BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A library is a learning institution with treasures of knowledge that are maintained, organized, and managed by trained personnel with the goal of continuously educating children, men, and women and assisting in their self-improvement through the effective and timely dissemination of information embodied in the resources (Akporhonor, 2005). This is a self-educational tool, a source of knowledge and factual information, a place of intellectual recreation, and a lighthouse of enlightenment that provides accumulated preserved civilization knowledge, which enriches one's mental vision and elevates one's habit, behavior, character, taste, attitude, conduct, and outlook on life (Islam, 2004).
The public library is a social institution closely related to the political and socioeconomic realities of the community in which it is located. As the name implies, this is an open-to-the-public library.
According to UNESCO, "those that provide free or low-cost services to the residents of the community or region" (1966). It is a public library that is open to the general public.
According to Oduagwu, "public libraries that serve the public are supported by government subvention, municipal fees, or levies" (2002). A public library, he said, is commonly referred to be a poor man's university. Its customer is broad, with no distinction made between ethnicity, status, or rank when it comes to who would avoid utilizing its services. It transports everything that contributes to society's knowledge, education, research, information, and cultural needs (Azino, 2006). Today, each of Nigeria's 36 states, including Abuja, has a public library board created under the public library act, similar to the United Kingdom (UK), however library boards in Nigeria are constituted by edit or legislation enacted by state lawmakers.
A public library, according to Oparaku et al. (2005), is "an institution established by the government through enabling legislation, supported, and intended to address the educational, informational, and recreational requirements of its community."
The term "public library financing" refers to the provision of funds for the library's day-to-day operations. Making money or finances accessible to public libraries is referred to as funding. Finance is the lifeblood of every business, encompassing labor, capital, and information. The capital here refers to money that can be used to acquire other production components, making it more valuable than others (Arkorful, 2007). Obviously, money is the most important factor in every business. It is also an establishment's working capital. The numerous methods public libraries obtain projected cash for capital and recurring costs are referred to as public library financing.
"A library generally administered by a municipality from which books may be borrowed freely," according to New Lexicon Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary (1991).
A library is "involved with all content," according to the Encyclopedia of Librarianship (1958). Individual and communal values, as well as the community's responsibility to not just satisfy current wants, but also to inspire and support broader requests from more individuals.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Many public libraries have not yet received their financial allocations, which has caused delays in the execution of their programs. This has resulted in a lack of relevant textbooks, which is presently being experienced by individuals and researchers in need of the material (Akporhonor, 2005). The state government does not adequately support public libraries, providing just roughly 80% of the cash requested by the libraries (Arkorful, 2007). Due to a lack of funding, resources are in short supply. Insufficient funding has hampered the availability of modern resources to employees and clients in public libraries (Azino, 2006). In addition, inadequate appreciation of the library's function by those in power, as well as low societal assessments of libraries in Nigeria, provide financial challenges for public libraries (Arkorful, 2007).
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study's overall purpose is to investigate alternative funding of public libraries.
The study, on the other hand, was focused on achieving these precise goals:
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were posed in accordance with the study's objectives and are analysed using mean and standard deviation:
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will help the government and policymakers in Rivers State and other Nigerian states realize the need of finding alternate sources of funding for public libraries in their respective states. This research will also help librarians follow the norms of accountability and openness when it comes to handling the various money that will be flowing to public libraries. This research will also assist the government in identifying and addressing the issues of other sources of funding for public libraries. This work will add to the current literature on the subject and act as a resource for future research on the subject or a similar domain.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study focuses on investigating the need for an alternative funding sources for public libraries. This study will also examine the different alternative funding sources for public libraries. Also, this study will look into the challenges of alternative funding for public libraries. Finally, this study will proffer possible solutions to the identified challenges of alternative funding for public libraries. This study shall be delimited to Rivers State Library, Nigeria. Hence, staff of Rivers State Library, Port Harcourt shall serve enrolled participants for this study.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Library: A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are easily accessible for use and not just for display purposes. It is responsible for housing updated information in order to meet the user's needs on a daily basis.
Fund - Money that has been served or has been made available for a particular purpose.
Alternative Fund: another possibility or choice of getting money from other sources
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