ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY AS AN AGENCY FOR RURAL COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This work; role of public library as an agent for rural community development in Nigeria is aimed at highlighting the significant roles that public libraries play as an agent for rural community development. Such identified roles include; fostering of interagency co operations, information and referral services, self help initiation and information on rural and non-farm economic activities. The study equally focused on factors affecting effective public library services renditions to the rural communities and identified inadequate funding as the major bane of effective service to the rural communities and concluded by recommending adequate funding by the government, sensitization of government and non• governmental agencies by public library managers on the importance of her services and the use of audio-visual materials in meeting the information need of the rural community dwellers.