Influence of Institutional Support on Collection Development Practices in Selected Academic Libraries in Ekiti State, Nigeria

This study examined the influence of institutional support on collection development practices in selected academic libraries in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study was guided by one research question and one null hypothesis. A descriptive survey design of the correlation type was adopted, involving all 86 librarians across six institutions in Ekiti State through total enumeration method. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire (ISCDALSTIESN) (α = 0.87), with 83 valid responses (91% response rate). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, and mean for research question, while inferential statistics, specifically simple linear regression analysis, was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 significance level. Institutional support was assessed in three dimensions: financial, technical, and mentorship support. Findings revealed that financial support (mean = 3.08) was the most available, followed by technical support (mean = 3.28), while mentorship (mean = 2.99) was the least available. Simple linear regression analysis showed a weak but significant positive relationship between institutional support and collection development (R = 0.375, p < 0.05), with institutional support explaining 14% of variations in collection development practices (R² = 0.140). ANOVA results confirmed a significant overall model fit (F(1,81) = 13.239, p < 0.05), and regression coefficients indicated that a unit increase in institutional support would result in a 0.350 increase in collection development effectiveness. The study concludes that adequate institutional support enhances collection development, and recommends increased financial, technical, and mentorship initiatives to improve library services in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State.