Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between reference service delivery and information seeking behaviour has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While reference service delivery is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on information seeking behaviour within Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to reference service delivery are helping or hindering information seeking behaviour — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Reference Service Delivery on information seeking behaviour in Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which reference service delivery influences information seeking behaviour within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with reference service delivery in relation to information seeking behaviour.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing reference service delivery in order to improve information seeking behaviour.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of reference service delivery on information seeking behaviour in Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does reference service delivery influence information seeking behaviour within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with reference service delivery in relation to information seeking behaviour?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize reference service delivery in order to improve information seeking behaviour?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of library and information science, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria seeking to understand how reference service delivery translates into measurable outcomes around information seeking behaviour. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected Microfinance Banks in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how reference service delivery relates to information seeking behaviour within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.