1.

Introduction
University libraries are referred to as the hub or heart of universities. Consequently, there
is a positive correlation between the quality of services in university libraries and their
present institutions. University libraries are the academic units of universities supporting
the threefold mandate of universities in fostering teaching, encouraging research and
community service. No wonder undergraduate students are introduced to their libraries
early in their educational career through the twin processes of library orientation and
credit earning user education programmes [3].
University libraries, also known as academic libraries, exist to enhance the acquisition of
knowledge by their clientele through the provision of reading materials (book and non-
book) for the purposes of teaching, learning and research. University libraries today have
shifted from the old notion of being the custodian of books to that of being the
disseminator of information. The library today is a busy information centre where
information is packaged in various formats to the advantage of the users. In other words,
the library within the university today is user-centered as a result of provision of
Information Communication and Technology (ICT) facilities in Nigeria [7].
To ensure that the library provides an environment suitable for the teaching-learning
process, library etiquette is a sine qua non in university libraries. This encompasses
among others, various rules and regulations to guide the undergraduates in their use of
the library and also to effectively use of the library resources and its services by them.
Therefore, it is the librarys responsibility to ensure that the use of its information
sources, resources and services are maximized to benefit its users, hence the necessity
for user education programmes.
[8] asserted that Nigerian university libraries ought to take user education programme
very serious as a means of stimulating the use of library information products and
services. In view of the fact that the library is one of the university educational resources
and it is a sophisticated information system, undergraduate students can derive
maximum benefit from it only if they are taught how to sharpen their information
handling skills.
Information literacy instruction, having emerged in the 1990s from more traditional
bibliographic instruction or user education activities, has become a core service in
academic libraries, and an increasingly important focus in public and other types of
libraries. According to [1] the most common skills or activities in information literacy
instruction are:
Library tour
Understanding of subject headings and classification
Searching both manual/computerized catalogues
CD-ROM databases
Using microform equipment
Assignments
The library rules and regulations are to ensure that all who use the library obtain maximum
benefit from its facilities and it also provides legitimacy for punishing the offenders.
Undergraduate students must comply with the rules and regulations of the university
libraries and library staff instructions. They must subject themselves to the procedures
necessary for the safety of the university libraries collections and properties.
1.1. Objective of the Study
find out whether the undergraduate students are aware of the rules and regulations in
place in their respective university libraries;
examine the categories of rules and regulations in relation to their severity as perceived
by undergraduate students in the university libraries;
 determine the compliance level of the undergraduate students with the existing rules
and regulations in the university libraries;
ascertain the relationship between the level of usage of the university libraries by the
undergraduates and the existing rules and regulations;
identify the categories of sanctions and penalties given out to the defaulters of these rules
and regulations in university libraries.
1.2. Research Questions
Are the undergraduate students are aware of the rules and regulations in place in their
respective university libraries?
What are the categories of rules and regulations put in place in the university libraries
under study?
What is the compliance level of the undergraduate students to the existing rules and
regulations in the university libraries?
What is the relationship between the level of usage of the university libraries by the
undergraduates and the available rules and regulations?
What are the categories of sanctions and penalties given out to the defaulters of these
rules and regulations in university libraries?
2. Literature Review
Studies have been carried out by several authors on use/non-use of library and its
resources by undergraduate students of higher institutions. Many of such studies are
documented in library science literature while some are not published (Onwubiko, 2005).
It is highly paramount that students use the library to keep abreast of facts and have rich
literatures for their research but it seems most of them are inept in the use of library. [4]
reiterated that:
There are many myths associated with undergraduate use of academic libraries. The
reality is that many come to university unprepared and unequipped to handle the
demands of their course work, primarily because they have no experience with large
research libraries, do not understand how libraries work, and have not acquired the skills
needed to do meaningful research. This is not the fault of the students, but is indicative
of the problems inherent in a public school system gone astray.
[4] in his exposition on attitude of undergraduate to use of library affirmed that using
their university's library for research purposes overwhelms many of these seemingly
sophisticated undergraduates. Often they will use the library as a meeting place, to talk
to classmates about upcoming exams, or as a quiet place to take a mid-afternoon nap,
but when it comes to actually using library resources to reach an end, anxiety is often the
result.
It is therefore cardinal to have a guide or sets of rules to control students in the use of
the library. [5] observes that libraries should formulate policies (including rules and
regulations) to ensure effective and efficient use of their information resources. Library
policy statements are the regulations, principles, and strategies that help realize the
needs of libraries. Since policies are guides to decision-making, they ensure that
decisions of the organization or institution are kept in line with their philosophies [2].
[6] suggests a need for library rules and regulations on the behavior of library patrons.
Reactions to situations such as theft or mutilation of materials, or disruptive behavior,
should not be left to an individual staff member's judgment.
3. Methodology
The study employed survey method using structured questionnaire for collection of primary
data for this study. The survey research design is one in which a group of people or items is
studied by collecting and analyzing data from only a few people or items considered to be
representative of the entire group. The target population consist the undergraduate
students Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and LadokeAkintola University, Ogbomoso
libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. The study will be limited to only the registered
undergraduate library users in the university libraries. A total of one hundred and fifty
respondents was selected for the study from the selected university libraries using a simple
random sampling technique. This implies that a total of 75 respondents were drawn from
each of the university libraries. This method gives every respondent equal opportunity of
being selected. The data collected for this study was analyzed using simple descriptive
statistics which consists of tables, frequencies and percentages.
3.1. Data Analysis and Interpretation
One hundred and fifty (150) copies of questionnaire were administered to undergraduate
students in two selected universities, that is, LadokeAkintola University and Obafemi
Awolowo University, and only eighty-two (82) copies were duly completed and returned.
This represents a 54.7% response rate.
3.2. Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
From Table 1, it could be noted that 23(28%) of the respondents from both LAUTECH and
OAU were between 18 and 20 years of age, 35(42.7%) were between 21 and 23 years of
age, while 19(23.2%) fell within the ages of 24 and 26 and 5(6.1%) were between 27
and 30 years of age.

