PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SELECTED PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN INDIA (RAJASTHAN) AND NIGERIA (KADUNA): A COMPARATIVE STUDY

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SELECTED PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN INDIA (RAJASTHAN) AND NIGERIA (KADUNA): A COMPARATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACT

The fundamental aim of public libraries is to provide timely, accurate, pertinent, and reliable information for their users. The study tends to examine the prospects and problems of selected public libraries in India and Nigeria, a comparative study. Despite the growing importance of public libraries in national development, the number of functional Public Libraries has been diminishing, especially in Nigeria. Survey design was adopted for the study and instrument used for data collection include questionnaire, observation and interview. Furthermore, the six librarians were each given a separate questionnaire which they filled and returned. A number of 360 questionnaires were distributed to users out of which 303 were dully completed and returned. The data collected were analyzed and interpreted using simple frequency and percentages. The study reveals that most the users in both countries are male within the age of 16-25. Also, majority of the information resources are in print format and are said to be relevant in India but irrelevant in Nigeria. Majority of the collections in India are sciences but in Nigeria it is other collections that has the majority. Furthermore, most of the users in both countries agreed that all the collections need to be updated and majority of the users in India visits the library on daily basis while in Nigeria, it is once in a month. The study further reveals that most users in India are notified of new arrivals while most users in Nigeria are not notified. Staff in Indian libraries offers assistance to users but staff rarely does that in Nigerian libraries. Most of the users in India strongly agreed that public libraries are very efficient in the services they offered to the general public while in Nigeria majority disagreed. In India, most of the users agreed that provision of lighting, drinking water and toilet are adequate while in Nigeria it is not adequate in some cases these facilities are not available. More so, majority of the libraries in India have selection committees and their major source of information resources are bookshops, donations and head office but most libraries in Nigeria don’t have selection committees and major source are head office and donations. Finally, all the libraries in both countries complained of poor funding and consideration by government, especially the Nigerian government. Public libraries in India and Nigeria have great potentials for national development if properly managed, especially in the development of a knowledgeable society; therefore government at all levels should encourage private partnership participation in the funding and managing of public libraries in both countries.

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