Abstract
This study examined how school library programmes promote new literacies among high
school students in Osun State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey, data were gathered from
126 in-school adolescents from both public and private secondary schools. The research
assessed how library literacy programmes influence students' information-seeking,
financial decisions, health literacy, and digital skills. Results indicated the strongest
positive effect on information-seeking behaviour (weighted mean = 3.2), a moderate
influence on financial literacy (weighted mean = 3.0), a lesser impact on health literacy
(weighted mean = 2.8), and the least on digital literacy (weighted mean = 2.6).
Independent-samples t-tests found a significant gender difference in information-seeking
behaviour (p = .031), favouring males, and a significant difference based on school type in
digital literacy (p = .028), with public school students performing better. The study
recommends that school librarians enhance digital literacy, health information services,
and gender-sensitive programming to expand and improve the effectiveness of library
services.
Keywords: Digital literacy, financial literacy, health literacy, information literacy, new
literacies, Nigeria, Osun State, school libraries
Publication Date: 2026-10-31