The Roles Academic Libraries Play in Facilitating Post Graduate Research: A case of the University of Zambia (UNZA), and the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Master’s Students

This article examines the role of academic libraries in supporting postgraduate research, with a particular focus on the services provided to master's students, the effectiveness of these services in facilitating research and the challenges faced by both academic libraries and students in their interactions. The study employed a mixed-methods research approach, utilizing both documented and undocumented data. A sample of 56 respondents from the University of Zambia and the National Institute of Public Administration was selected for this study. Findings indicate that academic libraries play a crucial role in supporting master's students' research through various services, including book lending, study spaces, reference services, discussion rooms, internet access, printed journals, books, serials, electronic databases and digital resources such as e-journals and e-books. Among these, electronic resources and study spaces were identified as the most valuable for postgraduate research. While book lending and reference services were less frequently utilized, they remain essential, as students who engaged with reference librarians reported receiving valuable guidance in locating relevant research materials. However, several challenges hinder the effectiveness of library services for master's students, including inadequate funding, limited study spaces, lack of cooperation from academic staff and the absence of master's students during library orientation sessions. To enhance support for postgraduate research, academic libraries should strategically develop services specifically tailored to the unique research needs of master's students.