Abstract
This research work was designed to examine information service delivery in Benue State library Board with the view to determine the types of information sources available, the types of information services offered.
The appropriateness of information service delivery media; the problems of providing appropriate information service delivery to users and the strategies for effective service delivery.
Six research questions guided this study. A descriptive survey research design was used with stratified random sampling technique to guide the study.
The population of the study was 53,636 made up of library users and library staff. Out of this, 514 were sampled. 489 consisted of library users and 25 comprised of the entire library staff under study.
Of the 489 copies of questionnaire distributed to library staff 341 were filled and returned, representing 70% response rate.
While the 25 questionnaires administered to staff, 17 were filled and returned representing 68% response rate. Observation checklist on information service delivery was also used for data collection.
Statistical tools used for the analysis were frequency counts and mean score.
The major findings revealed that there are numerous and different types of information resources available in the board, that there are few information services offered, that there are few information service deliveries, that both information services and information service delivery are not appropriate.
And that lack of funds, inadequate staff, lack of facilities (eg. ICT, internet etc), lack of current textbooks/lack of information sources, lack of demand for information services by users, lack of professionals and lack of policy on information service provision are problems responsible for the few appropriate information services and delivery in Benue State library board.
Introduction
Background Of Study
A public library is an information center established by public funds whose services are open to all in the society irrespective of who they are without discrimination.
Quite so, the public library as issued in 1949, revised in 1972 and declared in 1994 in the UNESCO public library manifesto in Edoka (2000) declares that the public library is the local centre of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information readily available to its users.
The services of the public library are provided on the basis of equality of access for all, regardless of age, race, sex, religion, nationality, language or social status.
Specific services and materials must be provided for those users who cannot, for whatever reason, use the regular services and materials for example, linguistic minorities, people with disabilities or people in hospital or prison.
IFLA (2000) in Ikpaahindi (2008) highlighted that public libraries are to provide resources and services in a variety of media to meet the needs of individuals and groups for education, information and personal development including recreation and leisure.
Educationally, support for formal education has been a basic function of public libraries since their earliest days. Information wise, they provide avenues to meet the informational needs of people.
The acquisition of reliable and relevant information is now recognized to be vitally important and of great value (Ikpaahindi, 2008).
With regards to personal development, public libraries have played a very important role in providing opportunity for personal development.
They provide a range of ideas, opinions and create experience not available anywhere else. Many people both farmers and otherwise have testified how their lives have been changed by the use of public libraries.
References
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