Table 1. Age Distribution of the Respondents

Table 2 showed the gender distribution of the respondents. About 49(59.8%) of the
respondents were males while 33(40.2%) were females. This result reveals that there
were more female respondents than male respondents in the selected university libraries
of LAUTECH and OAU.

Table 2. Sex Distribution of the Respondents

Table 3 below contained the level of study of the respondents. It was however revealed
that 16(19.5%) of the respondents were in their first year, i.e., 100L, 12(14.6%) were in
200 Level, 20(24.4%) in 300Level, 29(35.4%) were in their final year, 2(2.4%) were in
500 Level and 3(3.7%) were in 600 Level.
 Table 3. Level of Study of the Respondents

3.3. Research Questions

Research Question 1: Are the undergraduate students aware of the rules and
regulations in place in their respective university libraries?
Table 4 revealed 81(98.8%) of the respondents were aware of the library rules and
regulations as a result of their library use.

Table 4. Awareness of Library Rules and Regulations

In Table 5 below. About 57(69.5%) of the respondents got to know about library rules
and regulations through library orientation, 6(7.3%) knew through a friend, 31(37.8%)
knew as a result of regular visit to the library, while 11(13.4%) knew through the library
staff. Apart from this, some undergraduate respondents stated that they got to know
about the rules and regulations through library course and notices pasted around the
library.

Table 5. Knowledge about Library Rules and Regulations

Research Question 2: What are the categories of rules and regulations in
relation to their severity as perceived by the undergraduate students in the
university libraries?
Table 6 below revealed that most respondents 81(98.8%) agreed that they were aware
that users must be registered in the library, 74(90.2%) agreed that they knew about
maintenance of silence in the library, 46(56.1) respondents also indicated that they were
aware that group discussion is not allowed in the library, while 51(62.2%) agreed that
use of mobile phones is not allowed in the library. In addition, 33(40.2%) were aware of
non reservation of seats for friends, 77(93.9%) agreed that food items are not always
allowed in the library, 37(45.1%) knew that users should not fight with other library
users, few respondents 28(34.1%) knew that consulted books are to be left on the
reading table, while 49(59.8%) were aware of proper handling of library materials. Other
rules in the library include use of library cards to gain entrance into the library which was
agreed by 79(96.3%) respondents, bags not allowed in the reading area which was also
agreed upon by 68(82.9%) and only 19(23.2%) respondents were aware of payment of
overdue fines in the library.

Table 6. Categories of Rules and Regulations in the Library

Research Question 3: What is the compliance level of the undergraduate

students to the existing rules and regulations in the university libraries?
Table 7 below affirmed that all the 82(100%) respondents indicated that they observe
and comply with the library rules and regulations.

Table 7. Compliance with Library Rules and Regulations

Table 8 below. Majority 48(58.3%) of the respondents indicated that they comply with
the library rules and regulations very often, 27(32.9%) always comply with the library
rules and regulations while only 7(8.5%) respondents sometimes comply with the library
rules and regulations. This therefore implies that the undergraduate students most of the
time observe and comply with the library rules and regulations to a reasonable extent.

