Availability of Core Journals used by the Postgraduate Agricultural Students of Ahmadu Bello University (A.B.U.) in the holdings of Agricultural Library, Zaria

Abstract

This paper examines the literature used by Postgraduate Agricultural students of Ahmadu Bello University, to identify the core journals they used. It also checked to see if the materials identified from this exercise are available in the Agricultural Library. The hundred theses were randomly picked and the citations in the theses were analyzed to arrive at the findings. Thirty two periodical titles were identified as core and these have a total of 2582 (50.645) of periodicals cited. All the core titles were found in the holding of the Library. There were 24 Nigerian Agricultural titles representing 3.29 percent of the 728 total numbers of titles. All the 24 Nigerian agricultural titles have a cumulative total of 201 citations among them. This represents 3.94 percent of the total periodical citation which is 5098. This study shows that the Agricultural Library is quite adequate in supporting the information needs of Post-graduate students in as much as the most frequently cited (or core) journals are concerned. All thirty-two most frequently cited or core journals are held by the Library.