Abstract
This study evaluates the extent of use of parenthesis search strategies for library database
access among postgraduate students in Universities of Technology in South -East, Nigeria.
Despite the proliferation of digital resources, evidence suggests students lack the necessary
retrieval skills, resulting in the underutilization of subscribed content. The research
adopted a survey design, sampling 230 respondents from a population of 540 postgraduate
students at FUTO and ESUT using stratified random sampling techniques. Data were
gathered using structured questionnaires to assess usage frequency. Findings revealed a
statistically significant difference between institutions; while ESUT students applied the
strategy "very often" for OPAC, the general usage across most databases, such as HINARI
and AGORA, was merely "sometimes". The study concludes that students possess only
moderate proficiency in advanced search strategies, which hinders effective information
retrieval. Consequently, it recommends that university management increase funding for
database subscriptions, while libraries must organize intensive information literacy
training and ensure reliable network connectivity to enhance research output.
Key words:Library Databases, Parenthesis Search, Information Retrieval.
Publication Date: 2026-05-03