Public servants’ use and evaluation of public library resources and services in Ogun State, Nigeria

Basirat Olubukola Diyaolu,Michael Duro Joda,Oyintola Isiaka Amusa

doi:10.4314/iijikm.v9i2.6

Abstract

Public library is meant to serve the needs of all and sundry in the society without any bias. This study examined the use of public library by public servants in Ogun State. The main objective of this study was to find out the level at which the public servants use the public library in Ogun State. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and simple random sampling techniques was used to select two thousand one hundred (2100) respondents (Public servants) in Ogun State. The state has nineteen (19) ministries with staff strength of twenty one thousand (21000). Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study, and Statistical Package in Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to compute the data gathered. Descriptive statistics with tables of frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that most of the public servants did not register with public library in the state. It was further revealed that the little percentage of the public servants that make use of the library are satisfied with most of their services, with the exception of internet access, computer and printing which services are relatively poor. It was recommended that orientation programme such as seminars and workshops on the usefulness of public library services should be organized to enlighten the public servants.Keywords: Public libraries, Public Servants, Library Services, Use, Evaluation

Highlights

Public libraries are libraries that are accessible by the general public and are generally funded from public sources, such as taxes
In addition to the Public Servants’ Use and Evaluation of Public Library resources and Services in Ogun State, Nigeria free services rendered by Public library it provides educational, social and political information to people in a particular community
The focus of this study is to investigate the use of library services by public servants in Ogun State

Summary

Introduction

Public libraries are libraries that are accessible by the general public and are generally funded from public sources, such as taxes. Public libraries play fundamental roles in providing public servants with free and open access to knowledge, especially in developing countries like Nigeria They serve as conduits of timely information, equipping their users with lifelong learning and literacy skills such that they are empowered to positively shape the future of their societies, (IFLA, 2003). This enabled the researcher to obtain comprehensive data on how often the public servants visit the library, make use of library resources and services provided for their use, the level to which the users are satisfied with the resources, and factors hindering their library patronage. Data collected was analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)

Working experience of the Respondents

Valid Daily Weekly

Cumulative Valid Percent Percent

Rating of the Reference services in the Library

Photocopies services

Frequency Percent Valid Percent