CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
           The global wave in the use of educational technology and its revolutionary effects is a major attraction to the choice of this topic for study. This project examined systematically the effects of the use of students in developing nation like Nigeria taking the case of a private primary cum secondary school library. The choice of private school is pertinent, as most government schools have no functional libraries. There is a growing consciousness among some private school owners on the relevance of functional school libraries.
            This project identified that an ideal library exists in International  Early Learning Centre / Dority International  Secondary School Aba in Abia State. A wide range of audio-visual materials and their equipment for operation abound in the library.
            However,  many a time materials and  equipment are not used in the library. Similarly, the students are unable to use the materials and equipment themselves. There is no convenient time for them to use the audio-visual materials and equipment.
            Despite all these constraints, audiovisual technology is adequately used in the school in teaching and learning.
The results gathered indicated that students’ academic performances are significantly improved after being taught using audiovisual technology.
            Nowadays, knowledge is recorded in many physical forms. Before printing was invented, the papyrus, vellum, codex etc were used in recording human knowledge. With the invention of printing came books and other printing forms.
            Recently, another form of media has come into prominence and that is the audio-visual media. Audio-visual may include graphic materials such as pictures, maps charts, sides etc, and finally multimedia packages such as motion pictures, video recording etc. There are  also information-bearing items like microforms,  computer readable data files and three- dimensional objects e.g. botanical specimens.
            Audio-visuals have a variety of definitions. It is derived from a latin work meaning, “I hear”. In library and information science, it is replay of sound which we hear. This covers microforms, disc recorders, amplifiers, loud-speakers and their enclosures and any other techniques which are used to record or replay sound waves (Sincher, 1977).
            Audio-visuals mean something related to sound and visual or light. They include printed materials and their equipment.
            Audio-visual materials can be categorized into audio materials  and visual materials – Audio include Radio, lecture/talk, Audio tapes/cassette compact Disc, Telephone, etc. Visual materials can be identified by grouping than into two ways-2 dimensional and 3 dimensional; projectiles and Non projectuals. Visual materials can also be classified under graphics/photographic.
            Audiovisuals are a combination of audio and visuals. They include TV programmes, multi-media packages, VCR, and even computer programmes. Some cannot be treated without the equipment for using them as progectors, TV receiver, microreader, Record player, photocopying machine, VTR laminating, 35mm camera with accessories etc. they can also exist in some other forms as slides of  computer screens, down loading of computer screens to create a simulation of a computer search, interactive video disc which requires the image storage medium, a TV monitor or computer screen, appropriate software, and a means of receiving inputs.
            They are usually not in book and so are not easily available. They are usually expensive because some of them require projectors, moreso, they are usually hard to process because they lack some of the normal bibliographic details. They, however, can be catalogued using the territorial areas. Finally, they are of easily accessible to users. They   are used mainly as reference materials, and user are encouraged to borrow them.
1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
                        This research work titled.  “The use of Audio – visual Technology in school libraries and students Academic performance” is informed by the prevalent global wave in the use of educational Technology Vis the – a vis the situation of nursery, primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. Being an experimental research, the study investigated the use of audio-visual material and equipment in a typical school library (International Early Learning Center/Dority International Secondary School Aba) and evaluated the impacts of the use of such technology on the academic performance of students.