Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the usage of the Midsayap Municipal Library and Information Center (MMLIC), specifically, students’ awareness and access to information resources and services. A total of 439 students from the 44 barangays in the municipality served as respondents. Descriptive-correlational research was employed through a one-shot survey method utilizing a researcher-made instrument. Of the 439 respondents, most of them were 18 years old (77.9%), more than half were females (59.5%), and almost all were senior high school students (93.6%). The study also revealed that the majority of the students were not aware of the MMLIC resources and services (μ=2.37), and most of them never accessed (μ=38) and never used (μ=1.25) these. Further, the study found that in terms of age and sex, there was no significant difference in their level of awareness, access, and usage of the resources and services. In terms of educational background, a significant difference was found in their level of awareness (t=6.080) and access (t=2.493) but not in their extent of use (t=1.131). Regarding the level of awareness and access, the SHS had the highest mean. Finally, a sizable gap was found between their level of awareness, access, and usage of the information resources and services and their place of residence. It is concluded that the respondents' lack of access to and underutilization of the MMLIC's resources and services is consistent with their low awareness and may be attributed to it. Due to their lack of knowledge, they did not access and utilize the resources and services. However, the municipal library personnel could have this low level of client awareness as their basis for future initiatives, like an information drive or campaign among Midsayapeños.
