EFFECTS OF FEE-BASED SERVICES ON LIBRARY SERVICE DELIVERY IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the effects of fee-based services on library service delivery in federal university libraries using the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Library, Umudike as a focal point. The study was guided by four (4) research objectives. It adopted a survey design with a population of fifty-three (53) library staff from the university. The complete census sampling technique was adopted which implies the use of the entire population as respondents. A checklist and researchermade questionnaire were the instruments for data collection. Hence, fifty-three copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents. All the copies administered were retrieved giving a response rate of 100%. Data was analyzed using simple percentages, frequency counts, and mean scores, as well as presented in frequency tables. Furthermore, a criterion mean of 2.50 was adopted to ascertain the level of agreement or disagreement of item statements. The study found out that the library studied adopted few fee-based services, more of free-based services, and total absence of some of the library services investigated. The study revealed that although only few fee-based library services were adopted, it has numerous effects on the federal university library such as generation of additional income, increases library services, goodwill and patronage among other numerous positive effects. The study also found out challenges of poor planning/pricing policy, absence of quality services, and gross resistance of the concept of fee-based services as among the challenges facing feebased library services and its effectiveness in federal university libraries. Based on the findings, the study recommends efforts to make the prices for fee-based services affordable, strong relationship between the library and its users, provision of relevant library services and introduction of digitized services as means to further strengthen fee-based library services and make it effective in federal university libraries, in order to engender the desired delivery.