IMPACT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN POTISKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOBE, STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of public library services on community development in Potiskum Local Government, Yobe State, in North East Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: identify the types of services provided by the Potiskum public library and their Relevance to community needs, to assess the contribution of these services to community development in the community, identify challenges hindering the library’s effectiveness and recommend strategies for improving its role in community development. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The entire population of the study consisted of 222 users of the public library in Potiskum Local Government of Yobe State. The questionnaire was titled “The Impact of Public Library Services on Community Development in Potiskum” (PULIPLOGO). The responses were used to answer the research questions. The instrument was structured on a 4-point scale The instruments were face-validated by three experts; two from the Department of Library and Information Science and one from the Measurement and Evaluation Unit, Department of Science Education, Federal University, Gashua. The paper revealed moderate efficiency in operations such as circulation, reference services, and user assistance, the library plays a valuable role in meeting the information, educational, and literacy needs of the community. Services such as research support, access to past examination papers, and ICT training have contributed positively to users’ development. The study revealed that the Potiskum Public Library supports education and literacy in the community but faces challenges such as inadequate up-to-date resources and limited ICT facilities. It concludes that while the library is vital, its services are not fully meeting user needs. Therefore, it was recommended that the library improve its collections, adopt ICT tools, and secure better funding.