REVITALIZING CIRCULATION POLICIES TOWARDS EFFECTIVE LENDING SERVICES TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY, MINNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the revitalization of circulation policies towards effective lending services to undergraduate students in Federal University of Technology Library, Minna, Nigeria.Three research questions guided the study in line with research objectives. The study adopted descriptive survey research design.The study population comprised 21,982 undergraduate students with sample size of 384. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation with criterion mean of 2.50 benchmark. Findings revealed that effect of circulation policies towards lending services to undergraduate students was high, satisfaction derived in borrowing library materials were low and inadequate computer system used for charging and discharging of library materials and inadequate competent and professional staff to handle charging and discharging of materials were the highest factors that hindered lending services to undergraduate students. The study concluded that the circulation policies need to be review for effective and efficient lending services and by extension better service delivery. The study recommended that the management of Federal University of Technology Library, Minna should review circulation policies especially the policy on the number of books allowed to be borrowed by the library users at a time, the policy on loan duration of the library materials and the policy on low fine charges attached to late returning of library materials and among others as this would help to improve lending services in the library studied.