Table 8. Level of Compliance with Library Rules and Regulations

Research Question 4: What is the relationship between the level of usage of the
university libraries by the undergraduates and the available rules and
regulations?
Table 9 shows that Majority of the respondents 76(92.7%) advocated that it helps to
maintain law and order in the library, 51(62.2%) respondents agreed that it ensures
optimum exploitation of the library resources and services, 43(52.4%) affirmed that it
allows effective use of the library while 47(57.3%) agreed that it ensures proper handling
of library materials. Moreover, almost half of the respondents agreed that it instills
discipline in the library users, 49(60%) reiterated that it limits access to some library
materials and services, while only 27(32.9%) supported that prevents users from
effective use of the library and another 38(46.3%) said it reduces stress on the part of
the library staff.

Table 9. Effects of Rules and Regulations on Library Use

Research Question 5: What are the categories of sanctions and penalties given
out to the defaulters of these rules and regulations in university libraries?
Table 10 below shows that 82(100%) of the respondents agreed with use of identification
card by students, 81(98.8%) also agreed with submission of bags in the cloak room.
Moving round the library to caution users was agreed upon by 65(79.3%) of the
 respondents, checking the users before they go out of the library was agreed by
79(96.3%) respondents and being friendly with library users to meet their needs with
66(80.5%) response rate. 51(62.2%) respondents indicated directing/guiding users on
proper use of the library materials, while 47(57.3%) indicated being available at all times
to attend to users needs.

Table 10. Enforcement of Library Rules and Regulations

Furthermore, table 11 shows that majority of the respondents surveyed were not in total
support of some sanctions and penalties available for defaulters in the university libraries.
This is evident in their responses in which only 31(37.8%) indicated sanction from using
the library resources and facilities, 25(30.5%) agreed with withdrawal of users borrowing
rights, 40(48.9%) indicated suspension from the library, while 42(51.2%) indicated
seizure of library ticket. Most of the respondents 78(95.1%) were in strong agreement
with payment of fines, as well as warning and cautioning defaulters with 82(100%)
responses. While 45(54.9%) supported writing apology letter, only 17(20.7%) agreed
with reporting affected user to the higher authority for disciplinary action.

Table 11. Categories of Sanctions and Penalties

4. Summary of Findings
 This study investigated the awareness and compliance to library rules and regulations by
the undergraduate students in LAUTECH and OAU libraries both in south-western Nigeria.
The findings of the study are hereby summarized below:
It was discovered from the study that virtually all the undergraduate students in
LAUTECH and OAU use the university libraries on different occasions; some use it
frequently, some very often, some during exams and when the need arises.
Consequently, they are all aware of the available rules and regulations in the university
libraries.
The findings of this study also revealed that there were various categories of library rules
and regulations in the LAUTECH and OAU libraries. It was also established from the study
that all the undergraduate students in LAUTECH and OAU observe and comply with the rules
and regulations available in the university libraries very often. However, it was gathered
that the use of the library by the undergraduate students is impacted a lot by the available
rules and regulations in the libraries. While some believe the rules and regulations positively
related to their level of usage of the university libraries, others believe it negatively affects
their use of the library.
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
It was established that the undergraduate students are aware of the rules and regulations
in the university libraries and they often observe and comply with the rules and
regulations. No doubt, the compliance to the rules and regulations will ensure sanity in
the library and guarantee effective utilization of the library resources and services.
Furthermore, there seem to be a significant relationship of the rules and regulations in
the university libraries and the level of usage of the libraries by the undergraduate
students. It was also established that appropriate sanctions and penalties are usually
given to the defaulters of rules and regulations in the university libraries. These include
payment of overdue fines, cautioning of library users and many more.
Based on the findings of this study in the preceding section of this project, the following
recommendations were made:
More awareness programmes should be created in the university libraries to enable the
undergraduate students to be fully aware of the available rules and regulations so that
they can always comply with them.
It is recommended that the problem of shortage of staff should be urgently addressed
in the university libraries so that staff can always be available to attend to users needs at
all times.
Library users should be further educated through library orientation, and other means
on the need to always comply with the library rules and regulations in order to ensure
optimum and effective use of the library.
It is recommended that stricter measures be put in place to sanction or penalize any
defaulter of library rules and regulations to ensure compliance to the rules and
regulations.
Library staff should be friendlier and cooperate with the library users so that they can
guide and direct them on the proper use of the library materials and services.