfaction and a positive perception of the staff in their school library.