IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME) e-ISSN: Applied. Volume 1, Issue 1 (Jan. – Feb. 2013), PP 11-16 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 11 | Page Perceived Impact of Library use on the Research Productivity of Postgraduate Students at Babcock University, Nigeria Onuoha, U.D., Ikonne, C. N & Madukoma, E. Abstract: This study investigated the impact of library use on research productivity. The study was carried out using the survey research method. The population was made up of 359 postgraduate students at Babcock University, Ogun state. Sampling was enumerative as all members of the population were used for the study. A self designed questionnaire was used for data collection. Results showed that library services are of utmost importance to the research productivity of postgraduate students as all the respondents who were able to have at least one publication within the last two years affirmed using the library. However, printed books were ranked as the most important library service for research. Although personal assistance of library staff was ranked very low in importance, suggestions made by the respondent for the training of library staff in order to improve staff-user relationship show that the respondents value the assistance of library staff but may not be happy with the way library staff relate to users presently. Keywords: Research productivity; Postgraduate students; Library services; Library use; Babcock University. I. Introduction The main essence of having libraries in universities is to provide effective information services that would enhance teaching, learning and research within the university community. Research is specifically important within the university environment because it constitutes a major determinant of the educational quality of an institution. Azad and Seyyed (2007) maintain that strong research profile adds to institutional reputation, visibility, and recognition. Despite the emphasis on research, several researchers have drawn attention to the falling standard of education and low research output in Nigerian universities (Adeogun and Osifila 2010; Chiemeke, et al 2009). Several reasons were found accountable for this such as: obsolete research facilities where libraries are more or less archives of stale, archaic, and irrelevant materials; nonexistent research laboratories; low motivation for research and high student enrollment. In as much as the university library cannot be held solely responsible for the current status of education in Nigeria, it is worthwhile to access the role of the university library in aiding research especially at the postgraduate level. Indeed Poll (2001), affirms that the best testimony for an academic library's quality is the impact of the library‟s services on the educational process and the research results in the university. Brief History of Babcock University Library Babcock University has its roots in the Adventist College of West Africa (ACWA), established on September 17, 1959. The school adopted the name Adventist Seminary of West Africa (ASWA) in 1975. It became known as Babcock University by virtue of Decree 9, of 1993 when the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999 issued it the certificate of registration as a private university. Babcock University Library is also a continuation of the Adventist Seminary of West Africa (ASWA) Library, which began at the inception of ACWA in 1959. The library is made up of five service points, known as the Main library (M.L.), Education and Humanities (E.A.H) library, Management and Social Sciences (M.S.S.) library, Science and Technology (S.A.T) library and Law and Security Studies (L.S.S) library. II. Statement of the Problem University libraries are created with the major objective of supporting the information needs of those within the university community. Literature however suggests that university libraries in Nigeria may not be carrying out this objective satisfactorily with increasing reports on low research productivity and declining quality of graduates which is often attributed to obsolete and irrelevant materials in libraries. It is on the basis of this, that the present study investigates postgraduate students‟ use of Babcock University library services with the view of finding out the degree of its support to their research activities. III. Objectives of the study This study aims to accomplish the following objectives: 1 determine the extent to which postgraduate students utilize Babcock university library;