Quantitative Analysis of the Relationship between Library Services and Undergraduate Academic Performance in Liberia: Evidence from African Methodist Episcopal University

This study examined the impact of library services on the academic achievement of undergraduate students at African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) in Monrovia, Liberia. Using a structured questionnaire (N = 82), the study investigated student awareness of library services, usage patterns, perceived academic effects, and access barriers. Results indicated near-universal recognition of the AMEU library (98.8%), with the quiet study environment identified as the most frequently used service (M = 3.84 on a five-point frequency scale), followed by group study areas (M = 3.27), internet/Wi-Fi access (M = 2.80), and textbook lending (M = 2.32). A substantial majority of respondents (91.5%) agreed that library use had contributed to improvements in their academic performance. The most commonly reported barriers were an inadequate number of computers (45.1%), insufficient seating capacity (37.8%), limited and outdated print collections (31.7%), and unreliable internet connectivity (28.0%). The study recommends strategic investment in ICT infrastructure, seating capacity, and print collections to fully realize the library's potential as a catalyst for student academic success at AMEU.

library services, academic performance, undergraduate students, AMEU, Liberia, higher education

1. Adam, A. M. (2020). Sample size determination in survey research. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 26(5), 90–97. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2020/v26i530263 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. African Methodist Episcopal University. (2024). History. https://www.ame.edu.lr/about_us.php [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. African Methodist Episcopal University. (2024). Library services. https://www.ame.edu.lr/menu_info.php [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ajibona, H. F., Abomoge, S. O., Adepoju, S. O., & Oluwaniyi, S. (2021). Library services provision on academic performance of nursing undergraduates in selected universities in South-West Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1–20. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/5780 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Beile, P. M., Choudhury, K., Mulvihill, R., & Wang, M. C. (2020). Aligning library assessment with institutional priorities: A study of student academic performance and use of five library services. College & Research Libraries, 81(3), 435–458. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.81.3.435 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Challenges of Higher Education in Liberia and Possible Solutions. (2023). Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.55327/jaash.v9i1.298 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. De Groote, S. L., & Scoulas, J. M. (2022). The impact of the academic library on students’ success, in their own words. Portal: Libraries and the Academy, 22(2), 355–374. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2022.0021 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. EBSCO Information Services. (2026, January 5). Building student success: The case for e-learning and digital resources in academic libraries. EBSCO Post. https://about.ebsco.com/blogs/ebscopost/e-learning-and-digital-resources-academiclibrary [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Faizan, M., & Munshi, S. A. (2025). Enhancing academic access: Evaluating integrated ICT-based library services at IIT from users’ perspectives. Performance Measurement and Metrics, 26(1), 49–70. https://doi.org/10.1108/pmm-07-2024-0032 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. FrontPageAfrica. (2025, June 25). National Commission on Higher Education flags challenges at top universities. FrontPageAfrica. https://frontpageafricaonline.com/education/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. National Commission on Higher Education. (2024). Approved universities and colleges. https://nche.info/universities-colleges/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Ogunbodede, K. F., & Oribhabor, C. B. (2022). Digital resources usage and academic performance of undergraduate students in Nigeria: A case study. European Journal of Interactive Multimedia and Education, 3(2), e02207. https://doi.org/10.30935/ejimed/12491 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Puti, P., & Zainal, V. R. (2024). Performance management of academic librarians in improving college library services. Megister Journal of Business, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.33062/mjb.v9i01.65 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Raza, A., Khan, M. A., & Naqvi, S. A. (2023). Input-process-output model and quality of higher education: A systematic review. Journal of Education and Educational Development, 10(1), 78–95. https://doi.org/10.22555/joeed.v10i1.789 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Scoulas, J. M., & De Groote, S. L. (2022). Impact of undergraduate students’ library use on their learning beyond GPA: Mixed-methods approach. College & Research Libraries, 83(3), 452–473. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.83.3.452 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Tetteh, E. O. A., & Aryee, R. (2024). Library resources constraints, frustration, and user behavior: An empirical library operations study. Brain and Behavior, 14(7), e3627. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3627 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. uniRank. (2025). African Methodist Episcopal University. https://www.unirank.org/lr/uni/african-methodist-episcopal-university/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Yang, E., & Kim, Y. (2022). Academic library spaces and student activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 48(4), 102529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102529 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study